The Tithe Test and God's Promise to the Faithful
Malachi 3:6-18
Mal.3.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- שניתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- ואתם: CONJ+PRON,2,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יעקב: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- כליתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Hebrews 13:8 (thematic): Affirms the unchanging character of Christ/God—'the same yesterday and today and forever' parallels God’s declaration 'I the LORD do not change.'
- James 1:17 (verbal): Speaks of God as the source of immutable gifts, 'with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning,' echoing the theme of divine constancy in Malachi.
- Psalm 102:27 (verbal): Directly states God's permanence—'you are the same, and your years have no end'—a poetic parallel to 'I the LORD do not change.'
- 1 Samuel 15:29 (verbal): Declares that 'the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind,' using similar language about God’s immutability and trustworthiness.
- Numbers 23:19 (thematic): Asserts that God is not like man who lies or changes—echoes Malachi’s contrast between divine constancy and human frailty.
Alternative generated candidates
- For I the LORD do not change; and you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.
- For I the LORD do not change; and you, sons of Jacob, have not been consumed.
Mal.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למימי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,suff
- אבתיכם: NOUN,m,pl,cons+PRON,2,pl
- סרתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- מחקי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,suff
- ולא: CONJ
- שמרתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- שובו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ואשובה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,sg
- אליכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואמרתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- במה: PREP+PRON,interr
- נשוב: VERB,qal,impf,1,na,pl
Parallels
- Hosea 6:1-2 (thematic): Both urge Israel to 'return' to YHWH and pair repentance with God's restorative action (healing/raising), highlighting a call to covenantal renewal.
- Jeremiah 3:12-14 (allusion): YHWH commands the people to 'return' and frames the nation as faithless; echoes Malachi's call/response pattern and divine readiness to receive returnees.
- Joel 2:12-14 (verbal): Uses the explicit summons 'Return to me' and stresses sincere repentance and God's mercy—closely parallels Mal.3:7's injunction and promise of God returning.
- Deuteronomy 30:2-3 (structural): Presents the covenantal logic: if the people return and obey, God will restore them—parallels Malachi's promise 'Return to me, and I will return to you' within a covenant framework.
Alternative generated candidates
- From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Yet you ask, "How shall we return?"
- From the days of your fathers you turned aside from my statutes and did not keep them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, "How shall we return?"
Mal.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- היקבע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- קבעים: PTCP,qal,ptc,m,pl
- אתי: PRON,1,sg
- ואמרתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- במה: PREP+PRON,interr
- קבענוך: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- המעשר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והתרומה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Leviticus 27:30-33 (verbal): Defines the tithe as holy to the LORD and set apart—background for Malachi’s charge that people are ‘robbing’ God by withholding tithes/offerings.
- Numbers 18:21-24 (structural): Allocates the tithe to the Levites as their inheritance and support, providing the institutional framework Malachi presupposes.
- Deuteronomy 14:22-29 (thematic): Gives detailed instructions for tithes (including support for Levites, strangers, widows, orphans), clarifying the purposes for which people were to bring tithes—what Malachi says has been withheld.
- Nehemiah 13:10-12 (structural): Narrative example where people failed to bring tithes, causing Levites and priests to be neglected—parallels Malachi’s complaint and its social consequences.
- Haggai 1:6 (thematic): Prophetic warning that neglecting God’s house/offerings results in economic frustration (‘you have sown much and bring in little’), echoing Malachi’s linkage of withheld tithes to divine complaint.
Alternative generated candidates
- Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. And you say, "How do we rob you?"—in tithes and offerings.
- Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. And you say, "How have we robbed you?"—In tithes and offerings.
Mal.3.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- במארה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- נארים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואתי: PRON,1,m,sg
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- קבעים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- הגוי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Malachi 3:8 (verbal): Immediate context — the same charge: “You are robbing me” (accusation that the people withhold tithes/offerings).
- Malachi 3:10 (structural): Direct follow-up/contrast — offers the remedy (bring the tithes) and promise of blessing, framing 3:9’s charge within a call to covenantal restoration.
- Nehemiah 13:10-12 (thematic): Reform account about restoring the tithes to the storehouses so the Levites and temple service would not suffer — parallels the social/temple consequences of withholding what is due to God.
