UMalaki 2
1 “Manje-ke nanku owenu umlayo, lina baphristi.
And now, this commandment is for you, O ye priests.
2 Nxa lingalaleli, njalo nxa lingalungisi inhliziyo zenu ukuhlonipha ibizo lami,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla, “ngizaletha isiqalekiso phezu kwenu, njalo ngiziqalekise izibusiso zenu. Yebo, kuvele nje sengiziqalekisile ngoba kalizimiselanga ezinhliziyweni zenu ukungesaba.
If ye will not hearken, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My name, saith the LORD of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I curse them, because ye do not lay it to heart.
3 Ngenxa yenu ngizabakhalimela abantwabenu; ngizalihuqa ebusweni ngomswane wemihlatshelo yemikhosi yenu lithathwe linjalo lisiya ekuthunjweni.
Behold, I will rebuke the seed for your hurt, and will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your sacrifices; and ye shall be taken away unto it.
4 Ngalokho lizakwazi ukuthi ngilithumele lesi isixwayiso ukuze isivumelwano sami loLevi siqhubeke,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
Know then that I have sent this commandment unto you, that My covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
5 “Isivumelwano sami wayelaso, isivumelwano sokuphila lokuthula, izinto engamupha zona; lokhu kwakuswela inhlonipho, lakanje wangihlonipha walesaba ibizo lami.
My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I gave them to him, and of fear, and he feared Me, and was afraid of My name.
6 Imfundiso eqotho yayisemlonyeni wakhe njalo kakufunyanwanga lutho oluyinkohliso ezindebeni zakhe. Wahamba lami ngokuthula langobuqotho, waphendula abanengi ababesesonweni.
The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and did turn many away from iniquity.
7 Ngoba izindebe zomphristi kumele zilonde ulwazi, abantu badinge kuye ukufundiswa ngoba uyisithunywa sikaThixo uSomandla.
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 Kodwa seliphambukile endleleni, kwathi njalo ngokufundisa kwenu lenza abanengi bakhubeka; lisephule isivumelwano loLevi,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
9 “Ngakho sengenze ukuthi leyiswe njalo liyangiswe phambi kwabantu bonke, ngoba kalilandelanga izindlela zami kodwa latshengisa ukubandlulula ekusebenziseni umthetho.”
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept My ways, but have had respect of persons in the law.
10 KasilaBaba munye thina sonke na? Kasidalwanga nguNkulunkulu munye na? Pho singcoliselani isivumelwano sabokhokho bethu na ngokungathembani thina ngokwethu?
Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
11 UJuda ukhohlisile. Kwenziwe amanyala ko-Israyeli laseJerusalema: uJuda useyitshaphazile indlu engcwele uThixo ayithandayo, ngokutshada lendodakazi kankulunkulu wabezizwe.
Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which He loveth, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
12 Leyondoda ekwenzayo lokho, lokuba ingubani, sengathi uThixo angayisusa emathenteni kaJakhobe lanxa iletha iminikelo kuThixo uSomandla.
May the LORD cut off to the man that doeth this, him that calleth and him that answereth out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
13 Enye into eliyenzayo nansi: Ligcwalisa i-alithari likaThixo ngezinyembezi. Liyakhala libubula ngoba kasayinanzi iminikelo yenu, njalo kasayamukeli ngokuthokoza ezandleni zenu.
And this further ye do: ye cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, insomuch that He regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth it with good will at your hand.
14 Liyabuza lithi, “Kungani na?” Kungenxa yokuthi uThixo umi njengomfakazi phakathi kwakho lomfazi wobutsha bakho, ngoba umkhohlisile yena eyingxenye yakho, umfazi wesivumelwano sakho somtshado.
Yet ye say: 'Wherefore?' Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
15 UThixo kabenzanga baba munye na? Enyameni lemphefumulweni bangabakhe. Kungani bemunye? Ngoba wayedinga inzalo ekholwayo kuNkulunkulu. Ngakho ziqaphele emphefumulweni wakho, ungaze wamkhohlisa umfazi wobutsha bakho.
And not one hath done so who had exuberance of spirit! For what seeketh the one? a seed given of God. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
16 “Ngiyakuzonda ukuchitha umtshado,” kutsho uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uqhubeka esithi, “njalo ngiyayizonda indoda evala ngolaka kumkayo umkayo njengalokhu izivala ngesivunulo,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla. Ngakho ziqaphele wena emphefumulweni wakho, ungaze wakhohlisa.
For I hate putting away, saith the LORD, the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith the LORD of hosts; therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
17 Selimdinile uThixo ngamazwi enu. Lingabuza lithi, “Simdinise kanjani?” Ngokuthi, “Bonke abenza ububi balungile emehlweni kaThixo, njalo uyathokoza ngabo,” loba ngokuthi, “Ungaphi uNkulunkulu wokwahlulela kuhle na?”
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say: 'Wherein have we wearied Him?' In that ye say: 'Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them; or where is the God of justice?'
