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 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, saith the LORD. Yet ye say: '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. »

But Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals 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. ›

Whereas Edom saith: 'We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places'; thus saith the LORD of hosts: They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall be called The border of wickedness, and The people whom the LORD execrateth 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 is great beyond the border 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 honoureth his father, and a servant his master; if then I be a father, where is My honour? and if I be a master, where is My fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say: '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. ›

Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar. And ye say: 'Wherein have we polluted thee?' In that ye say: 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.'

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.

And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it no evil! And when ye offer the lame and sick, is it no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

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, I pray you, entreat the favour of God that He may be gracious unto us! — This hath been of your doing. — Will He accept any of your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.

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.

Oh that there were even one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

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 unto the going down of the same My name is great among the nations; and in every place offerings are presented unto My name, even pure oblations; for My name is great among the nations, saith the LORD of hosts.

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 the fruit thereof, even the food thereof, is contemptible.'

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.

Ye say also: 'Behold, what a weariness is it!' and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith 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.

But cursed be he that dealeth craftily, whereas he hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and My name is feared among the nations.