Malachi 3:13-18 - The Righteous And The Wicked

¹³ "You have criticized me sharply," says the Lord, "but you ask, 'How have we criticized you?'

¹⁴ 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? ¹⁵ So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape!'"

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