< Malachi 2 >
1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
司祭們! 這是向你們提出的警告:
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, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
如果你們不聽從,不把光榮我名的事放在心上──萬軍的上主說──我必使詛咒臨到你們身上,使你們的祝福變為詛咒。我已詛咒了,因為中誰也沒有把這事放在心上。
3 Behold, I will rebuke the seed for your sake, and will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your sacrifices; and ye shall be taken away with it.
看,我必要砍斷你們的手臂,把糞污,即你們祭牲的糞污,撒在你們的臉上,使你們滿面慚愧。
4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
這樣你們便知道,我為你們提出了這警告,是為保存我與肋未所訂立的盟約,──萬軍的上主說。
5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear, and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name.
我與他訂立的盟約,是有關生命及平安的盟,所以我賜給了他生命和平安;同時又是敬畏的盟約,所以他敬畏我,對我的名有所尊敬;
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and did turn many away from iniquity.
在他口中有真實教訓,在他脣舌上從不見謊言;他心懷虔誠和正直與我來往,使多人遠離了罪惡。
7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
的確,司祭的脣應保衛智識,人也應該從他的口中得到教訓,因為他是萬軍上主的使者。
8 But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
但是你們卻離棄正道,使許多人在法律上跌倒;你們破壞了我和肋未所立的盟約──萬軍的上主說。
9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law.
為,此我也使你們受全體人民的輕視,因為你們沒有遵行我的道,在施教訓上觀情顧面。
10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
我們是共有一個父親嗎﹖不是一個天主造生了我們嗎﹖為什麼我們彼此欺騙褻瀆我們祖先的盟約﹖
11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
猶大不守信義,在以色列和耶路撒冷行了醜惡的事,因為猶大褻瀆了上主所愛的聖所,娶了供奉邦神祗的女子。
12 The LORD will cut off to the man that doeth this him that waketh and him that answereth, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
惟願上主將行這事的人,連証證的人和監誓人,從雅各伯的會幕中剷除,由向萬軍的上主奉獻祭物的集會中剷除。
13 And this again ye do: ye cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth it with good will at your hand.
其次,你們還行了這件事:你們向上主的祭壇灑盡了眼淚,哭泣呻吟,
14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
你們還問:「這是為什麼﹖」是因為上主是你與你青年時所娶的妻子之間的証人。她雖是你的伴侶,是你結盟的髮妻,你道對她不守信義。
15 And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
上主不是造了他們成為一體,一個肉身,一個性命嗎﹖為什麼要結為一體﹖是為求得天主的子女;所以應關心你們的性命,對你青年結髮的妻子不要背信。
16 For I hate putting away, saith the LORD, the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
上主以色列的天主說:我憎恨休妻,休妻使人在自己的衣服上沾滿了不義,萬軍的上主聲明說。所以你們當關心你們的性命,不要不守信莪。
17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? In that ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of judgment?
你們的言談使上主生厭,你們還問:「我們在什麼事上使衪生厭﹖」即在你們說:「凡作惡的,在天主眼裏都是善的,而且衪還喜悅他們,」或說:「公義的天主在哪裏﹖」的時候。