Malachi 2
1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment [is] for you.
“Sasa onyo hili ni kwa ajili yenu, enyi makuhani.
2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yes, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.
Kama hamtasikiliza, na kama hamtaki kuielekeza mioyo yenu kuheshimu Jina langu, nitatuma laana juu yenu, nami nitalaani baraka zenu. Naam, nimekwisha kuzilaani, kwa sababu hamkuielekeza mioyo yenu kuniheshimu mimi,” Asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, [even] the dung of your solemn feasts; and [one] shall take you away with it.
“Kwa sababu yenu nitawakatilia mbali wazao wenu. Nitazipaka nyuso zenu mavi, mavi ya dhabihu zenu. Nanyi mtafukuzwa pamoja nazo mtoke mbele zangu.
4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
Nanyi mtajua kuwa nimewapelekea onyo hili ili kwamba Agano langu na Lawi lipate kuendelea,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him [for] the fear with which he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
“Agano langu lilikuwa pamoja naye, agano la uhai na amani, nami nilimpa yote, ili aniche na kuniheshimu, naye akaniheshimu na kusimama akilicha Jina langu.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity.
Fundisho la kweli lilikuwa kinywani mwake, wala hakuna uongo wowote uliopatikana katika midomo yake. Alitembea nami katika amani na unyofu, naye akawageuza wengi kutoka dhambini.
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.
“Kwa maana yapasa midomo ya kuhani kuhifadhi maarifa. Tena kutoka kinywani mwake watu wangepaswa kutafuta mafundisho, kwa sababu yeye ni mjumbe wa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
8 But ye have departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
Lakini mmegeuka mkaiacha njia, na kwa mafundisho yenu mmesababisha wengi kujikwaa. Mmevunja agano na Lawi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
“Kwa hiyo nimewasababisha ninyi kudharauliwa na kufedheheshwa mbele ya watu wote, kwa sababu hamkufuata njia zangu, bali mmeonyesha upendeleo katika mambo ya sheria.”
10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Je, sote hatuna Baba mmoja? Hatukuumbwa na Mungu mmoja? Kwa nini basi tunalinajisi Agano la baba zetu kwa kukosa uaminifu kila mmoja kwa mwenzake?
11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD whom he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
Yuda amevunja uaminifu. Jambo la kuchukiza limetendeka katika Israeli na katika Yerusalemu: Yuda amepanajisi mahali patakatifu apendapo Bwana, kwa kuoa binti wa mungu mgeni.
12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering to the LORD of hosts.
Kwa maana kwa mtu yeyote atendaye jambo hili, Bwana na amkatilie mbali kutoka hema za Yakobo, hata kama huwa anamletea Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote sadaka.
13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth [it] with good will at your hand.
Kitu kingine mnachokifanya: Mnaifurikisha madhabahu ya Bwana kwa machozi. Mnalia na kuugua kwa sababu yeye haziangalii tena sadaka zenu wala hazikubali kwa furaha kutoka mikononi mwenu.
14 Yet ye say, Why? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet [is] she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Mnauliza, “Kwa nini?” Ni kwa sababu Bwana ni shahidi kati yako na mke wa ujana wako, kwa sababu umevunja uaminifu naye, ingawa yeye ni mwenzako, mke wa agano lako la ndoa.
15 And did he not make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And why one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Je, Bwana hakuwafanya wao kuwa mmoja? Katika mwili na katika roho wao ni wa Mungu. Kwa nini wawe mmoja? Kwa sababu Mungu alikuwa akitafuta mzao mwenye kumcha Mungu. Kwa hiyo jihadharini wenyewe katika roho zenu, mtu asivunje uaminifu kwa mke wa ujana wake.
16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith, that he hateth putting away: for [one] covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
“Ninachukia kuachana,” asema Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, “pia nachukia mtu anayejivika jeuri kama vazi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. Kwa hiyo jihadharini wenyewe katika roho zenu, wala msije mkavunja uaminifu.
17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, In what have we wearied [him]? When 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?
Mmemchosha Bwana kwa maneno yenu. Nanyi mnauliza, “Tumemchosha kwa namna gani?” Mmemchosha kwa kusema, “Wote watendao mabaya ni wema machoni pa Bwana, naye anapendezwa nao” au “Mungu wa haki yuko wapi?”
