Malachi 3:14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keep…”

Malachi 3:14

You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

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?

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 the LORD of Armies?

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?

Geneva Bible 1599

Ye haue saide, It is in vaine to serue God: and what profite is it that we haue kept his commandement, and that we walked humbly before the Lord of hostes?

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?

Young's 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?

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?

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Cross references

“It is”

Isaiah 58:3 Psalm 73:8–13 Zephaniah 1:12 Job 35:3 Job 34:9 Job 22:17

Isaiah 58:3 · BSB

“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

Psalm 73:8–13 · BSB

They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

Zephaniah 1:12 · BSB

And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’

Job 35:3 · BSB

For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

Job 34:9 · BSB

For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

Job 22:17 · BSB

They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’

“and that”

Zechariah 7:3–6 Joel 2:12 James 4:9

Zechariah 7:3–6 · BSB

by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts, as well as the prophets, “Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?”

Joel 2:12 · BSB

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

James 4:9 · BSB

Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

13“Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

15So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Read Malachi 3