Malachi 4
1 [This is also what] the Commander of the armies of angels says: “There will be a time that I will judge [and punish] people. [When that happens, it will be] like [SIM] a very hot furnace. At that time, all the proud and wicked people will be burned up like [MET] stubble burns. They will be burned up completely, [like] roots and branches [and everything else on a tree burns completely in a very hot fire].
“Nʼezie, ụbọchị ahụ na-abịa, ọ ga-erekwa ọkụ dịka ebe a funyere ọkụ buru ibu. Mgbe ndị nganga, ndị na-eme ihe ọjọọ, ga-abụ igbugbo ọka, ụbọchị ahụ na-abịa ga-erechapụ ha,” otu a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru. “Ọ dịkwaghị mgbọrọgwụ maọbụ alaka ọbụla ga-afọdụrụ ha.
2 But [as for] you who revere me [MTY], [the one who will save you will come to you] like [MET] [the sun shines in the morning, and enable you to] become righteous (OR, [do what is] righteous); he will restore you [and protect you like a bird protects its chicks] [MET] under its wings. [When he comes, ] you will [be very joyful], like [SIM] calves that go out from a barn into the pasture leaping [joyfully].
Ma unu bụ ndị na-atụ egwu aha m ka anyanwụ nke ezi omume ga-achawapụta wetakwara unu ọgwụgwọ nke si nʼime nku ya. Unu ga-apụkwa, na-awụgharị dịka ụmụ ehi eji nri zujuo afọ.
3 At the time when I judge people, you will tread on wicked people as though [SIM] they were the dirt under your feet. [That is what I], the Commander of the armies of angels, promise.
Mgbe ahụ, unu ga-azọpịakwa ndị ajọ omume. Ha ga-aghọkwa ntụ nʼokpuru ọbụ ụkwụ unu, nʼụbọchị ahụ m ga-eme ihe ndị a,” otu a ka Onyenwe anyị, Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile kwuru.
4 Be sure to obey the laws that I gave to Moses, who served me [well]. [Obey all] the commandments and regulations that I gave him on Sinai [Mountain], for all [you people of] Israel [to obey.]
“Chetanụ iwu Mosis, bụ odibo m, ya bụ iwu na ụkpụrụ ndị ahụ dị iche iche m nyere ya na Horeb, maka Izrel niile.
5 Listen [to this: Some day] I will send to you the prophet Elijah. [He will arrive] before the great and dreadful/terrible day when [I], Yahweh, [will judge and punish people].
“Lee, aga m ezitere unu Ịlaịja onye amụma, tupu ụbọchị ukwu ahụ dị oke egwu bụ ụbọchị Onyenwe anyị abịa.
6 Because of what he [preaches], parents and their children will [love] each other [again] [IDM]. If that does not happen, I will come and curse your country [and destroy it].”
Ọ ga-eme ka obi ndị bụ nna chigharịkwute ụmụ ha, meekwa ka obi ndị bụ ụmụ chigharịkwutekwa nna ha; ka m ghara ịbịa ma jiri ịbụ ọnụ laa ala ahụ nʼiyi.”
