< Malachi 1 >
1 The word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
神諭:上主藉瑪拉基亞傳於以色列的話。
2 You have been loved by me, says the Lord. But you say, Where was your love for us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the Lord: but Jacob was loved by me,
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,
3 And Esau was hated, and I sent destruction on his mountains, and gave his heritage to the beasts of the waste land.
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。
4 Though Edom says, We are crushed down but we will come back, building up the waste places; this is what the Lord of armies has said: They may put up buildings, but I will have them pulled down; and they will be named The land of evil-doing, and The people against whom the Lord keeps his wrath for ever.
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。」
5 And your eyes will see it; and you will say, The Lord is great even outside the limits of Israel.
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。
6 A son gives honour to his father, and a servant has fear of his master: if then I am a father, where is my honour? and if I am a master, where is the fear of me? says the Lord of armies to you, O priests, who give no value to my name. And you say, How have we not given value to your name?
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﹖」
7 You put unclean bread on my altar. And you say, How have we made it unclean? By your saying, The table of the Lord is of no value.
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。
8 And when you give what is blind for an offering, it is no evil! and when you give what is damaged and ill, it is no evil! Give it now to your ruler; will he be pleased with you, or will you have his approval? says the Lord of armies.
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。
9 And now, make request for the grace of God so that he may have mercy on us: this has been your doing: will he give his approval to any of you? says the Lord of armies.
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。
10 If only there was one among you who would see that the doors were shut, so that you might not put a light to the fire on my altar for nothing! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of armies, and I will not take an offering from your hands.
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,
11 For, from the coming up of the sun till its going down, my name is great among the Gentiles; and in every place the smell of burning flesh is offered to my name, and a clean offering: for my name is great among the Gentiles, says the Lord of armies.
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。
12 But you make it unholy by saying, The Lord's table has become unclean, and his food is of no value.
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。
13 And you say, See, what a weariness it is! and you let out your breath at it, says the Lord of armies; and you have given what has been cut about by beasts, and what is damaged in its feet and ill; this is the offering you give: will this be pleasing to me from your hands? says the Lord.
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。
14 A curse on the false man who has a male in his flock, and takes his oath, and gives to the Lord a damaged thing: for I am a great King, says the Lord of armies, and my name is to be feared among the Gentiles.
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。