< Malachi 3 >
1 Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold he cometh, saith 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 And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb:
“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 shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice.
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 And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in the ancient years.
Awo ekiweebwayo ekya Yuda ne Yerusaalemi kiryoke kisanyuse Mukama, nga mu nnaku ez’edda era nga mu myaka egyayita.
5 And I will come to you in judgment, and will be a speedy witness against sorcerers, and adulterers, and false swearers, and them that oppress the hireling in his wages; the widows, and the fatherless: and oppress the stranger, and have not feared me, saith 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 For I am the Lord, and I change not: and you the sons of Jacob are not consumed.
“Kubanga nze Mukama sijjulukuka: mmwe, batabani ba Yakobo, noolwekyo siribazikiriza.
7 For from the days of your fathers you have departed from my ordinances, and have not kept them: Return to me, and I will return to you, saith the Lord of hosts. And you have said: Wherein shall 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 Shall a man afflict God? for you afflict me. And you have said: Wherein do we afflict thee? in tithes and in firstfruits.
“Omuntu alinyaga Katonda? “Naye mmwe munnyaga. Kyokka mugamba nti, ‘Tukunyaga tutya?’ “Mu biweebwayo ne mu kimu eky’ekkumi.
9 And you are cursed with want, and you afflict me, even the whole nation of you.
Mukolimiddwa ekikolimo ekyo, kubanga mmwe, eggwanga lyonna munnyaga nze.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and try me in this, saith the Lord: if I open not unto you the flood-gates of heaven, and pour you out a blessing even to abundance.
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 And I will rebuke for your sakes the devourer, and he shall not spoil the fruit of your land: neither shall the vine in the field be barren, saith 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 And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, saith 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 have been unsufferable to me, saith the Lord.
“Weewaawo ebigambo byammwe gye ndi bibadde bya bukambwe,” bw’ayogera Mukama. “Ate nga mugamba nti, ‘Twakwogerako tutya obubi?’
14 And you have said: What have we spoken against thee? You have said: He laboureth in vain that serveth God, and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances, and that we have walked sorrowful 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 Wherefore now we call the proud people happy, for they that work wickedness are built up, and they have tempted God and are preserved.
Okuva kaakano abeegulumiza tubayita ba mukisa; abakozi b’ebibi bakulaakulana era n’abo abasoomoza Katonda nabo bawona.’”
16 Then they that feared the Lord spoke every one with his neighbour: and the Lord gave ear, and heard it: and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that fear the Lord, and think on 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 And they shall be my special possession, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day that I do judgment: and I will spare them, as a man spareth his son that serveth 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 And you shall return, and shall see the difference between the just and the wicked: and between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.
Omulundi omulala mulyawula omutuukirivu n’omubi, oyo aweereza Katonda n’oyo atamuweereza.”