Malashi 1

1 Liloba na Yawe. Liloba na Yawe epai ya Isalaele na nzela ya mosakoli Malashi.

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of his messenger. Lay [it], I pray you, to heart.

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, saith the Lord. And ye said, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

3 kasi nayinaki Ezawu; bongo nabongolaki bangomba na ye esobe mpe nakabaki libula na ye epai ya bambwa ya zamba. »

and hated Esau and laid waste his borders, and made his heritage as dwellings of the wilderness?

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. ›

Because one will say, Idumea has been overthrown, but let us return and rebuild the desolate places; thus saith the Lord Almighty, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall be called The borders of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord has set himself for ever.

5 Bokomona yango na miso na bino moko mpe bokoloba: ‹ Yawe azali Monene koleka ata bandelo ya etando ya Isalaele. ›

And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The Lord has been magnified upon 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 honours [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honour? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord Almighty. Ye the priests are they that despise my name: yet ye said, Wherein have we despised thy name?

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. ›

In that ye bring to mine altar polluted bread; and ye said, Wherein have ye polluted it? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and that which was set thereon ye have despised.

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.

For if ye bring a blind [victim] for sacrifices, [is it] not evil? and if ye bring the lame or the sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now to thy ruler, [and see] if he will receive thee, if he will accept thy person, saith 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.

And now intreat the face of your God, and make supplication to him. These things have been done by your hands; shall I accept you? saith 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.

Because even among you the doors shall be shut, and [one] will not kindle [the fire of] mine altar for nothing, I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept a sacrifice at your hands.

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.

For from the rising of the sun even to the going down [thereof] my name has been glorified among the Gentiles; and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith 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 ye profane it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and his meats set thereon are despised.

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.

And ye said, These [services] are troublesome: therefore I have utterly rejected them with scorn, saith the Lord Almighty: and ye brought in torn victims, and lame, and sick: if then ye should bring an offering, shall I accept them at your hands? saith the Lord Almighty.

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.

And cursed [is the man] who had the power, and possessed a male in his flock, and whose vow is upon him, and who sacrifices a corrupt thing to the Lord: for I am a great King, saith the Lord Almighty, and my name is glorious among the nations.