3:13 “You have criticized me sharply,” 4 says the Lord, “but you ask, ‘How have we criticized you?’ 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped 5 by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all? 6 3:15 So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. 7 In fact, those who challenge 8 God escape!’”
3:16 Then those who respected 9 the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice. 10 A scroll 11 was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name. 3:17 “They will belong to me,” says the Lord who rules over all, “in the day when I prepare my own special property. 12 I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 3:18 Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between 13 the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.