< Malachi 3 >
1 Behold me! sending my messenger, who will prepare a way before me, — and, suddenly, shall come to his temple The Lord whom ye are seeking, even the messenger of the covenant in whom ye are delighting, Lo! he cometh! saith Yahweh 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 may endure the day of his coming? And who is he that can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ alkali;
“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 Therefore will he sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and will purify the sons of Levi, and will smelt them, as gold and as silver; so shall they belong to Yahweh, offering a gift 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 Then shall the gift of Judah and Jerusalem, be pleasant to Yahweh, —as in the days of age-past times, and as in the ancient years.
Awo ekiweebwayo ekya Yuda ne Yerusaalemi kiryoke kisanyuse Mukama, nga mu nnaku ez’edda era nga mu myaka egyayita.
5 Therefore will I draw near unto you for judgment, and will become a swift witness against the mutterers of incantations, and against the adulterers, and against them that swear to a falsehood, —and against them who rob the hire of the hireling, the widow and the fatherless, and that drive away the sojourner, and do not revere me, saith Yahweh 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 Because, I, Yahweh, have not changed, therefore, ye, the sons of Jacob, have not been utterly consumed.
“Kubanga nze Mukama sijjulukuka: mmwe, batabani ba Yakobo, noolwekyo siribazikiriza.
7 From the days of your fathers, have ye departed from my statutes, and not observed them, Return ye unto me, that I may return unto you, saith Yahweh of hosts. And yet 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 Will, a son of earth, defraud, God? Nevertheless, ye, have been defrauding me, and yet ye say, Wherein have we defrauded thee? In the tithe and the offering.
“Omuntu alinyaga Katonda? “Naye mmwe munnyaga. Kyokka mugamba nti, ‘Tukunyaga tutya?’ “Mu biweebwayo ne mu kimu eky’ekkumi.
9 With a curse, have ye been cursing, and yet, me, have ye been defrauding, — the whole nation.
Mukolimiddwa ekikolimo ekyo, kubanga mmwe, eggwanga lyonna munnyaga nze.
10 Bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, Yea, I pray you, put me to the proof hereby, saith Yahweh of hosts, whether I will not open to you the sluices of the heavens, and pour out for you blessing, until there be no room.
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 Then will I rebuke, for you, the devourer that he spoil not, for you, the fruit of the ground, — neither shall the vine in the field, be barren to you, saith Yahweh 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 So shall all the nations, pronounce you happy, —for, ye, shall become, a land of delight, saith Yahweh of hosts.
“Era amawanga gonna galibayita ba mukisa: kubanga muliba nsi esanyusa, kino ky’ekisuubizo,” bw’ayogera Mukama ow’Eggye.
13 Stout against me, have been your words, saith Yahweh, —and yet ye say, What have we spoken, one to another, against thee?
“Weewaawo ebigambo byammwe gye ndi bibadde bya bukambwe,” bw’ayogera Mukama. “Ate nga mugamba nti, ‘Twakwogerako tutya obubi?’
14 Ye have said, Vain is it to serve God, —and, What profit when we have kept his charge, or when we have walked gloomily before Yahweh 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 Now, therefore, we are pronouncing happy—the proud, —and, the doers of lawlessness have, even been built up, and, they who have put God to the proof, have even been delivered.
Okuva kaakano abeegulumiza tubayita ba mukisa; abakozi b’ebibi bakulaakulana era n’abo abasoomoza Katonda nabo bawona.’”
16 Then, they who revered Yahweh, conversed, one with another, —and Yahweh hearkened, and heard, and there was written a book of remembrance before him, for them who revered Yahweh, and for such as thought of 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 Therefore shall they be mine, saith Yahweh of hosts, in the day for which, I, am preparing treasure, —and I will deal tenderly with them, just as a man, dealeth tenderly, with his own son who is serving 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 So shall ye return, and see the difference, between the righteous and the lawless, —between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.
Omulundi omulala mulyawula omutuukirivu n’omubi, oyo aweereza Katonda n’oyo atamuweereza.”