Malachi 3:14
Ye have said, bIt is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his 5ordinance, and that we have walked 6mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
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?
b:
Job 21:14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Job 21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Psalms 73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
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.
5:
Heb. observation.
6:
Heb. in black.
ye that are the children of forefathers who had this good land given to them, and ever made fruitful while they feared and obeyed their God; you that have been well rewarded for your obedience, or you priests who have tithes, sacrifices, offerings, and first-fruits given you for your services.
have thought first, and next have discoursed it; unthankful to your God, you have atheistlike maintained it in disputes, that
all is lost labour, no profit to God nor any to yourselves; therefore better sit still and do nothing, than to no purpose.
while what they have before their eyes is the fruit of God’s goodness, and what they want is punishment of their not doing it better; whilst a very unsuitable observing the ordinances of God hath so much profit for you, dare you say there is no profit? Sottish atheists! who will not try what a more agreeable service would do.
so the hypocrites and ungodly object against God, Isa 58:3; yet their dissembled mournings, as Ahab’s, had their reward, and infinitely better than they
ye that are the children of forefathers who had this good land given to them, and ever made fruitful while they feared and obeyed their God; you that have been well rewarded for your obedience, or you priests who have tithes, sacrifices, offerings, and first-fruits given you for your services.
have thought first, and next have discoursed it; unthankful to your God, you have atheistlike maintained it in disputes, that
all is lost labour, no profit to God nor any to yourselves; therefore better sit still and do nothing, than to no purpose.
while what they have before their eyes is the fruit of God’s goodness, and what they want is punishment of their not doing it better; whilst a very unsuitable observing the ordinances of God hath so much profit for you, dare you say there is no profit? Sottish atheists! who will not try what a more agreeable service would do.
so the hypocrites and ungodly object against God, Isa 58:3; yet their dissembled mournings, as Ahab’s, had their reward, and infinitely better than they