Malachi 1
1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
Isiphrofethi, Ilizwi likaThixo ku-Israyeli ngoMalaki.
2 I have loved you, says the LORD. Yet you say, Wherein have you loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? says the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
“Ngilithandile,” kutsho uThixo. “Kodwa liyabuza lithi, ‘Usithande njani?’” UThixo uthi, “U-Esawu wayengasimfowabo kaJakhobe na? Yebo uJakhobe ngimthandile,
3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
kodwa u-Esawu ngimzondile, futhi ngenze izintaba zakhe zaba lugwadule lelifa lakhe ladliwa ngamakhanka asenkangala.”
4 Whereas Edom said, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus says the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD has indignation for ever.
U-Edomi angathi, “Kungaze kube sinyathezelwe phansi kodwa sizawavuselela amanxiwa.” Kodwa nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla, uthi: “Bangakha, kodwa ngizadiliza. Bazakuthiwa Yilizwe Elibi, abantu abazahlala bethukuthelelwe nguThixo.
5 And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
Lizakubona ngawenu amehlo lithi, ‘Umkhulu uThixo, angale kwemingcele yako-Israyeli!’”
6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And you say, Wherein have we despised your name?
“Indodana iyamesaba uyise, lenceku iyayesaba inkosi yayo. Aluba nginguyihlo kungaphi pho ukwesatshwa kwami? Aluba ngiyinkosi kungaphi ukuhlonitshwa kwami na?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla. “Yini, hawu baphristi, eleyisa ibizo lami. Kodwa lingabuza lithi, ‘Sileyise ngani ibizo lakho?’
7 You offer polluted bread on my altar; and you say, Wherein have we polluted you? In that you say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
Libeka ukudla okungcolileyo e-alithareni lami. Kodwa lingabuza lithi, ‘Sikungcolise kanjani wena na?’ Ngokuthi itafula likaThixo liyeyiseka.
8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now to your governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the LORD of hosts.
Nxa liletha izifuyo eziyiziphofu ukuba ngumhlatshelo, kambe kakukubi lokho na? Nxa lisenza umhlatshelo ngezifuyo eziyizilima loba ezilezifo, kakukubi lokho na? Ake lizame ukukunika umbusi wenu! Angalithabela lina na? Angalithanda kambe lina yini?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious to us: this has been by your means: will he regard your persons? says the LORD of hosts.
“Ngakho-ke ncengani uNkulunkulu ukuthi abe lobubele kithi. Ngeminikelo enjalo ephuma ezandleni zenu, kambe angalamukela?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nothing? neither do you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
“Oh, sekuze kungathi omunye wenu angavala iminyango yethempeli ukuze lingabi lilokhu libasa imililo engelamsebenzi e-alithareni lami! Kangithokozi ngani lina,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla, “njalo kangiyikwamukela umnikelo wezandla zenu.
11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, says the LORD of hosts.
Ibizo lami lizaba likhulu phakathi kwezizwe, kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kusiya ekutshoneni kwalo. Ezindaweni zonke impepha leminikelo ehlanzekileyo izalethwa ebizweni lami, ngoba ibizo lami lizakuba likhulu phakathi kwezizwe,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
12 But you have profaned it, in that you say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
“Kodwa liyalingcolisa ngoba lithi, ‘Itafula kaThixo ingcolisiwe,’ lokudla okukulo, ‘Kuyadeleleka.’
13 You said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and you have snuffed at it, says the LORD of hosts; and you brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus you brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? says the LORD.
Njalo lichila amakhala ngokweyisa lithi, ‘Kuyasidina thina lokhu!’” Kutsho uThixo uSomandla. “Nxa liletha izifuyo ezilimeleyo kumbe ezigulayo lizozinikela zibe yimihlatshelo, lithi ngizemukele yini ezandleni zenu?” uyabuza uThixo.
14 But cursed be the deceiver, which has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
“Uqalekisiwe umkhohlisi olenqama enhle emhlambini wakhe, athembise ukunikela ngayo, kodwa abesenikela ngesifuyo esilesici kuThixo. Ngoba ngiyinkosi enkulu,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla, “njalo ibizo lami kufanele lesatshwe phakathi kwezizwe.”
