Malaki 1

1 Esia nye Yehowa ƒe nya si wògblɔ na Israel dukɔa to Nyagblɔɖila Malaki dzi. Wolɔ̃ Yakob, eye wolé fu Esau.

A prophecy: This message came from the Lord concerning Israel through Malachi.

2 Yehowa gblɔ be, “Melɔ̃ mi. “Gake nèbia be, ‘Aleke nèlɔ̃ mí?’” Yehowa gblɔ be: “Ɖe Yakob menye Esau nɔvi oa? Melɔ̃ Yakob.

I have loved you, says the Lord. But you ask, “How have you loved us?” Wasn't Esau Joseph's brother? the Lord responds. But I loved Joseph

3 Ke Esau ya la melé fui, metrɔ eƒe nɔƒe wòzu gbegbe, eye metsɔ eƒe domenyinu na amegaxiwo.”

and despised Esau. I have made Esau's mountain homeland into a wasteland, and turned his inheritance into a desert for jackals.

4 Edom gblɔ be, “Togbɔ be wogbã mi hã la, míagatso aƒedoawo.” Ke Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la agblɔ be, “Migbugbɔ tso duawo ne miate ŋui, gake magagbã wo, elabena woƒe dukɔa ŋkɔe nye, Nu vɔ̃ɖi wɔwɔ ƒe anyigba, ame siwo ŋu Yehowa do dziku ɖo ɖikaa.

The people of Edom may be saying: “We have been beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says, They may try and build, but I will tear down. They will be called a land of wickedness, and the people those who make the Lord angry forever.

5 O, mi, Israelviwo, mitsa ŋku ne miakpɔ nu siwo wɔm Yehowa le, le xexea me godoo ekema miagblɔ be, ‘Nyateƒee, Yehowa ƒe ŋusẽ tri akɔ la gbɔ míaƒe liƒowo ŋu yi sãsãsã!’

You will see this destruction with your own eyes, and you will say, “The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.”

6 “Viŋutsu dea bubu fofoa ŋuti eye kluvi ɖoa bubu na eƒe aƒetɔ; ekema ne nyee nye mia fofo la, afi ka nye bubu le? Ne nye nyee nye miaƒe Aƒetɔ la, nu ka ta mievɔ̃am o? Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe. “O, mi nunɔlawoe ƒo ɖi nye ŋkɔ. “Gake mieɖe ɖeklemi be, ‘Ɣe ka ɣi míeƒo ɖi wò ŋkɔ kpɔ?’

A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. So if I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? says the Lord Almighty to you priests who show contempt for me. But you ask, “How have we shown contempt for you?”

7 “Mietsɔ nuɖuɖu makɔmakɔwo sa vɔe nam le nye vɔsamlekpui dzi, “Gake miebiam be, ‘Gbe ka gbee míewɔ nane nenema kpɔ?’ “Le esime míedoa vlo Yehowa ƒe kplɔ̃ le amewo gbɔ be megale ɖeke me o.

By making defiled offerings on my altar. Then you ask, “How have we defiled you?” By saying the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect.

8 Miegblɔna na amewo hã be, Mitsɔ lã siwo mede blibo o la sa vɔe le Yehowa ƒe vɔsamlekpui la dzi faa, ɛ̃, lã siwo ƒe ŋkuwo gbã kple esiwo le dɔ lém la, megblẽ naneke o? Nu sia miewɔ, eye miebe menye vɔ̃ oa? Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la be mitsɔ wo na miaƒe mɔmefia abe nunana ene, eye miakpɔe ɖa be adze eŋu hã?” Yehowa Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe.

When you offer a blind animal as a sacrifice, isn't that wrong? Or when you offer an animal that is crippled or sick, isn't that wrong? Would you give such gifts to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Would he be kind and show favor to you? asks the Lord Almighty.

9 “Azɔ miele kuku ɖem be, Mawu, kpɔ míaƒe nublanui, Esi mietsɔ nunana madzemadze mawo vɛ ɖe, nu ka ta wòakpɔ nublanui na mi?” Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe.

So why don't you try being kind to God, begging him to be merciful to you? But when you bring such offerings, why should he show favor to you? asks the Lord Almighty.

10 “O, nunɔla ɖeka pɛ hã mele mia dome si atu gbedoxɔ ƒe ʋɔtruwo, ale be miadzudzɔ vɔsanu madzemadze siawo tsɔtsɔ va vɔsamlekpui la dzi oa?” Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe, “eye miaƒe nu mele ŋunye nyom kura o, eye miaƒe nunana aɖeke hã medze ŋunye o.

I really wish one of you would shut the Temple doors to stop you lighting pointless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept offerings from you.

11 Tso ɣedzeƒe yi ɖe ɣetoɖoƒe ke la, dukɔ bubuwo ado nye ŋkɔ ɖe dzi tso ŋdi va se ɖe fiẽ. Le xexea me godoo woatsɔ vɔsa ʋeʋẽ lĩlĩlĩwo kple vɔsa kɔkɔewo ade bubu nye ŋkɔ ŋuti elabena mexɔ ŋkɔ le dukɔwo dome.” Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe.

I am honored by nations from the farthest east to the distant west; everywhere people make offerings to me of incense and pure sacrifices. I am honored among the nations, says the Lord Almighty.

12 “Ke miawo ya miedo gui hele gbɔgblɔm be, ‘Yehowa ƒe kplɔ̃ ŋu mekɔ o,’ eye ‘edzinuɖuɖu le ŋu nyɔm.’

But you dishonor me when you say the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect, and that its food can be treated with contempt.

13 Miegblɔ be, ‘Mawusubɔsubɔ kple eƒe seawo dzi wɔwɔ sesẽ loo!’ Ale miegblɔ be, ‘yewomawɔ ɖe se siwo wòde na mi la dzi o,’ Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe. “Mibu eŋuti kpɔ! Mietsɔ lã xɔabiwo, lã lédɔwo kple lã siwo mede blibo o la sa vɔe nam!” Yehowa be, “Enyo be maxɔ nunana sia tɔgbiwoa?

You say, “All this is too much trouble!” and you sniff scornfully at it, says the Lord Almighty. But when you bring animals that are stolen or crippled or sick and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept what you're giving? asks the Lord.

14 Ame si ɖe adzɔgbe be yeatsɔ lãtsu si de blibo le yeƒe lãhawo dome asa vɔe na Yehowa gake wòɖɔlii kple lã lédɔ la, fiƒode neva edzi wòaɖi eŋu kpekpekpe elabena nye la, Fiagãe menye eye ele be woatsɔ vɔvɔ̃ na nye ŋkɔ le dukɔwo dome.” Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔ nya siawo.

Cursed are those who cheat by vowing to bring a ram as a sacrifice and then offers an imperfect animal to the Lord. For I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and I am respected among the nations!