Israel Speaks Arrogantly Against God

13 “You have spoken arrogantly(A) against me,” says the Lord.

“Yet you ask,(B) ‘What have we said against you?’

14 “You have said, ‘It is futile(C) to serve(D) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements(E) and going about like mourners(F) before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant(G) blessed. Certainly evildoers(H) prosper,(I) and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

The Faithful Remnant

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.(J) A scroll(K) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared(L) the Lord and honored his name.

17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my(M) treasured possession.(N) I will spare(O) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son(P) who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous(Q) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.(R)

Judgment and Covenant Renewal

[a]“Surely the day is coming;(S) it will burn like a furnace.(T) All the arrogant(U) and every evildoer will be stubble,(V) and the day that is coming will set them on fire,(W)” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch(X) will be left to them. But for you who revere my name,(Y) the sun of righteousness(Z) will rise with healing(AA) in its rays. And you will go out and frolic(AB) like well-fed calves. Then you will trample(AC) on the wicked; they will be ashes(AD) under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

“Remember the law(AE) of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb(AF) for all Israel.(AG)

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah(AH) to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.(AI) He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children,(AJ) and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike(AK) the land with total destruction.”(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Malachi 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-6 is numbered 3:19-24.

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