Malachi 3:15
What does Malachi 3:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Malachi 3:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Malachi 3:15 means
This verse continues to expose the cynical thinking of God's people, revealing their distorted values and perception of justice. They observe the "proud" and "wicked" seemingly prospering, even stating, "we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up." Furthermore, they complain that those who "tempt God" with their evil deeds appear to "escape" divine judgment. This indicates their focus on outward circumstances rather than spiritual realities or eternal justice. Their despair stems from seeing the unrighteous thrive while they, who ostensibly serve God, felt overlooked and unrewarded, leading them to question God's fairness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they tempt God, and escape.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they tempt God, and escape.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And now to us the men of pride seem happy; yes, the evil-doers are doing well; they put God to the test and are safe.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And now, we are declaring the proud happy, Yea, built up have been those doing wickedness, Yea they have tempted God, and escape.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Wherefore now we call the proud people happy, for they that work wickedness are built up, and they have tempted God and are preserved.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And now we hold the proud for happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they temptGod, and they escape.
Context
Building on the previous verse's revelation of the people's disillusionment with serving God, this verse further elaborates on their cynicism by highlighting their envy of the wicked. It explains why they felt it was 'vain to serve God,' by contrasting their perceived lack of reward with the apparent prosperity of the ungodly. This expression of unbelief then sets a sharp contrast with the faithful remnant's response in verse 16.
v.14Ye 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?
v.15This passage
v.16Then 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Malachi 4:1
For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
- Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?
- Acts 12:21
And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them.
- Matthew 4:6
and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.
- Jeremiah 7:10
and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered; that ye may do all these abominations?
- Psalms 49:18
Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself),
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