- Haggai 1:6-7 (thematic): Describes economic frustration (sowing much but harvesting little; wages in a bag with holes) as the result of neglecting the Lord’s house — similar cause-and-effect pattern to Malachi’s curse for withholding offerings.
- Deuteronomy 28:20 (allusion): Part of the covenant curse formula — Malachi’s ‘cursed with a curse’ echoes Deuteronomy’s warnings that covenant unfaithfulness brings God’s curses.
Alternative generated candidates
- You are under a curse; for you, the whole nation, have robbed me.
- You are under a curse—indeed you are robbing me—the whole nation.
Mal.3.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הביאו: VERB,hiphil,imperat,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- המעשר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האוצר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- טרף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בביתי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- ובחנוני: VERB,piel,imp,2,m,sg,1,sg
- נא: PART
- בזאת: PREP
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אם: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- אפתח: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- ארבות: NOUN,f,pl,const
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והריקתי: VERB,hif,perf,1,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- ברכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- בלי: PREP
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 14:22-29 (thematic): Prescribes the tithe to be set aside and used for Levites, aliens, or for feasting—background law for bringing tithes to a central place/storehouse as in Malachi.
- Deuteronomy 26:12-15 (thematic): Describes the act of bringing the third-year tithe and reciting a covenantal prayer asking for blessing—parallels Malachi's linkage of tithing with receiving God's blessing.
- Deuteronomy 28:12 (allusion): Speaks of the LORD opening the heavens to give rain and bless the work of hands—language and promise of heavenly outpouring echo Malachi's 'open the windows of heaven' and abundant blessing.
- Nehemiah 10:37-39 (verbal): Community covenant to bring firstfruits and tithes into the storerooms of the house of God—directly parallels the practice of bringing the tithe 'into the storehouse' in Malachi.
- Proverbs 3:9-10 (thematic): Calls for honoring the LORD with wealth so that barns and vats overflow—ties the duty to give with the promise of material blessing, similar to Malachi's 'I will pour out blessings until there is no more need.'
Alternative generated candidates
- Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and prove me now in this, says the LORD of hosts: if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more need.
- Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and put me to the test now in this, says the LORD of hosts. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more need,
Mal.3.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וגערתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- באכל: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- ולא: CONJ
- ישחת: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- פרי: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- האדמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ולא: CONJ
- תשכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- הגפן: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בשדה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Joel 2:25 (thematic): God promises to restore what the locusts (the devourer) have eaten—parallel theme of divine protection/restoration of crops and produce.
- Leviticus 26:4-5 (thematic): God pledges seasonal rain and abundant yield so that threshing reaches vintage—similar promise of agricultural blessing and protection for the land.
- Deuteronomy 7:13 (thematic): God promises to bless the fruit of the ground and of the womb for obedience—echoes Malachi’s linkage of divine blessing with covenantal behavior and protection of produce.
- Zechariah 8:12 (verbal): “The vine shall give her fruit” language closely parallels Malachi’s image of the vine not casting its fruit—both promise agricultural increase and stability.
- Amos 9:13-14 (thematic): A prophetic vision of restored abundance—mountains dripping with sweet wine and fields yielding grain—reflects the same motif of God ensuring productive harvests for his people.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the produce of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts.
- and I will rebuke for you the devourer, that it may not destroy the produce of your ground; neither shall your vine be barren in the field, says the LORD of hosts.
Mal.3.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואשרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- כל: DET
- הגוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- כי: CONJ
- תהיו: VERB,qal,imf,2,pl
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חפץ: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 12:3 (verbal): God’s promise that ‘all families of the earth shall be blessed’ parallels Malachi’s depiction of the nations calling Israel blessed—both link Israel’s status to blessing for the nations.
- Genesis 22:18 (verbal): Like Gen. 12:3, the covenant oracle that ‘in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed’ echoes Malachi’s theme of nations recognizing Israel’s blessed condition.
- Psalm 72:17 (verbal): Prayer that ‘all nations shall bless themselves in him’ (or ‘call him blessed’) closely mirrors Mal. 3:12’s language and theme of universal acclaim.
- Isaiah 60:3 (thematic): Isaiah’s vision that ‘nations shall come to your light’ parallels Malachi’s idea of Gentile nations acknowledging and honoring God’s chosen people.
