Malashi 1
1 Liloba na Yawe. Liloba na Yawe epai ya Isalaele na nzela ya mosakoli Malashi.
A prophecy: This message came from the Lord concerning Israel through Malachi.
2 « Ngai, nalingaki bino, » elobi Yawe, « kasi bino bozali kotuna Ngai: ‹ Eloko nini ezali kolakisa ete olingaki biso? › Boni, Ezawu azalaki ndeko ya Jakobi te? » elobi Yawe, « Nzokande, nalingaki Jakobi,
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 kasi nayinaki Ezawu; bongo nabongolaki bangomba na ye esobe mpe nakabaki libula na ye epai ya bambwa ya zamba. »
and despised Esau. I have made Esau's mountain homeland into a wasteland, and turned his inheritance into a desert for jackals.
4 Edomi akoki koloba: « Ata babebisi mokili na biso, tokotonga yango kaka lisusu! » Kasi tala makambo oyo Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga, alobi: « Solo, bakotonga na bango yango, kasi Ngai nakobuka yango! Bakobenga mokili yango: ‹ Mokili ya makambo mabe, bato oyo bazali tango nyonso na se ya kanda ya Yawe. ›
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 Bokomona yango na miso na bino moko mpe bokoloba: ‹ Yawe azali Monene koleka ata bandelo ya etando ya Isalaele. ›
You will see this destruction with your own eyes, and you will say, “The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.”
6 Mwana mobali apesaka tata na ye lokumu, mpe mowumbu apesaka nkolo na ye lokumu. Soki Ngai nazali Tata, wapi lokumu oyo esengeli na Ngai? Soki nazali Nkolo, wapi lokumu na Ngai? » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga. « Ezali bino Banganga-Nzambe nde bozali kosambwisa Kombo na Ngai, kasi bozali mpe kotuna: ‹ Eloko nini ezali kolakisa ete tozali kosambwisa Kombo na Yo? ›
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 Bozali kotia bilei ya mbindo na etumbelo na Ngai, kasi bozali mpe kotuna: ‹ Eloko nini ezali kolakisa ete tokomisi etumbelo na Yo mbindo? › Ezali tango bolobaka: ‹ Mesa ya Yawe ezali na tina te. ›
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 Ezali tango bobonzaka lokola mbeka nyama oyo ekufa miso; boni, yango ezali mabe te? Bomeka nanu kopesa yango epai ya moyangeli na bino; boni, akosepela na bino? Akondima bino solo? » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga.
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 « Sik’oyo, bozali mpe kobondela Nzambe ete asalela bino ngolu na makabo ya lolenge oyo na maboko! Boni, andima bino solo? » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga.
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 « Nani kati na bino akoki kozwa mokano ya kokanga bikuke ya Tempelo mpo ete bopelisa moto na pamba te na etumbelo na Ngai? Nasepeli na bino ata moke te, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga; « mpe nakoyamba te makabo oyo ewuti na maboko na bino.
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 Kombo na Ngai ekozala monene kati na bikolo, longwa na ebimelo kino na elalelo ya moyi; bakobonza na bisika nyonso malasi ya ansa lokola mbeka mpo na Kombo na Ngai mpe makabo ya peto, pamba te Kombo na Ngai ekozala monene kati na bikolo, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga.
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 « Kasi bino, bozali kosambwisa yango tango bozali koloba ete mesa ya Nkolo ezali na tina te mpe biloko na yango ezali mbindo.
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 Bozali koloba lisusu: ‹ Mokumba nini lisusu oyo! › Bozali mpe kotiola Ngai lisusu, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga. « Tango bozali komema bibwele oyo ezoka, oyo etambolaka tengu-tengu to oyo ezali na bokono, mpe bozali kobonza yango lokola mbeka, boni, nandima yango na maboko na bino? » elobi Yawe.
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 « Tika ete alakelama mabe, ye oyo azali na ebwele ya kitoko kati na etonga na ye, mpe alapi ndayi ete akobonza yango epai na Yawe, kasi abonzi ebwele oyo ebela! Pamba te Ngai, nazali Mokonzi Monene, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga, mpe bikolo nyonso esengeli kobanga Kombo na Ngai.
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!
