16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a ^cbook 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, in the day when I make up my ^dtreasured possession, and I will spare them ^eas a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.