Malachi 1
1 THE BURDEN of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
Ujumbe: Neno la Bwana kwa Israeli kupitia kwa Malaki.
2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say: 'Wherein hast Thou loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD; yet I loved Jacob;
Bwana asema, “Nimewapenda ninyi.” “Lakini ninyi mnauliza, ‘Wewe umetupendaje?’” Bwana asema, “Je, Esau hakuwa ndugu yake Yakobo? Hata hivyo nimempenda Yakobo,
3 But Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.
lakini nikamchukia Esau, nami nimeifanya milima yake kuwa ukiwa, na urithi wake nimewapa mbweha wa jangwani.”
4 Whereas Edom saith: 'We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places'; thus saith the LORD of hosts: They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall be called The border of wickedness, and The people whom the LORD execrateth for ever.
Edomu anaweza kusema, “Ingawa tumepondapondwa, tutajenga upya magofu.” Lakini hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote asemalo: “Wanaweza kujenga, lakini nitabomoa. Wataitwa Nchi Ovu, watu ambao siku zote wapo chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana.
5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say: 'The LORD is great beyond the border of Israel.'
Mtayaona kwa macho yenu wenyewe na kusema, ‘Bwana ni mkuu, hata nje ya mipaka ya Israeli!’
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master; if then I be a father, where is My honour? and if I be a master, where is My fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say: 'Wherein have we despised Thy name?'
“Mwana humheshimu baba yake, naye mtumishi humheshimu bwana wake. Kama mimi ni baba, iko wapi heshima ninayostahili? Kama mimi ni bwana, iko wapi heshima ninayostahili?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. “Ni ninyi, enyi makuhani, mnaolidharau Jina langu. “Lakini mnauliza, ‘Tumelidharau Jina lako kwa namna gani?’
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar. And ye say: 'Wherein have we polluted thee?' In that ye say: 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'
“Mnatoa sadaka chakula kilichotiwa unajisi juu ya madhabahu yangu. “Lakini ninyi mnauliza, ‘Tumekutia unajisi kwa namna gani?’ “Kwa kusema kuwa meza ya Bwana ni ya kudharauliwa.
8 And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it no evil! And when ye offer the lame and sick, is it no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
Wakati mletapo dhabihu za wanyama walio vipofu, je, hilo si kosa? Mnapoleta dhabihu zilizo vilema au wanyama wagonjwa, je, hilo si kosa? Jaribuni kuvitoa kwa mtawala wenu! Je, angefurahishwa nanyi? Je, atawakubalia?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
9 And now, I pray you, entreat the favour of God that He may be gracious unto us! — This hath been of your doing. — Will He accept any of your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
“Basi mwombeni Mungu awe na neema kwetu. Je, kwa sadaka kama hizo kutoka mikononi mwenu, atawapokea?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
10 Oh that there were even one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
“Laiti mmoja wenu angalifunga milango ya Hekalu, ili msije mkawasha moto usiokuwa na faida juu ya madhabahu yangu! Sina furaha nanyi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, “nami sitaikubali sadaka toka mikononi mwenu.
11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name is great among the nations; and in every place offerings are presented unto My name, even pure oblations; for My name is great among the nations, saith the LORD of hosts.
Jina langu litakuwa kuu miongoni mwa mataifa, kuanzia mawio ya jua hata machweo yake. Kila mahali uvumba na sadaka safi zitaletwa kwa Jina langu, kwa sababu Jina langu litakuwa kuu miongoni mwa mataifa,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
12 But ye profane it, in that ye say: 'The table of the LORD is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even the food thereof, is contemptible.'
“Lakini mnalinajisi Jina langu kwa kusema kuhusu meza ya Bwana, ‘Imetiwa unajisi pamoja na chakula chake. Ni ya kudharauliwa.’
13 Ye say also: 'Behold, what a weariness is it!' and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.
Nanyi mnasema, ‘Mzigo gani huu!’ Nanyi mnaidharau kwa kiburi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. “Wakati mnapowaleta wanyama mliopokonya kwa nguvu, walio vilema au walio wagonjwa na kuwatoa kama dhabihu, je, niwakubali kutoka mikononi mwenu?” asema Bwana.
14 But cursed be he that dealeth craftily, whereas he hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and My name is feared among the nations.
“Amelaaniwa yeye adanganyaye, aliye na mnyama wa kiume anayekubalika katika kundi lake na kuweka nadhiri ya kumtoa, lakini akatoa dhabihu ya mnyama aliye na dosari kwa Bwana. Kwa kuwa mimi ni Mfalme Mkuu, nalo Jina langu linapaswa kuogopwa miongoni mwa mataifa,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
