"Ye have said, It {is} vain to serve God: and what profit {is it} that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walke…" — Malachi 3:14

Malachi 3:14 · KJV

“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? {ordinance: Heb. observation} {mournfully: Heb. in black}”

— Malachi 3:14

Verse 13

Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken {so much} against thee?

Verse 15

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, {they that} tempt God are even delivered. {are set up: Heb. are built}

Malachi 3 — Context

And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken {so much} against thee?

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? {ordinance: Heb. observation} {mournfully: Heb. in black}

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, {they that} tempt God are even delivered. {are set up: Heb. are built}

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard {it}, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Cross References

Isaiah 58:3

Wherefore have we fasted, {say they}, and thou seest not? {wherefore} have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. {labours: or, things wherewith ye grieve others: Heb. griefs}

Psalms 73:8-13

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly {concerning} oppression: they speak loftily.

Zephaniah 1:12

And it shall come to pass at that time, {that} I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. {settled: Heb. curded, or, thickened}

Job 35:3

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? {and}, What profit shall I have, {if I be cleansed} from my sin? {if...: or, by it more than by my sin}

Zechariah 7:3-6

{And} to speak unto the priests which {were} in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?

Job 34:9

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

Joel 2:12

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye {even} to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Job 22:17

Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? {for: or, to}