Malachi 3:13–4:2

The Righteous and the Wicked

¹³“Your words against Me are harsh,” ^gsays the Lord.

Yet you ask: “What have we spoken against You?”

¹⁴You have said: “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements ^hand walking mournfully ⁱbefore the Lord of Hosts? ¹⁵So now we consider the arrogant ^jto be fortunate. ^kNot only do those who commit wickedness prosper, they even test God ^land escape.” ^m

¹⁶At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance ⁿwas written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name. ¹⁷“They will be Mine,” says the Lord of Hosts, ^o“a special possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. ^p18So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

The Day of the Lord

4^q“For indeed, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them,” says the Lord of Hosts, “not leaving them root or branches. ²But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, ^rand you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. ^s