Malachi 3
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall clear out the way before me: and suddenly will come to his temple the Lord, whom ye seek; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire for, behold, he is coming, saith the Lord of hosts.
“Laba, ntuma omubaka wange, alinkulembera era alirongoosa ekkubo nga sinnajja: era Mukama gwe munoonya alijja mu yeekaalu ye nga tebamanyiridde; omubaka w’endagaano gwe musanyukira, laba ajja,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
2 But who can sustain the day of his coming? and who can stand when he appeareth? for he is like the fire of the melter, and like the lye of the washers:
“Naye ani ayinza okugumiikiriza olunaku olw’okujja kwe, era ani aliyimirira ye bw’alirabika? Kubanga ali ng’omuliro gw’oyo alongoosa effeeza era nga sabbuuni ow’abayoza.
3 And he will sit as a melter and purifier of silver; and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness
Era alituula n’atunula ng’oyo alongoosa ffeeza n’agimalamu amasengere, era alirongoosa batabani ba Leevi, bakabona ba Katonda, era alibasengejja ng’ezaabu n’effeeza bwe bisengejjebwa; balyoke baweeyo ssaddaaka mu butuukirivu.
4 And then shall be pleasant unto the Lord the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Awo ekiweebwayo ekya Yuda ne Yerusaalemi kiryoke kisanyuse Mukama, nga mu nnaku ez’edda era nga mu myaka egyayita.
5 And I will come near unto you to [hold] judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against those that swear falsely, and against those that withhold the wages of the hired laborer, [oppress] the widow, and the fatherless, and that do injustice to the stranger, and fear me not, saith the Lord of hosts.
“Era mu kiseera ekyo awatali kulonzalonza ndibasemberera nsale omusango. Ndiyanguwa okuwa obujulizi ku baloga ne ku benzi ne ku abo abalayira eby’obulimba, ne ku abo abalyazaamaanya omupakasi empeera ye; abanyigiriza nnamwandu ne mulekwa, era abajoogereza munnaggwanga, abatatya Mukama,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
6 For I the Lord, —I have not changed: and ye sons of Jacob—ye have not ceased to be.
“Kubanga nze Mukama sijjulukuka: mmwe, batabani ba Yakobo, noolwekyo siribazikiriza.
7 From the days of your fathers did ye depart from my statutes, and did not keep them; return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts; but ye say, Wherein shall we return?
Okuva mu nnaku za bajjajjammwe mwakyuka ne mukyama okuva ku biragiro byange ne mutabikwata. Mudde gye ndi, nange nadda gye muli era nnaabasonyiwa,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye. “Naye mwebuuza nti, ‘Tunadda tutya?’
8 Can a man rob God, that ye will rob me? But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and in heave-offerings.
“Omuntu alinyaga Katonda? “Naye mmwe munnyaga. Kyokka mugamba nti, ‘Tukunyaga tutya?’ “Mu biweebwayo ne mu kimu eky’ekkumi.
9 With the curse are ye cursed, and yet me do ye rob, O ye entire nation!
Mukolimiddwa ekikolimo ekyo, kubanga mmwe, eggwanga lyonna munnyaga nze.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be provision in my house, and prove me but herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing, until it be more than enough.
Muleete ekimu eky’ekkumi ekijjuvu mu nnyumba yange, ennyumba yange ebeeremu emmere, era mungezese,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye, “obanga siribaggulirawo ebituli eby’omu ggulu, ne mbawa omukisa ne gutabaako ne we guligya.
11 And I will rebuke for you the devourer, and he shall not destroy for you the fruit of the ground: and the vine shall not cast its fruit for you before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
Kale ndikuuma ennimiro zammwe ne zitazikirizibwa balabe; so n’omuzabbibu gwammwe ne gutakunkumula bibala byagwo ebitannatuuka kwengera,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
12 And all the nations shall call you blessed; for ye shall be a land of delight, saith the Lord of hosts.
“Era amawanga gonna galibayita ba mukisa: kubanga muliba nsi esanyusa, kino ky’ekisuubizo,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
13 Your words have been strong against me, saith the Lord; but ye say, What have we spoken among us against thee?
“Weewaawo ebigambo byammwe gye ndi bibadde bya bukambwe,” bw’ayogera Mukama. “Ate nga mugamba nti, ‘Twakwogerako tutya obubi?’
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked contritely before the Lord of hosts?
“Mwayogera nti, ‘Eby’okuweereza Katonda tebigasa, era kigasa ki okukwata ebiragiro bye era n’okutambulira mu maaso ga Mukama ow’Eggye ng’abakungubaga?
15 And now we call the presumptuous happy: yea, built up are those that practise wickedness; yea, they have even tempted God and are [yet] suffered to escape.
Okuva kaakano abeegulumiza tubayita ba mukisa; abakozi b’ebibi bakulaakulana era n’abo abasoomoza Katonda nabo bawona.’”
16 Then conversed they that fear the Lord one with the other: and the Lord listened and heard it, and there was written a book of remembrance before him for those who fear the Lord, and for those who respect his name.
Abo abatya Mukama bayogeragana bokka ne bokka, Mukama n’abawulira. Ekitabo eky’okujjukira abatya Mukama ne balowooza ku linnya lye, ne kiwandiikibwa ng’alaba.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, on that day which I create as a special treasure: and I will spare them, as a man spareth his son that serveth him.
“Kale baliba bange,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye, “ku lunaku lwe ndibakyusizaako okuba ekintu kyange eky’omuwendo; era ndibasonyiwa ng’omuzadde bw’asonyiwa mutabani we amuweereza.
18 And ye shall return, and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that hath not served him.
Omulundi omulala mulyawula omutuukirivu n’omubi, oyo aweereza Katonda n’oyo atamuweereza.”
