Malachi 2
1 And now, this commandment is for you, O ye priests.
“Sasa onyo hili ni kwa ajili yenu, enyi makuhani.
2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts: I will even send out against you a curse, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I will curse the same, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Kama hamtasikiliza, na kama hamtaki kuielekeza mioyo yenu kuheshimu Jina langu, nitatuma laana juu yenu, nami nitalaani baraka zenu. Naam, nimekwisha kuzilaani, kwa sababu hamkuielekeza mioyo yenu kuniheshimu mimi,” Asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
3 Behold, I will destroy unto you the seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your festive offerings; and one shall take you away with it.
“Kwa sababu yenu nitawakatilia mbali wazao wenu. Nitazipaka nyuso zenu mavi, mavi ya dhabihu zenu. Nanyi mtafukuzwa pamoja nazo mtoke mbele zangu.
4 And ye shall thereby know that I have sent out unto you this commandment, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
Nanyi mtajua kuwa nimewapelekea onyo hili ili kwamba Agano langu na Lawi lipate kuendelea,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
5 My covenant was with him life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and because of my name he had dread.
“Agano langu lilikuwa pamoja naye, agano la uhai na amani, nami nilimpa yote, ili aniche na kuniheshimu, naye akaniheshimu na kusimama akilicha Jina langu.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and falsehood was not found on his lips: in peace and equity he walked with me, and many did he turn away from iniquity.
Fundisho la kweli lilikuwa kinywani mwake, wala hakuna uongo wowote uliopatikana katika midomo yake. Alitembea nami katika amani na unyofu, naye akawageuza wengi kutoka dhambini.
7 For the priest's lips are ever to keep knowledge, and the law are they to seek from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
“Kwa maana yapasa midomo ya kuhani kuhifadhi maarifa. Tena kutoka kinywani mwake watu wangepaswa kutafuta mafundisho, kwa sababu yeye ni mjumbe wa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
8 But ye are indeed departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of the Levite, saith the Lord of hosts.
Lakini mmegeuka mkaiacha njia, na kwa mafundisho yenu mmesababisha wengi kujikwaa. Mmevunja agano na Lawi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and low before all the people, in the same measure as ye do not keep my ways, but act with partiality in the law.
“Kwa hiyo nimewasababisha ninyi kudharauliwa na kufedheheshwa mbele ya watu wote, kwa sababu hamkufuata njia zangu, bali mmeonyesha upendeleo katika mambo ya sheria.”
10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? [then] why shall we deal treacherously every man against his brother, to profane the covenant of our fathers?
Je, sote hatuna Baba mmoja? Hatukuumbwa na Mungu mmoja? Kwa nini basi tunalinajisi Agano la baba zetu kwa kukosa uaminifu kila mmoja kwa mwenzake?
11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination hath been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the sanctuary of the Lord which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
Yuda amevunja uaminifu. Jambo la kuchukiza limetendeka katika Israeli na katika Yerusalemu: Yuda amepanajisi mahali patakatifu apendapo Bwana, kwa kuoa binti wa mungu mgeni.
12 The Lord will cut off unto the man that doth this, son and grandson, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that bringeth near an offering unto the Lord of hosts.
Kwa maana kwa mtu yeyote atendaye jambo hili, Bwana na amkatilie mbali kutoka hema za Yakobo, hata kama huwa anamletea Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote sadaka.
13 And this do ye secondly, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with loud complaint, so that he turneth not any more his regard to the offerings, nor receiveth it with favor at your hand.
Kitu kingine mnachokifanya: Mnaifurikisha madhabahu ya Bwana kwa machozi. Mnalia na kuugua kwa sababu yeye haziangalii tena sadaka zenu wala hazikubali kwa furaha kutoka mikononi mwenu.
14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast indeed dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Mnauliza, “Kwa nini?” Ni kwa sababu Bwana ni shahidi kati yako na mke wa ujana wako, kwa sababu umevunja uaminifu naye, ingawa yeye ni mwenzako, mke wa agano lako la ndoa.
15 And not one doth so who hath a remnant of a [good] spirit; for what desireth such a one? he seeketh [to possess] a godly posterity: therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none of you deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Je, Bwana hakuwafanya wao kuwa mmoja? Katika mwili na katika roho wao ni wa Mungu. Kwa nini wawe mmoja? Kwa sababu Mungu alikuwa akitafuta mzao mwenye kumcha Mungu. Kwa hiyo jihadharini wenyewe katika roho zenu, mtu asivunje uaminifu kwa mke wa ujana wake.
16 For he hateth putting away [the wife], so hath said the Lord the God of Israel, and him who covereth his garment with violence, so hath said the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, and deal not treacherously.
“Ninachukia kuachana,” asema Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, “pia nachukia mtu anayejivika jeuri kama vazi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. Kwa hiyo jihadharini wenyewe katika roho zenu, wala msije mkavunja uaminifu.
17 Ye have wearied the Lord with your words: yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? By your saying, Every one that doth evil is good in the eyes of the Lord, and in them he findeth delight; or else, Where is the God of justice!
Mmemchosha Bwana kwa maneno yenu. Nanyi mnauliza, “Tumemchosha kwa namna gani?” Mmemchosha kwa kusema, “Wote watendao mabaya ni wema machoni pa Bwana, naye anapendezwa nao” au “Mungu wa haki yuko wapi?”
