Malachi 3:15

15 Therefore now we say proud men [be] blessed; for they be builded doing wickedness, and they tempted God, and be made safe. (And so now we say that proud people be blessed; for they be built up, or become prosperous, doing wickedness, and they tempted God, and came to no harm.)

Malachi 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

Malachi 3:15

And now we call the proud happy
Or "therefore now" {q}; since this is the case, that the worshippers of God are not regarded, and there is nothing got by serving him; they that are proud and haughty, that neither fear God nor regard men, are the happy persons; even presumptuous sinners, as the word ^F18 signifies, that stretch out their hands against God, and strengthen themselves against the Almighty; these enjoy all worldly happiness, while they that serve the Lord are mourning in sackcloth, and are in the utmost distress. The Targum explains it of the ungodly, and as it is explained in the following clause: yea, they that work wickedness are set up:
or "built up" ^F19; or "seeing, because", or "for they that work" ^F20; they are increased with children, by which their houses or families are built up; they are in a well settled and established condition; they abound in riches and honours; they are set in high places, and are in great esteem among men, even such who make it their constant business to commit sin: yea, [they that] tempt God;
or "yea, they tempt God" ^F21; by their wicked words and actions, and try whether he will cause his judgments to fall upon them, which he has threatened to such sinners; see ( Isaiah 5:18 Isaiah 5:19 ) : are even delivered;
or, "and are delivered" ^F23; from the punishment threatened; they escape it, and go on with impunity; from which observations these persons reasoned that there was no God of judgment, or that judged in the earth; that there was no providence concerned about human affairs; and that there was nothing in religion; and these were the hard and stout words which they spoke against the Lord.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (htew) "ergo nunc", V. L.; "igitur", Cocceius; "adeoque", Burkius.
F18 (Mydz) "arrogantes", V. L.; "feroces", Cocceius.
F19 (wnbn) "aedificati sunt", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Burkius; "aedificantur", Vatablus, Tigurine version, Calvin, Junius & Tremellius.
F20 (Mg) "siquidem", V. L.; "nam", Piscator, Noldius.
F21 (wnxb Mg) "etiam probaverunt", Pagninus, Montanus, Burkius.
F23 (wjlmyw) "et evaserunt", Pagninus, Montanus; "et effugerunt", Cocceius.

Malachi 3:15 In-Context

13 Your words waxed strong on me, saith the Lord; and ye said, What have we spoken against thee? (Your words have grown strong against me, saith the Lord; and ye said, What have we said against thee?)

14 And ye said, He is vain, that serveth God; and what winning for we kept his behests, and for we went sorrowful before the Lord of hosts? (Ye have said, It is empty and futile to serve God; and what profit, or what benefit, is there for us, though we have kept his commands, and we have gone sorrowfully before the Lord of hosts, because of our shortcomings?)

15 Therefore now we say proud men [be] blessed; for they be builded doing wickedness, and they tempted God, and be made safe. (And so now we say that proud people be blessed; for they be built up, or become prosperous, doing wickedness, and they tempted God, and came to no harm.)

16 Then men dreading God spake, each with his neighbour; and the Lord perceived, and heard, and a book of mind is written before him, to them that dreaded God, and thought on his name. (Then those who feared God spoke, each with his neighbour; and the Lord perceived, and heard, and a Book of Remembrance was written before him, listing those who feared God, and who kept his name in their thoughts./Then those who revered God spoke, one to another; and the Lord perceived, and heard, and a Book of Remembrance was written before him, listing those who revered God, and who kept his name in their thoughts. )

17 And they shall be to me, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day in which I shall make, into a special treasure; and I shall spare them, as a man spareth his son serving to him. (And on that day that I shall make/And on that day when I shall act, saith the Lord of hosts, they shall be my special treasure; and I shall spare them, like a man spareth his son who serveth him.)