Resistance to the Lord through Self-sufficiency

3:13 “You have criticized me sharply,”23 says the Lord, “but you ask, ‘How have we criticized you?’ 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped24 by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all?25 3:15 So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful.26 In fact, those who challenge27 God escape!’ ”

3:16 Then those who respected28 the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice.29 A scroll30 was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name. 3:17 “They will belong to me,” says the Lord who rules over all, “in the day when I prepare my own special property.31 I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 3:18 Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between32 the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.

4:1 (3:19)1 “For indeed the day2 is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord who rules over all. “It3 will not leave even a root or branch. 4:2 But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication4 will rise with healing wings,5 and you will skip about6 like calves released from the stall. 4:3 You will trample on the wicked, for they will be like ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord who rules over all.