This is where the Response element of the dispute begins. It continues to the end of 4.3.

For You have said, compare 1.2, 6, 7, 13; 2.14, 17; 3.7, 8, 13. The occurrence of the formula here is not related to an Objection element, and in that respect it is more like the occurrence in 1.13 than like any of the others. Translators may decide to render it as “you say” here and in 1.13, even if they have rendered it as “you ask” in the places where an Objection element is introduced.

It is vain to serve God: The word translated vain is the same Hebrew word as is used in the Ten Commandments (Exo 20.7; Deut 5.11). However, the meaning is rather different here, so it may not be appropriate to translate in the same way as in those passages. Here the meaning is “profitless, without benefit.” The speakers had apparently taken to serve God to mean merely observing the outward forms of religion in the hope of material gain. They are now complaining that this has not brought them the prosperity they expected (contrast the attitudes described in 1 Tim 6.3-10). Other renderings in English are “futile” (New International Version, Revised English Bible) and “useless” (Moffatt, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh; similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Further possibilities would include “pointless” and “fruitless.” To serve God may be expressed as “to worship God,” “to follow God’s rules,” or “to do what God requires.”

What is the good of our keeping his charge?: The phrase translated What is the good is often used of material gain (compare Gen 37.26, where Revised Standard Version has “What profit is it”), so many English versions use the word “gain” (Moffatt, New English Bible/Revised English Bible, New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Living Translation) or “profit” (New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New King James Version ). Another possibility would be “What reward do we get?” (compare Knox, and also the comments of Jesus in Matt 6.1, 4-6, 15-18). The Hebrew expression behind keeping his charge involves a verb and a noun based on the same root. It is not possible to reproduce this structure in a stylistically natural way in English, but in other languages this may be easy and fitting. The meaning is expressed in a more modern way in English as “keeping his command[s]” (New American Bible, Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version), “observing his rules” (New English Bible/Revised English Bible), “carrying out his requirements” (New International Version), or simply “doing what he says” (Good News Translation) or “obeying him” (Contemporary English Version). Similar Hebrew constructions are found in such places as Josh 22.3; 2 Chr 13.11 and Zech 3.7.

Or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts: The phrase as in mourning translates a Hebrew word that occurs only here. The general sense of the whole clause is clear, but the detailed meaning of this word is not. It is probably derived from a root with a meaning related to darkness (compare Ezek 32.7-8) and the form found here may well refer to the dark clothes associated with mourning. The whole expression walking as in mourning would then indicate an attitude of sorrow, probably accompanied by clothes that showed sadness. Similar phrases occur in Job 30.28; Psa 35.14; 38.6; 42.9 and 43.2. Other versions use comparable terms such as “going about as mourners” (New Revised Standard Version; similarly Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New King James Version ).

If this interpretation is accepted, the question arises whether the mourning was sincere or not. Good News Translation seems to think it was, translating it as “trying to show … that we are sorry for what we have done” (compare New Living Translation). On the other hand, Contemporary English Version “going around looking sad” seems to suggest that the appearance of sadness is hypocritical. This approach fits the context better, especially if the speakers are people who have inwardly rejected the LORD’s demands. In Zech 7.1-6 mention is made of ceremonial mourning, and it may well be that the people of Malachi’s time also observed such ceremonies outwardly, without any real repentance. This is the interpretation found in Bible en français courant with “we have participated in mourning ceremonies,” and is the one recommended in this Handbook. Translators should avoid any rendering that sounds as if it means that the speakers are saying that they have attended lots of funerals. There are various customs associated with mourning in different cultures, but if possible translators should use a general expression rather than one that describes the customs of their own culture. They should be especially careful to avoid mention of any custom such as tattooing or cutting the body that is forbidden in the Old Testament (see Lev 19.27-28; Deut 14.1).

Other possibilities are “behaving with deference” (New English Bible), “behaving with humble submission” (Revised English Bible), and “walking in abject awe” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but these all appear to indicate an inner sincerity that the speakers did not really have, and are not recommended.

In Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente the whole verse is restructured in a way that some translators may find useful:

• You have said, “It is useless to serve God. We have obeyed his commands and have taken part in mourning ceremonies in order to gain the favor of the LORD Almighty, but we haven’t got any benefit from it.”

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Malachi. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .