Malachi 3:16

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¹⁴ 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.’”

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.

¹⁷ “They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.

¹⁸ So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

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

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
WEB: Then those who feared the LORD spoke one with another; and the LORD listened and heard, and a book of memory was written before him for those who feared the LORD and who honored his name.
ASV: Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name.
DARBY: Then they that feared Jehovah spoke often one to another; and Jehovah observed [it], and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name.
BLB: Then those who feared YHWH spoke, each man with his neighbor. And YHWH listened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those fearing YHWH, and for those esteeming His name.

ÅB: Da talte de med hverandre de som frykter Herren, og Herren lyttet til og hørte det, og det ble for hans åsyn skrevet en minnebok for dem som frykter Herren og tenker på hans navn.
OTB: Da talte de som fryktet Herren ofte med hverandre, og Herren lyttet og hørte, og en minnebok ble skrevet for hans åsyn for dem som fryktet Herren og tenkte på hans navn.
B1930: Da talte de med hverandre de som frykter Herren, og Herren lyttet til og hørte det, og det blev for hans åsyn skrevet en minnebok for dem som frykter Herren og tenker på hans navn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 56:8
You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle— are they not in Your book?
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Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
Read in context
Malachi 4:2
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
Read in context
Revelation 15:4
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Read in context
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
Read in context
Ezekiel 9:4
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
Read in context
Hebrews 4:12–13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Read in context
Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Read in context