Malachi 3:14

12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight,” says the LORD of Hosts.

13 “Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?

15 So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

16 At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?
KJV
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
WEB
You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God,’ and ‘What profit is it that we have followed his instructions and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of Armies?
ASV
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?
DARBY
Ye say, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we keep his charge, and that we walk mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?
BLB
You⁺ have said, ‘To serve God [is] futile! What gain [is] that we have kept His charge, that we have walked as mourners before the face of YHWH of Hosts?
ÅB
Dere har sagt: Fåfengt er det å tjene Gud, og hva vinning har det vært for oss at vi har aktet på hans bud, og at vi har gått i sørgeklær for Herrens, hærskarenes Guds skyld?
OTB
Dere har sagt: 'Det er forgjeves å tjene Gud, og hva gagn har det at vi har holdt hans forskrift og at vi har vandret sorgfullt for Herren, hærskarenes Gud?
B1930
I har sagt: Fåfengt er det å tjene Gud, og hvad vinning har det vært for oss at vi har aktet på hans bud, og at vi har gått i sørgeklær for Herrens, hærskarenes Guds skyld?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 58:3

    “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 73:8–13

    They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

    Read in context
  • Zephaniah 1:12

    And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’

    Read in context
  • Job 35:3

    For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 7:3–6

    by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts, as well as the prophets, “Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?”

    Read in context
  • Job 34:9

    For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

    Read in context
  • Joel 2:12

    “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

    Read in context
  • Job 22:17

    They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’

    Read in context