Malachi 3:18
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Then you will again see how the upright man is different from the sinner, and the servant of God from him who is not.
Webster's Revision
Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
World English Bible
Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Definitions for Malachi 3:18
Clarke's Malachi 3:18 Bible Commentary
Then shall ye return - To your senses, when perhaps too late; and discern - see the difference which God makes, between the righteous and the wicked, which will be most marked and awful.
Between him that serveth God - Your obedience to whom, ye said, would be unprofitable to you.
And hits that serveth him not - Of whom ye said, his disobedience would be no prejudice to him. You will find the former received into the kingdom of glory; and the latter, with yourselves, thrust down into the bitter pains of an eternal death. Reader, ponder these things.
In the great day of the Lord, at least, if not long before, it will be fully discovered who have been the truly wise people; those who took up their cross and followed Christ; or those who satisfied the flesh, with its affections and desires, following a multitude to do evil.
Barnes's Malachi 3:18 Bible Commentary
Then shall ye return, or turn - , not, "return" in the sense of returning to God, for in that day will be the time of judgment, not of repentance; nor yet, "then shall ye again see;" for this is what they denied; and, if they had ceased to deny it, they would have been converted, not in that day, but before, when God gave them grace to see it. They shall turn, so as to have other convictions than before; but, as Judas. The Day of Judgment will make a great change in earthly judgment. Last shall be first and first last; this world's sorrow shall end in joy, and worldly joy in sorrow; afflictions shall be seen to be God's love: Psalm 119:75, "Thou in very faithfulness hast afflicted me;" and the unclouded prosperity of the ungodly to be God's abandonment of them. The picture of the surprise of the wicked in the Day of Judgment, in the Wisdom of Solomon, is a comment on the prophet (Wisdom 5:1-5), "Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of his labors; when they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed with the strangeness of his salvation, so far beyond all they looked for: and they, repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit, shall say within themselves, This was he whom we had sometimes in derision and a proverb of reproach: we fools counted his life madness and his end to be without honor: how is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints!"
Wesley's Malachi 3:18 Bible Commentary
3:18 Ye - Ye contemners of God and religion, return to your reason, forced by the convincing power of God's judgments.Discern - Clearly see the happiness of the righteous, and your own misery, who perish in your wickedness.