UMalaki 1
1 Isiphrofethi, Ilizwi likaThixo ku-Israyeli ngoMalaki.
The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of his messenger. Lay [it], I pray you, to heart.
2 “Ngilithandile,” kutsho uThixo. “Kodwa liyabuza lithi, ‘Usithande njani?’” UThixo uthi, “U-Esawu wayengasimfowabo kaJakhobe na? Yebo uJakhobe ngimthandile,
I have loved you, says the Lord. And you said, Wherein have you loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,
3 kodwa u-Esawu ngimzondile, futhi ngenze izintaba zakhe zaba lugwadule lelifa lakhe ladliwa ngamakhanka asenkangala.”
and hated Esau and laid waste his borders, and made his heritage as dwellings 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.
Because one will say, Idumea has been overthrown, but let us return and rebuild the desolate places; thus says 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 Lizakubona ngawenu amehlo lithi, ‘Umkhulu uThixo, angale kwemingcele yako-Israyeli!’”
And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, The Lord has been magnified upon the borders 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 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? says the Lord Almighty. You the priests are they that despise my name: yet you said, Wherein have we despised your name?
7 Libeka ukudla okungcolileyo e-alithareni lami. Kodwa lingabuza lithi, ‘Sikungcolise kanjani wena na?’ Ngokuthi itafula likaThixo liyeyiseka.
In that you bring to mine altar polluted bread; and you said, Wherein have you polluted it? In that you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and that which was set thereon you have despised.
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.
For if you bring a blind [victim] for sacrifices, [is it] not evil? and if you bring the lame or the sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now to your ruler, [and see] if he will receive you, if he will accept your person, says the Lord Almighty.
9 “Ngakho-ke ncengani uNkulunkulu ukuthi abe lobubele kithi. Ngeminikelo enjalo ephuma ezandleni zenu, kambe angalamukela?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
And now entreat the face of your God, and make supplication to him. These things have been done by your hands; shall I accept you? says the Lord Almighty.
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.
Because even amongst you the doors shall be shut, and [one] will not kindle [the fire of] mine altar for nothing, I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept a sacrifice at your hands.
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 [thereof] my name has been glorified amongst the Gentiles; and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great amongst the Gentiles, says the Lord Almighty.
12 “Kodwa liyalingcolisa ngoba lithi, ‘Itafula kaThixo ingcolisiwe,’ lokudla okukulo, ‘Kuyadeleleka.’
But you profane it, in that you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and his meats set thereon are despised.
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.
And you said, These [services] are troublesome: therefore I have utterly rejected them with scorn, says the Lord Almighty: and you brought in torn victims, and lame, and sick: if then you should bring an offering, shall I accept them at your hands? says the Lord Almighty.
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.”
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, says the Lord Almighty, and my name is glorious amongst the nations.
