< Malachi 3 >
1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.
“Laba, ntuma omubaka wange, alinkulembera era alirongoosa ekkubo nga sinnajja: era Mukama gwe munoonya alijja mu yeekaalu ye nga tebamanyiridde; omubaka w’endagaano gwe musanyukira, laba ajja,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
“Naye ani ayinza okugumiikiriza olunaku olw’okujja kwe, era ani aliyimirira ye bw’alirabika? Kubanga ali ng’omuliro gw’oyo alongoosa effeeza era nga sabbuuni ow’abayoza.
3 And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
Era alituula n’atunula ng’oyo alongoosa ffeeza n’agimalamu amasengere, era alirongoosa batabani ba Leevi, bakabona ba Katonda, era alibasengejja ng’ezaabu n’effeeza bwe bisengejjebwa; balyoke baweeyo ssaddaaka mu butuukirivu.
4 Then the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in days of old and years gone by.
Awo ekiweebwayo ekya Yuda ne Yerusaalemi kiryoke kisanyuse Mukama, nga mu nnaku ez’edda era nga mu myaka egyayita.
5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
“Era mu kiseera ekyo awatali kulonzalonza ndibasemberera nsale omusango. Ndiyanguwa okuwa obujulizi ku baloga ne ku benzi ne ku abo abalayira eby’obulimba, ne ku abo abalyazaamaanya omupakasi empeera ye; abanyigiriza nnamwandu ne mulekwa, era abajoogereza munnaggwanga, abatatya Mukama,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
6 “Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
“Kubanga nze Mukama sijjulukuka: mmwe, batabani ba Yakobo, noolwekyo siribazikiriza.
7 Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’
Okuva mu nnaku za bajjajjammwe mwakyuka ne mukyama okuva ku biragiro byange ne mutabikwata. Mudde gye ndi, nange nadda gye muli era nnaabasonyiwa,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye. “Naye mwebuuza nti, ‘Tunadda tutya?’
8 Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings.
“Omuntu alinyaga Katonda? “Naye mmwe munnyaga. Kyokka mugamba nti, ‘Tukunyaga tutya?’ “Mu biweebwayo ne mu kimu eky’ekkumi.
9 You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me.
Mukolimiddwa ekikolimo ekyo, kubanga mmwe, eggwanga lyonna munnyaga nze.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.
Muleete ekimu eky’ekkumi ekijjuvu mu nnyumba yange, ennyumba yange ebeeremu emmere, era mungezese,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye, “obanga siribaggulirawo ebituli eby’omu ggulu, ne mbawa omukisa ne gutabaako ne we guligya.
11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your land, and the vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Kale ndikuuma ennimiro zammwe ne zitazikirizibwa balabe; so n’omuzabbibu gwammwe ne gutakunkumula bibala byagwo ebitannatuuka kwengera,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight,” says the LORD of Hosts.
“Era amawanga gonna galibayita ba mukisa: kubanga muliba nsi esanyusa, kino ky’ekisuubizo,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
13 “Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
“Weewaawo ebigambo byammwe gye ndi bibadde bya bukambwe,” bw’ayogera Mukama. “Ate nga mugamba nti, ‘Twakwogerako tutya obubi?’
14 You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?
“Mwayogera nti, ‘Eby’okuweereza Katonda tebigasa, era kigasa ki okukwata ebiragiro bye era n’okutambulira mu maaso ga Mukama ow’Eggye ng’abakungubaga?
15 So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”
Okuva kaakano abeegulumiza tubayita ba mukisa; abakozi b’ebibi bakulaakulana era n’abo abasoomoza Katonda nabo bawona.’”
16 At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.
Abo abatya Mukama bayogeragana bokka ne bokka, Mukama n’abawulira. Ekitabo eky’okujjukira abatya Mukama ne balowooza ku linnya lye, ne kiwandiikibwa ng’alaba.
17 “They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.
“Kale baliba bange,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye, “ku lunaku lwe ndibakyusizaako okuba ekintu kyange eky’omuwendo; era ndibasonyiwa ng’omuzadde bw’asonyiwa mutabani we amuweereza.
18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
Omulundi omulala mulyawula omutuukirivu n’omubi, oyo aweereza Katonda n’oyo atamuweereza.”