UMalaki 1
1 Isiphrofethi, Ilizwi likaThixo ku-Israyeli ngoMalaki.
The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi.
2 “Ngilithandile,” kutsho uThixo. “Kodwa liyabuza lithi, ‘Usithande njani?’” UThixo uthi, “U-Esawu wayengasimfowabo kaJakhobe na? Yebo uJakhobe ngimthandile,
I have loved you, says Jehovah. Yet ye say, How have thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother, says Jehovah. Yet I loved Jacob,
3 kodwa u-Esawu ngimzondile, futhi ngenze izintaba zakhe zaba lugwadule lelifa lakhe ladliwa ngamakhanka asenkangala.”
but Esau I regarded inferior, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.
4 U-Edomi angathi, “Kungaze kube sinyathezelwe phansi kodwa sizawavuselela amanxiwa.” Kodwa nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla, uthi: “Bangakha, kodwa ngizadiliza. Bazakuthiwa Yilizwe Elibi, abantu abazahlala bethukuthelelwe nguThixo.
Whereas Edom says, We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places, thus says Jehovah of hosts: They shall build, but I will throw down, and men shall call them the border of wickedness, and the people against whom Jehovah has indignation forever.
5 Lizakubona ngawenu amehlo lithi, ‘Umkhulu uThixo, angale kwemingcele yako-Israyeli!’”
And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, Jehovah be magnified beyond the border of Israel.
6 “Indodana iyamesaba uyise, lenceku iyayesaba inkosi yayo. Aluba nginguyihlo kungaphi pho ukwesatshwa kwami? Aluba ngiyinkosi kungaphi ukuhlonitshwa kwami na?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla. “Yini, hawu baphristi, eleyisa ibizo lami. Kodwa lingabuza lithi, ‘Sileyise ngani ibizo lakho?’
A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says Jehovah of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. And ye say, How have we despised thy name?
7 Libeka ukudla okungcolileyo e-alithareni lami. Kodwa lingabuza lithi, ‘Sikungcolise kanjani wena na?’ Ngokuthi itafula likaThixo liyeyiseka.
Ye offer polluted bread upon my altar. And ye say, How have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible.
8 Nxa liletha izifuyo eziyiziphofu ukuba ngumhlatshelo, kambe kakukubi lokho na? Nxa lisenza umhlatshelo ngezifuyo eziyizilima loba ezilezifo, kakukubi lokho na? Ake lizame ukukunika umbusi wenu! Angalithabela lina na? Angalithanda kambe lina yini?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, ye say, It is no evil! and when ye offer the lame and sick, It is no evil! Present it now to thy governor. Will he be pleased with thee, or will he accept thy person? says Jehovah of hosts.
9 “Ngakho-ke ncengani uNkulunkulu ukuthi abe lobubele kithi. Ngeminikelo enjalo ephuma ezandleni zenu, kambe angalamukela?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
Ye say, And now, I pray you, entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us; this has been by your means. Will he accept any of your persons? says Jehovah of hosts.
10 “Oh, sekuze kungathi omunye wenu angavala iminyango yethempeli ukuze lingabi lilokhu libasa imililo engelamsebenzi e-alithareni lami! Kangithokozi ngani lina,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla, “njalo kangiyikwamukela umnikelo wezandla zenu.
Oh that there was among you who would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says Jehovah of hosts, nor will I accept an offering at your hand.
11 Ibizo lami lizaba likhulu phakathi kwezizwe, kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kusiya ekutshoneni kwalo. Ezindaweni zonke impepha leminikelo ehlanzekileyo izalethwa ebizweni lami, ngoba ibizo lami lizakuba likhulu phakathi kwezizwe,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great 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, says Jehovah of hosts.
12 “Kodwa liyalingcolisa ngoba lithi, ‘Itafula kaThixo ingcolisiwe,’ lokudla okukulo, ‘Kuyadeleleka.’
But ye profane it, in that ye say, The table of Jehovah is polluted. And the fruit of it, even its food, is contemptible.
13 Njalo lichila amakhala ngokweyisa lithi, ‘Kuyasidina thina lokhu!’” Kutsho uThixo uSomandla. “Nxa liletha izifuyo ezilimeleyo kumbe ezigulayo lizozinikela zibe yimihlatshelo, lithi ngizemukele yini ezandleni zenu?” uyabuza uThixo.
Ye also say, Behold, what a weariness it is! And ye have sniffed at it, says Jehovah 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 at your hand? says Jehovah.
14 “Uqalekisiwe umkhohlisi olenqama enhle emhlambini wakhe, athembise ukunikela ngayo, kodwa abesenikela ngesifuyo esilesici kuThixo. Ngoba ngiyinkosi enkulu,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla, “njalo ibizo lami kufanele lesatshwe phakathi kwezizwe.”
But cursed be the deceiver, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing. For I am a great King, says Jehovah of hosts, and my name is feared among the Gentiles.
