< Malachi 1 >
1 [This is] the message that Yahweh gave to [the prophet] Malachi to [give to the people of] Israel.
Chirevo: Shoko raJehovha kuna Israeri kubudikidza naMaraki.
2 Yahweh says, “I have [always] loved you [Israeli people].”
Jehovha anoti, “Ndakakudai.” Asi imi munobvunza muchiti, “Makatida seiko?” Jehovha anoti, “Ko, Esau akanga asiri mukoma waJakobho here?
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.”
Asi Esau ndakamuvenga, uye ndakashandura makomo ake akava matongo ndikapa nhaka yake kumakava murenje.”
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’.”
Edhomu angati, “Kunyange takaparadzwa hedu, tichavakazve matongo.” Asi zvanzi naJehovha Wamasimba Ose: “Vangavaka havo, asi ndichakoromora. Vachanzi Nyika Yakaipa, vanhu vachagara vakatsamwirwa naJehovha.
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!”
Muchazvionera nameso enyu mugoti, ‘Jehovha mukuru zvokutopfuura miganhu yeIsraeri!’”
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?”
Jehovha Wamasimba Ose anoti, “Mwanakomana anokudza baba vake, uye muranda anokudza tenzi wake. Kana ndiri baba, kukudzwa kwangu kuripiko? Kana ndiri tenzi, kuremekedzwa kwangu kuripiko? Ndimi, iyemi vaprista, munozvidza zita rangu. “Asi munobvunza muchiti, ‘Takazvidza zita renyu seiko?’”
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.
“Munondivigira zvokudya zvakasvibiswa paaritari yangu. “Asi imi munobvunza muchiti, ‘Takakusvibisai neiko?’” Jehovha Wamasimba Ose anoti, “Pakutaura kwenyu muchiti tafura yaJehovha inozvidzika.
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!”
Pamunouya nezvipfuwo zvakapofumara kuti zvibayirwe, hazvina kuipa here? Pamunobayira zvipfuwo zvakaremara kana zvinorwara, hazvina kuipa here? Chimboedzai kuzvivigira mubati wenyu! Angafadzwa nemi here? Angakugamuchirai here?”
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]?”
Jehovha Wamasimba Ose anoti, “Zvino kumbirai Mwari kuti atiitire nyasha. Nezvipo zvakadai zvinobva mumaoko enyu, angakugamuchirai here?”
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.
“Haiwa, dai mumwe wenyu aipfiga mikova yetemberi, kuitira kuti murege kubatidza moto isina maturo paaritari yangu! Handifadzwi nemi,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha Wamasimba Ose, “uye handingagamuchiri zvipiriso zvinobva mumaoko enyu.
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.
Zita rangu richava guru pakati pendudzi, kubva kumabvazuva kusvikira kumavirira. Zvinonhuhwira nezvipiriso zvitsvene zvichauyiswa kuzita rangu munzvimbo dzose, nokuti zita rangu richava guru pakati pendudzi,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha.
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.’
“Asi munoizvidza pamunoti, ‘Tafura yaJehovha yakasvibiswa, uye zvokudya zvayo zvakashoreka.’
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?
Uye munoti, ‘Zvinorema sei!’ uye munoifembedza muchiizvidza,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha Wamasimba Ose. “Pamunouyisa zvipfuwo zvakakuvara, zvakaremara kana zvinorwara kuzozvipa sezvibayiro, ndingazvigamuchira kubva pamaoko enyu here?” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha.
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]!”
“Ngaatukwe munyengeri ane gondobwe rakanaka pakati pamakwai ake, anopika kuti acharipa, asi agobayira chipfuwo chine chakaipa pachiri kuna Ishe. Nokuti ndiri mambo mukuru,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha Wamasimba Ose, “uye zita rangu rinofanira kutyiwa pakati pendudzi.