Parallel Verses
Youngs Literal Translation
Ye have said, 'A vain thing to serve God! And what gain when we kept His charge? And when we have gone in black, Because of Jehovah of Hosts?
New American Standard Bible
You have said, ‘It is
King James Version
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?
Holman Bible
You have said: “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements
International Standard Version
You said, "It is futile to serve God,' and, "What did we get out of it when we carried out his requirements and went about like mourners in the presence of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies?'
A Conservative Version
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 LORD of hosts?
American Standard Version
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?
Amplified
You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. What profit is it if we keep His ordinances, and walk around like mourners before the Lord of hosts?
Bible in Basic English
You have said, It is no use worshipping God: what profit have we had from keeping his orders, and going in clothing of sorrow before the Lord of armies?
Darby Translation
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?
Julia Smith Translation
Ye said, Vanity to serve God: and what profit that we watched his watches, and that we went mourning from the face of Jehovah of armies?
King James 2000
You have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts?
Lexham Expanded Bible
You have said, '[It is] useless to serve God! What [is the] gain if we keep his requirements, and if we walk as mourners {before} Yahweh of hosts?
Modern King James verseion
You have said, It is vain to serve God; and, What profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked as mourners before Jehovah of Hosts?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Ye have said, 'It is but lost labour, to serve God: What profit have we for keeping his commandments, and for walking humbly before the LORD of Hosts?
NET Bible
You have said, 'It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all?
New Heart English Bible
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 hosts?
The Emphasized Bible
Ye have said, Vain is it to serve God, - and, What profit when we have kept his charge, or when we have walked gloomily before Yahweh of hosts?
Webster
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?
World English Bible
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 Yahweh of Armies?
Themes
Condescension of God » Expostulates with backsliding israel
Malachi » Reproves God's people for their impiety
Murmuring » Against » The service of God
Interlinear
'elohiym
Shamar
Mishmereth
Word Count of 20 Translations in Malachi 3:14
Verse Info
Context Readings
An Overflowing Blessing
13 Hard against Me have been your words, Said Jehovah, and ye have said: 'What have we spoken against Thee?' 14 Ye have said, 'A vain thing to serve God! And what gain when we kept His charge? And when we have gone in black, Because of Jehovah of Hosts? 15 And now, we are declaring the proud happy, Yea, built up have been those doing wickedness, Yea they have tempted God, and escape.'
Cross References
Isaiah 58:3
'Why have we fasted, and Thou hast not seen? We have afflicted our soul, and Thou knowest not.' Lo, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, And all your labours ye exact.
Zephaniah 1:12
And it hath come to pass, at that time, I search Jerusalem with lights, And I have laid a charge on the men Who are hardened on their preserved things, Who are saying in their heart: Jehovah doth no good, nor doth He evil.
Job 21:14-15
And they say to God, 'Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired.
Job 22:17
Those saying to God, 'Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?
Job 34:9
For he hath said, 'It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.'
Job 35:3
For thou sayest, 'What doth it profit Thee! What do I profit from my sin?'
Psalm 73:8-13
They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak.
Joel 2:12
And also now -- an affirmation of Jehovah, Turn ye back unto Me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, And with lamentation.
Zechariah 7:3-6
speaking unto the priests who are at the house of Jehovah of Hosts, and unto the prophets, saying, 'Do I weep in the fifth month -- being separated -- as I have done these so many years?'
James 4:9
be exceeding afflicted, and mourn, and weep, let your laughter to mourning be turned, and the joy to heaviness;