< Malachias 1 >
1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of his messenger. Lay [it], I pray you, to heart.
神諭:上主藉瑪拉基亞傳於以色列的話。
2 I have loved you, says the Lord. And you said, Wherein have you loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,
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 hated Esau and laid waste his borders, and made his heritage as dwellings of the wilderness?
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 Because one will say, Idumea has been overthrown, but let us return and rebuild the desolate places; thus says the Lord Almighty, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall be called The borders of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord has set himself 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 shall see, and you shall say, The Lord has been magnified upon the borders 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 honours [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honour? and if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord Almighty. You the priests are they that despise my name: yet you said, Wherein have we despised 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 In that you bring to mine altar polluted bread; and you said, Wherein have you polluted it? In that you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and that which was set thereon you have despised.
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 For if you bring a blind [victim] for sacrifices, [is it] not evil? and if you bring the lame or the sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now to your ruler, [and see] if he will receive you, if he will accept your person, says the Lord Almighty.
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 entreat the face of your God, and make supplication to him. These things have been done by your hands; shall I accept you? says the Lord Almighty.
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 Because even amongst you the doors shall be shut, and [one] will not kindle [the fire of] mine altar for nothing, I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept a sacrifice at 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 rising of the sun even to the going down [thereof] my name has been glorified amongst the Gentiles; and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great amongst the Gentiles, says the Lord Almighty.
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 profane it, in that you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and his meats set thereon are despised.
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 said, These [services] are troublesome: therefore I have utterly rejected them with scorn, says the Lord Almighty: and you brought in torn victims, and lame, and sick: if then you should bring an offering, shall I accept them at your hands? says the Lord Almighty.
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 And cursed [is the man] who had the power, and possessed a male in his flock, and whose vow is upon him, and who sacrifices a corrupt thing to the Lord: for I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and my name is glorious amongst the nations.
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。