- Zechariah 8:22–23 (allusion): The postexilic promise that many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD and join themselves to him resonates with Malachi’s assurance that nations will call Israel ‘a land of delight.’
Alternative generated candidates
- And all the nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
- All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
Mal.3.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- חזקו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- דבריכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,2,mp
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואמרתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- מה: PRON,int
- נדברנו: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,pl
- עליך: PREP+2ms
Parallels
- Ezekiel 18:25 (verbal): Israelites charge God's justice—'You say, “The way of the LORD is not just”'—a direct verbal parallel to the people questioning or speaking against God.
- Ezekiel 33:17-20 (thematic): People complain about God's justice and accuse God’s ways as unequal; God responds to their challenge—similar dialogic pattern to Malachi's exchange.
- Job 21:7-15 (thematic): Friends/observers voice complaints about the apparent prosperity of the wicked and question divine justice—echoes the Israelites' challenge to God in Malachi.
- Psalm 73:11-13 (thematic): The wicked speak contemptuously, asking rhetorically how God knows or cares; the psalmist records the common taunt against God's justice and providence.
- Isaiah 40:27 (thematic): People ask why the Lord seems indifferent—'My way is hidden from the LORD'—a similar complaint that questions God's awareness or justice.
Alternative generated candidates
- Your words have been strong against me, says the LORD; yet you say, "What have we spoken against you?"
- You have spoken harsh words against me, says the LORD. Yet you ask, "What have we spoken against you?"
Mal.3.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אמרתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- שוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ומה: CONJ+PRON,int
- בצע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- שמרנו: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,pl
- משמרתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- וכי: CONJ
- הלכנו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- קדרנית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 73:13-14 (verbal): Uses virtually the same complaint — 'surely in vain I have kept my heart clean' — echoing Malachi's question about the profit of serving and keeping God's charge.
- Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 (thematic): Questions the benefit of human toil and righteousness ('what does man get for all his labor'), paralleling Malachi's 'what profit' refrain about faithful service.
- Jeremiah 12:1 (thematic): A direct complaint to God asking why the wicked prosper and whether God's ways are just, matching Malachi's skeptical challenge to the value of serving the LORD.
- Job 21:7-15 (thematic): Job's lament over the prosperity and apparent impunity of the wicked echoes the same sceptical tone about the fruit of righteousness found in Malachi 3:14.
- 1 Corinthians 15:19 (thematic): Paul's rhetorical question about the profit of faith 'if in this life only we have hope' parallels Malachi's interrogation of the value of serving God when rewards seem lacking.
Alternative generated candidates
- You say, "It is vain to serve God—what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?"
- You say, "It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?"
Mal.3.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- אנחנו: PRON,1,pl
- מאשרים: VERB,piel,ptc,3,m,pl
- זדים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- גם: ADV
- נבנו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,pl
- עשי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- רשעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גם: ADV
- בחנו: VERB,qal,perf,1,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וימלטו: VERB,qal,wayy,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Job 12:6 (verbal): Job: “The tents of robbers are at peace, and they that provoke God are secure” — language and idea closely parallel ‘they tempt/provoke God, and are delivered.’
- Psalm 73:3,12-14 (thematic): The psalmist struggles with the prosperity of the wicked—‘Surely in vain have I kept my heart clean… behold, these are the wicked, who prosper in the world’—echoing Malachi’s complaint that the proud and wicked are established.
- Jeremiah 12:1 (thematic): Jeremiah’s challenge, ‘Righteous are you? Why do the way of the wicked prosper?’ parallels Malachi’s protest at the apparent triumph and protection of evildoers.
- Ecclesiastes 8:14 (structural): Ecclesiastes notes the paradox of wicked people receiving good and the righteous suffering—another reflection on the troubling phenomenon of the prospering wicked found in Malachi 3:15.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now we count the arrogant happy; evildoers prosper, and those who test God escape.
- Now we count the proud happy; indeed, the doers of wickedness prosper, and even those who test God escape.
Mal.3.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אז: ADV
- נדברו: VERB,hitpael,perf,3,m,pl
- יראי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ויקשב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ויכתב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- זכרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ליראי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ולחשבי: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,const
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 32:32-33 (verbal): Moses speaks of being blotted out of the 'book' and God replies that he will blot out the wicked from his book—same motif of a divine book that records or removes persons.
