13 ^g“Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. ^hBut you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ⁱ‘It is vain to serve God. ^jWhat is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call ^kthe arrogant blessed. ^kEvildoers not only prosper but ^lthey put God to the test and they escape.’”

16 Then those who feared the Lord ^mspoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and ⁿa book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, ^oin the day when I make up ^pmy treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall ^qsee the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.