Malachi Propheta 1
1 Onus verbi Domini ad Israel in manu Malachiæ.
An oracle. The message of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
2 Dilexi vos, dicit Dominus, et dixistis: In quo dilexisti nos? Nonne frater erat Esau Iacob, dicit Dominus, et dilexi Iacob,
‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord. ‘But you ask, “How have you shown love to us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ explains the Lord of hosts, ‘yet I loved Jacob,
3 Esau autem odio habui? et posui montes eius in solitudinem, et hereditatem eius in dracones deserti.
but hated Esau, and made his mountains a desolation, and transformed his ancestral land into a wilderness.
4 Quod si dixerit Idumæa: Destructi sumus, sed revertentes ædificabimus quæ destructa sunt: Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Isti ædificabunt, et ego destruam: et vocabuntur termini impietatis, et populus, cui iratus est Dominus usque in æternum.
When Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and rebuild the ruined places”’ the Lord of hosts says, ‘They may build, but I will throw down. They will be called, “The border land of wickedness,” the people against whom the Lord is angry forever.
5 Et oculi vestri videbunt: et vos dicetis: Magnificetur Dominus super terminum Israel.
Your own eyes will see this, and you will say, “the Lord’s greatness reaches beyond the border of Israel.”’
6 Filius honorat patrem, et servus dominum suum: si ergo Pater ego sum, ubi est honor meus: et si Dominus ego sum, ubi est timor meus, dicit Dominus exercituum? ad vos, o sacerdotes, qui despicitis nomen meum, et dixistis: In quo despeximus nomen tuum?
‘A son honours his father and servant their master. If I am a father, where is my honour? And if I am a master, where is the one who fears me? So says the Lord to you, priests who despise my name. You ask, “How have we despised your name?”
7 Offertis super altare meum panem pollutum, et dicitis: In quo polluimus te? In eo quod dicitis: Mensa Domini despecta est.
You offer on my altar bread that is polluted. You ask, “How have we polluted it?” Because you say, “The table of the Lord is contemptible.”
8 Si offeratis cæcum ad immolandum, nonne malum est? et si offeratis claudum, et languidum, nonne malum est? offer illud duci tuo, si placuerit ei, aut si susceperit faciem tuam, dicit Dominus exercituum.
When you offer the blind animal for sacrifice, “It doesn’t matter!” And when you offer the lame and the sick “It doesn’t matter!” Give an animal like that to your governor; will he be pleased with it? Will he receive you favourably?’ says the Lord of hosts.
9 Et nunc deprecamini vultum Dei ut misereatur vestri (de manu enim vestra factum est hoc) si quomodo suscipiat facies vestras, dicit Dominus exercituum.
Now, plead for the favour of God with such an offering, so that he may be gracious to us. ‘Would I receive any of you favourably?’ says the Lord of hosts.
10 Quis est in vobis, qui claudat ostia, et incendat altare meum gratuito? non est mihi voluntas in vobis, dicit Dominus exercituum: et munus non suscipiam de manu vestra.
‘If only one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you could not kindle useless fires on my altar! I have no pleasure in you,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘Nor will I accept an offering from your hand.
11 Ab ortu enim solis usque ad occasum, magnum est nomen meum in Gentibus, et in omni loco sacrificatur, et offertur nomini meo oblatio munda: quia magnum est nomen meum in Gentibus, dicit Dominus exercituum.
For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place they offer to my name a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations,’ says the Lord of hosts.
12 Et vos polluistis illud in eo, quod dicitis: Mensa Domini contaminata est: et quod superponitur, contemptibilis est cum igne, qui illud devorat.
‘But you profane me when you say, “The table of the Lord is polluted, and its food is contemptible.”
13 Et dixistis: Ecce de labore, et exufflastis illud, dicit Dominus exercituum, et intulistis de rapinis claudum, et languidum, et intulistis munus: numquid suscipiam illud de manu vestra, dicit Dominus?
You say also, “How tired we are of all this!” and you sniff contemptuously at it. You have brought the blind, the lame and the sick as offerings. Should I accept this from your hand?’ says the Lord of hosts.
14 Maledictus dolosus, qui habet in grege suo masculum, et votum faciens immolat debile Domino: quia Rex magnus ego, dicit Dominus exercituum, et nomen meum horribile in Gentibus.
‘Cursed be the cheat, who has in his flock a valuable male, but vows and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished animal! For I am a great king,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and my name is feared among the nations.’
