Malachi 1
1 [This is] the message that Yahweh gave to [the prophet] Malachi to [give to the people of] Israel.
Tamko la neno la Bwana kwa Israeki kwa mkono wa Malaki.
2 Yahweh says, “I have [always] loved you [Israeli people].”
“Nilikupenda, “asema Bwana. Lakini unasema, “kwa jinsi gani ulitupenda?” Esau siyo ndugu yake Yakobo?” asema Bwana. “Na bado nampenda Yakobo,
3 But you reply, “In what way have you loved us?” Yahweh replies, “[This is how I loved you]: [It is true that your ancestor] Jacob was [RHQ] Esau’s [younger] brother, and I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau. I caused his hilly region to become (desolate/a place where crops did not grow). I caused the land which he possessed to become a desert where jackals/wolves live.”
lakini nimemchukia Esau. nimeifanya milima yake kuwa ukiwa, na nimepafanya urithi wake kuwa makao ya mbweha wa jangwani.”
4 [The descendants of Esau who live in] Edom may say, “[Yes, ] we have been crushed/ruined, but we will rebuild [houses] in the ruins.” But the Commander of the armies of angels replies, “They may build [houses again], but I will demolish [them again]. Their [country] will be called ‘The land where wicked people [live]’ and [their people will be called] ‘The people with whom Yahweh is angry forever’.”
Kama Edomu husema, “Tumepigwa, lakini tutarudi na kujenga palipoharibiwa; “Bwana wa Majeshi asama hivi, “Watajenga lakini nitaiangusha chini; na wanaume watawaita 'Nchi ya uovu', na 'Watu ambao ambao Mungu ana hasira nao milele.”'
5 When you [Israeli] people yourselves see [what I will do to them], you will say, “[It is evident far] beyond the borders of Israel that Yahweh is [very] great!”
kwa macho yenu mtaona hili, na mtasema, “Bwana ni mkuu mbele ya mipaka ya Israel.”
6 But the Commander of the armies of angels says to the priests, “Boys honor their fathers, and servants [respect] their masters. So, if I am [like your] father and your master, why [RHQ] do you not honor and respect me? You have despised me [MTY]!” But you ask, “(How/In what way) have we despised you?”
mtoto amtiibaba yake, na mtumwa amtii bwana wake. ikiwa mimi, ni baba, iko wapi heshima yangu? na kama mimi ni bwana, iko wapi heshima yangu? Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi kwenu, makuhani, mnaodharau jina langu. lakini mnasema, 'tumeridharauje jina lako?
7 [Yahweh replies, ] “[Instead of honoring me, you have despised me] by offering sacrifices on my altar that are unacceptable to me.” Then you ask, “What sacrifices have we given that have been unacceptable to you?” [Yahweh replies, ] “You think that (it does not matter/it is okay) if you do not respect my altar.
kwa kutoa mikate iliyonajisi madhabahuni kwangu. Na mnasema kuwa, 'Tumekuradhau kwa namna gani?' Kwa kusema hivyomeza ya Bwana imedharauliwa.
8 You offer for sacrifices animals that are blind. (Is that not wrong?/That is disgusting!) [RHQ] And you offer for sacrifices animals that are crippled or that have diseases. (Is that also not wrong?/That [also] is disgusting!) [RHQ] If you tried to give presents like that to your governor, (do you think [RHQ] that he would be pleased?/he would certainly not be pleased!) (Would he [RHQ] accept such gifts? He would certainly not accept such gifts!) [That is what] the Commander of the armies of angels says!”
Mkitoa sadaka ya wanyama vipofu, hiyo siyo dhambi? na kama mkitoa vilema na wagonjwa, hiyo siyo dhambi? pelekeni hili kwa liwali; atawakubali au atainua nyuso zetu?” asema Bwana wa Majeshi.
9 [And he also says, ] “You plead with me to be merciful to you. But you bring to me sacrifices that are not acceptable to me, so why should I be kind to you [RHQ]?”
Na sasa, mnajaribu kutafuta neema ya Mungu, ili kwamba awe mwema kwetu. “Na aina gani ya sadaka kwa sehemu yenu, ataziinua nyuso zenu? asema Bwana wa Majeshi.
10 The Commander of the armies of angels [also] says, “I wish/desire that one of you would shut the gates [of the temple courtyard], in order that no one could offer those worthless sacrifices. I am not pleased with you, and I will not accept the offerings that you bring to me.
Kama kungekuwa na mtu ambaye angefunga lango la Hekalu, ili kwamba kusewe na mto madhabahuni bure! lakini sina radhi na ninyi, “asema Bwana wa majeshi, “na sitaikubali sadaka yeyote kutoka katika mikono yenu.
11 [People of other] nations honor me [MTY] [every day], from sunrise/morning until sunset/evening. All over the world people offer incense and [other] pure/acceptable offerings to me [MTY]. [They do that] because [people among all] the nations know that I [MTY] am [very] great.
Kutoka mawio ya jua mpaka machweo jina langu litakuwa kuu katikati ya mataifa; katika kila sehemu uvumba utatolewa katika jina langu, na pia sadaka safi. Kwa sababu jina langu likuwa kuu sana katikatik ya mataif,” asema Bwana wa majeshi.
12 But you [priests show that you] despise me [by what you do]. You say, ‘[It is all right if] people pollute the altar by bringing sacrifices that are unacceptable.’
“lakini ninyi mnachafua mnaposema meza ya Bwana mnainajisi, na matunda yake, na chakula chake kudharauka.
13 You say ‘We are tired of [burning all these sacrifices on the altar].’ You (turn up your noses at/act very disrespectfully toward) [me]. When you bring [to me] animals that have been stolen or ones that are crippled or that have diseases, to offer them for sacrifices, [do you think that] [RHQ] I should accept them?
Na ninyi pia mwasema, 'jambo hili limetuchosha, nanyi mnalidharau, “asema Bwana wa majeshi. “Mmerudisha kilichokuwa kimechukuliwa na wanyama wa mwitu au vilema au walio wagonjwa; na ndicho mnaleta kuwa sadaka zenu! Je naweza kuikubali hii mikononi mwenu?” asema Bwana.
14 [I will] curse anyone who [tries to] cheat [me] by solemnly promising [to bring to me a perfect] ram from his flock [of sheep] and then brings to me one that has defects. [If anyone does that, I will punish him], because I am a great king; [I am] the Commander of the armies of angels and [people of the other] nations revere me [MTY], [but you do not]!”
Alaniwe alye mdanganyifu, ambaye anaye mnyama dume katika kundi lake ana akaahidi kunitolea, lakini bado anatoa kwangu, mimi Bwana, ambayo ni kiujanja ujanja; kwa kuwa mimi ni mfalme mkuu,” asema Bwana wa Majeshi, “na jina langu litaogopwa katika mataifa.”