- Psalm 56:8 (verbal): The psalmist says God collects his tears and records his wanderings in a book—parallels Malachi's image of God hearing and keeping a written remembrance of the faithful.
- Psalm 139:16 (verbal): ‘All the days ordained for me were written in your book’—a closely related image of God’s written knowledge and record of a person’s life, like the book of remembrance for those who fear the Lord.
- Luke 10:20 (thematic): Jesus tells the disciples to rejoice that their names are written in heaven—the same assurance of divine remembrance and favor for the faithful conveyed in Malachi 3:16.
- Revelation 3:5 (allusion): The promise that a believer’s name will not be blotted out of the book of life echoes Malachi’s book-of-remembrance motif for those who fear and honor God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then those who feared the LORD spoke one to another; and the LORD listened and heard. A book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on his name.
- Then those who feared the LORD spoke one to another; and the LORD listened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on his name.
Mal.3.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ליום: PREP,NOUN,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- סגלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וחמלתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- כאשר: CONJ
- יחמל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- העבד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 7:6 (verbal): Calls Israel God’s 'treasured/peculiar possession' (נַחֲלָה/סְגֻלָּה), echoing Malachi’s 'my jewels' language about God's people belonging to him.
- Psalm 135:4 (verbal): Explicitly states that the LORD has 'chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own possession,' closely paralleling Malachi’s claim that they are God's possession.
- Psalm 103:13 (thematic): Uses the father–child compassion image ('As a father shows compassion to his children') similar to Malachi’s simile of God sparing his people 'as a man spares his son.'
- Hosea 11:1–4 (thematic): Portrays God’s tender, parental care for Israel ('When Israel was a child I loved him... I taught Ephraim to walk'), paralleling Malachi’s motif of God’s merciful, father‑like affection.
- 1 Peter 2:9 (allusion): Applies the language of being a chosen/peculiar people ('a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for his own possession') to God’s community—an NT echo of the OT idea reflected in Malachi 3:17.
Alternative generated candidates
- "They shall be mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day when I make up my treasured possession; and I will spare them, as a man spares his son who serves him."
- They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, on the day that I make up my treasured possession; and I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.
Mal.3.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ושבתם: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- וראיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- בין: PREP
- צדיק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לרשע: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בין: PREP
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לאשר: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- עבדו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 1:4-6 (verbal): Direct contrast of the righteous and the wicked and their different destinies—‘the way of the righteous’ versus ‘the way of the wicked’ echoes Malachi’s distinction between those who serve God and those who do not.
- Psalm 73:16-20, 27-28 (thematic): The psalmist wrestles with the prosperity of the wicked and then sees their end, ultimately affirming the nearness and refuge of God for the righteous—paralleling Malachi’s promise that people will ‘see’ the true difference between righteous and wicked.
- Ezekiel 18:24-26 (thematic): Ezekiel argues that righteous and wicked are distinguished by their deeds and will receive corresponding judgment or vindication, reflecting Malachi’s concern with distinguishing servants of God from those who do not serve Him.
- Daniel 12:2-3 (thematic): A later apocalyptic depiction of a final separation and differing outcomes for the righteous and the wicked—resurrection to reward versus shame—resonates with Malachi’s vision of a visible distinction between the two groups.
- Matthew 13:49-50 (structural): Jesus describes the angels separating the wicked from the righteous at the end of the age, an explicit New Testament parallel to Malachi’s image of a clear division between those who serve God and those who do not.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
- And you shall return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
For I the LORD have not changed; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?'
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. And you say, 'How have we robbed you?'—in tithes and offerings.
You are under a curse — you, the whole nation — because you are robbing me.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and put me to the test now in this, says the LORD of hosts. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more need.
I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor shall your vine fail to bear fruit in the field, says the LORD of hosts.
All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
Your words have been harsh against me, says the LORD; yet you say, 'What have we spoken against you?'
You say, 'It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, or that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?' Now we count the bold blessed; evildoers prosper, and even those who test God escape.
Then those who feared the LORD spoke one to another, and the LORD listened and heard. A book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the LORD and who reflected on his name.
They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, on the day I make them my treasured possession; and I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.
Then you shall see and distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.