Malachi 3

1 Behold, I send my angel, and he will prepare the way before my face. And presently the Sovereign, whom you seek, and the angel of testimony, whom you desire, will arrive at his temple. Behold, he approaches, says the Lord of hosts.

Se, jeg sender min Engel, og han skal bane Vej for mit Aasyn; og til sit Tempel kommer i et Nu den Herre, I søger, og Pagtens Engel, som I længes efter; se, han kommer, siger Hærskarers HERRE.

2 And who will be able to consider the day of his advent, and who will stand firm in order to see him? For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb.

Men hvo kan udholde den Dag, han kommer, og hvo kan staa, naar han kommer til Syne? Han er jo som Metalsmelterens Ild og Tvætternes Lud.

3 And he will sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he will purge the sons of Levi, and he will gather them like gold and like silver, and they will offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice.

Han sidder og smelter og renser Sølv; han renser Levis Sønner, lutrer dem som Guld og Sølv, saa de kan frembære Offergave for HERREN i Retfærdighed,

4 And the sacrifice of Judah and of Jerusalem will please the Lord, just as in the days of past generations, and as in the ancient years.

at Judas og Jerusalems Offergave maa være HERREN liflig som i fordums Dage, i henrundne Aar.

5 And I will approach you in judgment, and I will be a swift witness against evil-doers, and adulterers, and perjurers, and those who cheat the hired hand in his wages, the widows and the orphans, and who oppress the traveler, and who have not feared me, says the Lord of hosts.

Jeg nærmer mig eder til Dom og vidner i Hast mod Troldmændene, Ægteskabsbryderne, Menederne og dem, som undertrykker Daglejere, Enker og faderløse, gør fremmede Uret og ikke frygter mig, siger Hærskarers HERRE.

6 For I am the Lord, and I do not change. And you, the sons of Jacob, have not been consumed.

Thi jeg, HERREN, er ikke blevet en anden, men I har ikke ophørt at være Jakobsønner.

7 For, from the days of your fathers, you have withdrawn from my ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. And you have said, “In what way, shall we return?”

Siden eders Fædres Dage er I afveget fra mine Bud og har ikke holdt dem. Vend om til mig, saa vil jeg vende om til eder, siger Hærskarers HERRE. Og I spørger: »Hvorledes skal vi vende os?«

8 If a man will afflict God, then you greatly afflict me. And you have said, “In what way, do we afflict you?” In tithes and in first-fruits.

Skal et Menneske bedrage Gud? I bedrager mig jo! Og I spørger: »Hvorved har vi bedraget dig?« Med Tienden og Offerydelsen!

9 And you have been cursed with privation, and you greatly afflict me, even your entire people.

I trues med Forbandelse og bedrager dog mig, ja alt Folket gør det!

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and let there be food in my house. And test me about this, says the Lord, as to whether I will not open to you the floodgates of heaven, and pour out to you a blessing, all the way to abundance.

Bring hele Tienden til Forraadshuset, saa der kan være Mad i mit Hus; sæt mig paa Prøve dermed, siger Hærskarers HERRE, om jeg da ikke aabner eder Himmelens Sluser og udøser Velsignelse over eder i Overmaal.

11 And I will rebuke for your sakes the devourer, and he will not corrupt the fruit of your land. Neither will the vine in the field be barren, says the Lord of hosts.

Jeg vil for eders Skyld skræmme Æderne, saa at de ikke ødelægger eder Landets Afgrøde, og Vinstokken paa Marken skal ikke slaa eder fejl, siger Hærskarers HERRE.

12 And all nations will call you blessed. For you will be a desirable land, says the Lord of hosts.

Og alle Folkene skal love eder, fordi I har et yndigt Land, siger Hærskarers HERRE.

13 Your words have gathered strength over me, says the Lord.

I taler stærke Ord imod mig, siger HERREN. Og I spørger: »Hvad taler vi imod dig?«

14 And you have said, “What have we spoken against you?” You have said, “He labors in vain who serves God,” and, “What advantage is it that we have kept his precepts, and that we have walked sorrowfully in the sight of the Lord of hosts?”

I siger: »Det er ørkesløst at tjene Gud; hvad vinder vi ved at opfylde hans Krav og gaa sørgeklædte for Hærskarers HERRES Aasyn?

15 Now, therefore, we call the arrogant blessed, as if those who work impiety have been built up, and as if they have tempted God and been saved.

Nej, vi maa love de frække! De øver Gudløshed og kommer til Vejrs; de frister Gud og slipper godt derfra.«

16 Then those who fear the Lord spoke, each one with his neighbor. And the Lord paid attention and heeded. And a book of remembrance was written in his sight, for those who fear the Lord and for those who consider his name.

Da talte de, som frygter HERREN, med hverandre. Og HERREN lyttede og hørte efter, og en Bog blev skrevet for hans Aasyn, for at de kunde ihukommes, som frygter HERREN og slaar Lid til hans Navn.

17 And they will be my special possession, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I act. And I will spare them, just as a man spares his son who serves him.

Den Dag jeg griber ind, skal de tilhøre mig som mit Eje, siger Hærskarers HERRE, og jeg vil handle nænsomt med dem, som en Fader handler nænsomt med sin Søn, der tjener ham.

18 And you shall be converted, and you will see the difference between the just and the impious, and between those who serve God and those who do not serve him.

Da skal I atter kende Forskel paa retfærdig og gudløs, paa den, som tjener Gud, og den, som ikke tjener ham.