3 ¹³ "Your words have been stout against me, says Yahweh. Yet you say, 'How have we spoken against you?' 3 ¹⁴ You have said, 'It is vain to serve God. What is the good of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before Yahweh of hosts? 3 ¹⁵ Henceforth we deem the arrogant blessed; evildoers not only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape.' "

3 ¹⁶ Then those who feared Yahweh spoke with one another; Yahweh heeded and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared Yahweh and thought on his name. 3 ¹⁷ "They shall be mine, says Yahweh of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 3 ¹⁸ Then once more you shall distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.