Malachi 3

1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, 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 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

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 shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.

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 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

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

5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not 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, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.

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

7 Even from the days of your fathers you are gone away from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you said, Wherein 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 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings.

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

9 You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation.

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

10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

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 the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, 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 shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome 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 been stout against me, says the LORD. Yet you say, What have we spoken so much against you?

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

14 You have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before 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 And now we call the proud happy; yes, they that work wickedness are set up; yes, they that tempt God are even delivered.

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

16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought on 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 shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that 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 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.

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