< Malachi 1 >

1 A prophecy: This message came from the Lord concerning Israel through Malachi.
神諭:上主藉瑪拉基亞傳於以色列的話。
2 I have loved you, says the Lord. But you ask, “How have you loved us?” Wasn't Esau Joseph's brother? the Lord responds. But I loved Joseph
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 despised Esau. I have made Esau's mountain homeland into a wasteland, and turned his inheritance into a desert for jackals.
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 The people of Edom may be saying: “We have been beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says, They may try and build, but I will tear down. They will be called a land of wickedness, and the people those who make the Lord angry forever.
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 You will see this destruction with your own eyes, and you will say, “The Lord is great, even beyond 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 honors his father, and a servant respects his master. So if I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? says the Lord Almighty to you priests who show contempt for me. But you ask, “How have we shown contempt for you?”
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 By making defiled offerings on my altar. Then you ask, “How have we defiled you?” By saying the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect.
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 When you offer a blind animal as a sacrifice, isn't that wrong? Or when you offer an animal that is crippled or sick, isn't that wrong? Would you give such gifts to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Would he be kind and show favor to you? asks 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 So why don't you try being kind to God, begging him to be merciful to you? But when you bring such offerings, why should he show favor to you? asks 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 I really wish one of you would shut the Temple doors to stop you lighting pointless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept offerings from you.
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 I am honored by nations from the farthest east to the distant west; everywhere people make offerings to me of incense and pure sacrifices. I am honored among the nations, 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 dishonor me when you say the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect, and that its food can be treated with contempt.
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 You say, “All this is too much trouble!” and you sniff scornfully at it, says the Lord Almighty. But when you bring animals that are stolen or crippled or sick and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept what you're giving? asks 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 Cursed are those who cheat by vowing to bring a ram as a sacrifice and then offers an imperfect animal to the Lord. For I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and I am respected among 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。

< Malachi 1 >