Malashi 3

1 « Nakotinda ntoma na Ngai; ye nde akoya liboso mpo na kobongisela Ngai nzela. Boye Yawe oyo bozali kozela akoya na pwasa kati na Tempelo na Ye; ntoma ya boyokani oyo bolingi akoya, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga.

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

2 Kasi nani akobika na mokolo oyo akoya? Nani akotelema na mokolo oyo akomonana? Pamba te azali lokola moto ya monyangwisi bibende na moto, lokola sabuni oyo etelisaka bilamba.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

3 Akovanda lokola monyangwisi bibende mpe mopetoli palata na moto. Akopetola bana mibali ya Levi mpe akolekisa bango na moto ndenge bapetolaka wolo mpe palata, mpe bakokoma mpo na Yawe bato oyo bamemelaka Ye makabo kolanda ndenge esengeli kozala.

And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

4 Bongo makabo ya Yuda mpe ya Yelusalemi ekosepelisa Yawe, ndenge ezalaki na tango ya kala.

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

5 « Nakopusana pene na bino mpo na kosambisama, nakosala na lombangu mpo na kofunda bato ya maji, ya ekobo, bato oyo balapaka ndayi ya lokuta, bato oyo banyokolaka basali na bango, basi bakufisa mibali mpe bana bitike, oyo banyokolaka bapaya mpe batosaka Ngai te, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

6 « Ngai Yawe, nabongwanaka te. Mpo na yango, bino bana mibali ya Jakobi, bozali kaka.

For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

7 Wuta na tango ya bakoko na bino, bozalaki kaka kobuka mibeko na Ngai mpe bozalaki kotosa Ngai te. Bozonga epai na Ngai, mpe Ngai nakozonga epai na bino, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga. « Kasi bozali komituna: ‹ Tokozonga ndenge nini? ›

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

8 Boni, moto akoki solo kokosa Nzambe? Nzokande bino, bozali kokosa Ngai. Kasi bozali koloba: ‹ Tokosi Yo na likambo nini? › Bokosi Ngai na eteni na bino ya zomi mpe na makabo.

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Bozali na se ya elakeli mabe, pamba te bino nyonso, ekolo oyo mobimba, bozali kokosa Ngai.

Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

10 Boye, bomema biteni na bino nyonso ya zomi, na mobimba na yango, na ebombelo bomengo ya Tempelo mpo ete bilei ezanga te kati na Ndako na Ngai. Na bongo, bomeka Ngai, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga, « mpo na kotala soki nakofungolela bino te maninisa ya Lola mpe soki nakosopela bino te lipamboli na Ngai, na bofuluki oyo ezanga ndelo.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

11 Nakopekisa banyama mike-mike kolia bambuma ya bilanga na bino, bongo bilanga na bino ya vino ekotikala kozanga bambuma te, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga.

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

12 « Bato ya bikolo nyonso bakoloba ete bozali bato ya esengo, pamba te mokili na bino ekozala mokili ya malamu mpo na kovanda, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga.

And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

13 Yawe alobi: « Bozali koloba makambo mabe mpo na kotelemela Ngai. Kasi bozali kotuna: ‹ Maloba nini ya mabe tolobi mpo na kotelemela Yo? ›

Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken [so much] against thee?

14 Bozali lisusu koloba: ‹ Kosalela Nzambe ezali na tina te. Litomba nini penza ezali na kotosa mibeko na Ye mpe na komiboya liboso ya Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga?

Ye have said, It [is] vain to serve God: and what profit [is it] that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

15 Tosengeli sik’oyo komona bato ya lofundu lokola bato ya esengo, bato mabe bazali kokende liboso. Atako bazali kobeta tembe na Nzambe, kasi bazali kaka kolonga. › »

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, [they that] tempt God are even delivered.

16 Ndenge wana nde bato oyo batosaka Yawe bazalaki kosolola bango na bango, kasi Yawe ayokaki masolo na bango. Boye buku moko ya ekaniseli ekomamaki liboso ya Yawe mpo na bato oyo batosaka Yawe mpe bapesaka Kombo na Ye lokumu.

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

17 « Na mokolo oyo nakomonisa nguya na Ngai, bakokoma bato na Ngai, bomengo na Ngai ya talo. Nakobatela bango ndenge tata abatelaka mwana oyo asalelaka ye, » elobi Yawe, Mokonzi ya mampinga.

And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

18 « Bongo bokomona lisusu bokeseni kati na moto ya sembo mpe moto mabe, kati na moto oyo asalelaka Nzambe mpe moto oyo asalelaka Ye te.

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.