< 瑪拉基書 1 >
This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:
2 上主說:我愛了你們,而你們卻說:你怎樣愛了我們﹖厄撒烏不是雅各伯的哥哥嗎﹖──上主的斷語──但是我卻愛了雅各伯,
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved,
3 而恨了厄撒烏。我曾使他的山荒涼,使他的產業變為豺狼所住的曠野。
but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
4 如果厄東說:我們雖然被毀滅,但我們必要重建廢墟。萬軍的上主卻這樣說:他們可以重建,但我必加以破壞,人們將稱之為「邪惡的地區,」為「上主永遠憤恨的人民。」
Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.
5 你們必要親眼看見,並且要說:上主連在以色列境界之外,也顯示了自己的偉大。
You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great—even beyond the borders of Israel.’”
6 兒子應孝敬父親,僕人應敬畏主人。但如果我是父親,對我的孝敬在哪裏﹖如果我是主人,對我的敬在哪裏﹖司祭們! 萬軍的上主對你們說:「你們輕視了我的名。」但你們卻說:「我們在什麼事上輕視了你的名﹖」
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
7 就在你們以不潔的食物供奉在我的祭壇上。你們又說:「我們在什麼事上玷污了它﹖」就是你們說:「上主的台桌是可輕賤的」的時候。
By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 你們將一隻盲目的牲畜獻為犧牲,不是罪過嗎﹖將這樣的禮品,獻給你的市長吧! 看他是否會喜歡,會悅納﹖──萬軍的上主說。
When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
9 現在你們懇求上主開恩,叫衪憐恤我們! 這事既然是你們經手,看衪是否會對你們垂青﹖──萬軍的上主說。
“But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
10 惟願你們中間有人關閉殿門,免得你們在我的祭壇上白白地點火! 我不你們──萬軍的上主說──也不悅納你們經手所獻的祭品,
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
11 因為從日出到日落,我的名在異民中大受顯揚,到處有人為我的名焚香獻祭,並奉獻潔淨的祭品,因為我的名在異民中大受顯揚──萬軍的上主說。
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.
12 但你們卻褻瀆了它,即在你們說:「主的台桌是污穢的,上面的食物是可輕賤的」的時候。
“But you profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is contemptible.’
13 你們還說:「唉,這是多麼麻煩! 」你們且嗤之以鼻──萬軍的上主說。你們將奪來的,跛腿的和有疾的拿來獻為祭品,我豈能從你們手中悅納﹖──上主說。
You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.
14 那在家畜群中原有公的,且許了願,卻拿有殘疾的獻給上主的騙子,是可詛咒的! 我是大王──萬軍的上主說:卜名在異民中必受敬畏。
“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.