Malaki 1

1 Ujumbe: Neno la Bwana kwa Israeli kupitia kwa Malaki.

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of his messenger. Lay [it], I pray you, to heart.

2 Bwana asema, “Nimewapenda ninyi.” “Lakini ninyi mnauliza, ‘Wewe umetupendaje?’” Bwana asema, “Je, Esau hakuwa ndugu yake Yakobo? Hata hivyo nimempenda Yakobo,

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 lakini nikamchukia Esau, nami nimeifanya milima yake kuwa ukiwa, na urithi wake nimewapa mbweha wa jangwani.”

and hated Esau and laid waste his borders, and made his heritage as dwellings of the wilderness?

4 Edomu anaweza kusema, “Ingawa tumepondapondwa, tutajenga upya magofu.” Lakini hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote asemalo: “Wanaweza kujenga, lakini nitabomoa. Wataitwa Nchi Ovu, watu ambao siku zote wapo chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana.

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 Mtayaona kwa macho yenu wenyewe na kusema, ‘Bwana ni mkuu, hata nje ya mipaka ya Israeli!’

And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, The Lord has been magnified upon the borders of Israel.

6 “Mwana humheshimu baba yake, naye mtumishi humheshimu bwana wake. Kama mimi ni baba, iko wapi heshima ninayostahili? Kama mimi ni bwana, iko wapi heshima ninayostahili?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. “Ni ninyi, enyi makuhani, mnaolidharau Jina langu. “Lakini mnauliza, ‘Tumelidharau Jina lako kwa namna gani?’

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 “Mnatoa sadaka chakula kilichotiwa unajisi juu ya madhabahu yangu. “Lakini ninyi mnauliza, ‘Tumekutia unajisi kwa namna gani?’ “Kwa kusema kuwa meza ya Bwana ni ya kudharauliwa.

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 Wakati mletapo dhabihu za wanyama walio vipofu, je, hilo si kosa? Mnapoleta dhabihu zilizo vilema au wanyama wagonjwa, je, hilo si kosa? Jaribuni kuvitoa kwa mtawala wenu! Je, angefurahishwa nanyi? Je, atawakubalia?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

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 “Basi mwombeni Mungu awe na neema kwetu. Je, kwa sadaka kama hizo kutoka mikononi mwenu, atawapokea?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

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 “Laiti mmoja wenu angalifunga milango ya Hekalu, ili msije mkawasha moto usiokuwa na faida juu ya madhabahu yangu! Sina furaha nanyi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, “nami sitaikubali sadaka toka mikononi mwenu.

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 Jina langu litakuwa kuu miongoni mwa mataifa, kuanzia mawio ya jua hata machweo yake. Kila mahali uvumba na sadaka safi zitaletwa kwa Jina langu, kwa sababu Jina langu litakuwa kuu miongoni mwa mataifa,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

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 “Lakini mnalinajisi Jina langu kwa kusema kuhusu meza ya Bwana, ‘Imetiwa unajisi pamoja na chakula chake. Ni ya kudharauliwa.’

But you profane it, in that you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and his meats set thereon are despised.

13 Nanyi mnasema, ‘Mzigo gani huu!’ Nanyi mnaidharau kwa kiburi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. “Wakati mnapowaleta wanyama mliopokonya kwa nguvu, walio vilema au walio wagonjwa na kuwatoa kama dhabihu, je, niwakubali kutoka mikononi mwenu?” asema Bwana.

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 “Amelaaniwa yeye adanganyaye, aliye na mnyama wa kiume anayekubalika katika kundi lake na kuweka nadhiri ya kumtoa, lakini akatoa dhabihu ya mnyama aliye na dosari kwa Bwana. Kwa kuwa mimi ni Mfalme Mkuu, nalo Jina langu linapaswa kuogopwa miongoni mwa mataifa,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

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.