< UMalaki 1 >

1 Isiphrofethi, Ilizwi likaThixo ku-Israyeli ngoMalaki.
The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of Malachias.
2 “Ngilithandile,” kutsho uThixo. “Kodwa liyabuza lithi, ‘Usithande njani?’” UThixo uthi, “U-Esawu wayengasimfowabo kaJakhobe na? Yebo uJakhobe ngimthandile,
I have loved you, saith the Lord: and you have said: Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau brother to Jacob, saith the Lord, and I have loved Jacob,
3 kodwa u-Esawu ngimzondile, futhi ngenze izintaba zakhe zaba lugwadule lelifa lakhe ladliwa ngamakhanka asenkangala.”
But have hated Esau? and I have made his mountains a wilderness, and given his inheritance to the dragons of the desert.
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.
But if Edom shall say: We are destroyed, but we will return and build up what hath been destroyed: thus saith the Lord of hosts: They shall build up, and I will throw down: and they shall be called the borders of wickedness, and the people with whom the Lord is angry for ever.
5 Lizakubona ngawenu amehlo lithi, ‘Umkhulu uThixo, angale kwemingcele yako-Israyeli!’”
And your eyes shall see, and you shall say: The Lord be magnified upon 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?’
The son honoureth the father, and the 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.
7 Libeka ukudla okungcolileyo e-alithareni lami. Kodwa lingabuza lithi, ‘Sikungcolise kanjani wena na?’ Ngokuthi itafula likaThixo liyeyiseka.
To you, O priests, that despise my name, and have said: Wherein have we despised thy name? You offer polluted bread upon my altar, and you say: Wherein have we polluted thee? In that you say: The table of the Lord 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.
If you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? offer it to thy prince, if he will be pleased with it, or if he will regard thy face, saith the Lord of hosts.
9 “Ngakho-ke ncengani uNkulunkulu ukuthi abe lobubele kithi. Ngeminikelo enjalo ephuma ezandleni zenu, kambe angalamukela?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
And now beseech ye the face of God, that he may have mercy on you, (for by your hand hath this been done, ) if by any means he will receive your faces, saith the Lord 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.
Who is there among you, that will shut the doors, and will kindle the fire on my altar gratis? I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will not receive a gift of 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, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 “Kodwa liyalingcolisa ngoba lithi, ‘Itafula kaThixo ingcolisiwe,’ lokudla okukulo, ‘Kuyadeleleka.’
And you have profaned it in that you say: The table of the Lord is defiled: and that which is laid thereupon is contemptible with the fire that devoureth it.
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 have said: Behold of our labour, and you puffed it away, saith the Lord of hosts, and you brought in of rapine the lame, and the sick, and brought in an offering: shall I accept it at your hands, saith the Lord?
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.”
Cursed is the deceitful man that hath in his flock a male, and making a vow offereth in sacrifice that which is feeble to the Lord: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the Gentiles.

< UMalaki 1 >