< Malaki 2 >
1 “Sasa onyo hili ni kwa ajili yenu, enyi makuhani.
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is to you.
2 Kama hamtasikiliza, na kama hamtaki kuielekeza mioyo yenu kuheshimu Jina langu, nitatuma laana juu yenu, nami nitalaani baraka zenu. Naam, nimekwisha kuzilaani, kwa sababu hamkuielekeza mioyo yenu kuniheshimu mimi,” Asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the Lord of hosts: I will send poverty upon you, and will curse your blessings, yea I will curse them, because you have not laid it to heart.
3 “Kwa sababu yenu nitawakatilia mbali wazao wenu. Nitazipaka nyuso zenu mavi, mavi ya dhabihu zenu. Nanyi mtafukuzwa pamoja nazo mtoke mbele zangu.
Behold, I will cast the shoulder to you, and I will scatter upon your face the dung of your solemnities, and it shall take you away with it.
4 Nanyi mtajua kuwa nimewapelekea onyo hili ili kwamba Agano langu na Lawi lipate kuendelea,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
And you shall know that I sent you this commandment, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
5 “Agano langu lilikuwa pamoja naye, agano la uhai na amani, nami nilimpa yote, ili aniche na kuniheshimu, naye akaniheshimu na kusimama akilicha Jina langu.
My covenant was with him of life and peace: and I gave him fear: and he feared me, and he was afraid before my name.
6 Fundisho la kweli lilikuwa kinywani mwake, wala hakuna uongo wowote uliopatikana katika midomo yake. Alitembea nami katika amani na unyofu, naye akawageuza wengi kutoka dhambini.
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace, and in equity, and turned many away from iniquity.
7 “Kwa maana yapasa midomo ya kuhani kuhifadhi maarifa. Tena kutoka kinywani mwake watu wangepaswa kutafuta mafundisho, kwa sababu yeye ni mjumbe wa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
For the lips of the priest shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth: because he is the angel of the Lord of hosts.
8 Lakini mmegeuka mkaiacha njia, na kwa mafundisho yenu mmesababisha wengi kujikwaa. Mmevunja agano na Lawi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
But you have departed out of the way, and have caused many to stumble at the law: you have made void the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
9 “Kwa hiyo nimewasababisha ninyi kudharauliwa na kufedheheshwa mbele ya watu wote, kwa sababu hamkufuata njia zangu, bali mmeonyesha upendeleo katika mambo ya sheria.”
Therefore have I also made you contemptible, and base before all people, as you have not kept my ways, and have accepted persons in the law.
10 Je, sote hatuna Baba mmoja? Hatukuumbwa na Mungu mmoja? Kwa nini basi tunalinajisi Agano la baba zetu kwa kukosa uaminifu kila mmoja kwa mwenzake?
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why then doth every one of us despise his brother, violating the covenant of our fathers?
11 Yuda amevunja uaminifu. Jambo la kuchukiza limetendeka katika Israeli na katika Yerusalemu: Yuda amepanajisi mahali patakatifu apendapo Bwana, kwa kuoa binti wa mungu mgeni.
Juda hath transgressed, and abomination hath been committed in Israel, and in Jerusalem: for Juda hath profaned the holiness of the Lord, which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange God.
12 Kwa maana kwa mtu yeyote atendaye jambo hili, Bwana na amkatilie mbali kutoka hema za Yakobo, hata kama huwa anamletea Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote sadaka.
The Lord will cut off the man that hath done this, both the master, and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering to the Lord of hosts.
13 Kitu kingine mnachokifanya: Mnaifurikisha madhabahu ya Bwana kwa machozi. Mnalia na kuugua kwa sababu yeye haziangalii tena sadaka zenu wala hazikubali kwa furaha kutoka mikononi mwenu.
And this again have you done, you have covered the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and bellowing, so that I have no more a regard to sacrifice, neither do I accept any atonement at your hands.
14 Mnauliza, “Kwa nini?” Ni kwa sababu Bwana ni shahidi kati yako na mke wa ujana wako, kwa sababu umevunja uaminifu naye, ingawa yeye ni mwenzako, mke wa agano lako la ndoa.
And you have said: For what cause? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee, and the wife of thy youth, whom thou hast despised: yet she was thy partner, and the wife of thy covenant.
15 Je, Bwana hakuwafanya wao kuwa mmoja? Katika mwili na katika roho wao ni wa Mungu. Kwa nini wawe mmoja? Kwa sababu Mungu alikuwa akitafuta mzao mwenye kumcha Mungu. Kwa hiyo jihadharini wenyewe katika roho zenu, mtu asivunje uaminifu kwa mke wa ujana wake.
Did not one make her, and she is the residue of his spirit? And what doth one seek, but the seed of God? Keep then your spirit, and despise not the wife of thy youth.
16 “Ninachukia kuachana,” asema Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, “pia nachukia mtu anayejivika jeuri kama vazi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. Kwa hiyo jihadharini wenyewe katika roho zenu, wala msije mkavunja uaminifu.
When thou shalt hate her put her away, saith the Lord the God of Israel: but iniquity shall cover his garment, saith the Lord of hosts, keep your spirit, and despise not.
17 Mmemchosha Bwana kwa maneno yenu. Nanyi mnauliza, “Tumemchosha kwa namna gani?” Mmemchosha kwa kusema, “Wote watendao mabaya ni wema machoni pa Bwana, naye anapendezwa nao” au “Mungu wa haki yuko wapi?”
You have wearied the Lord with your words, and you said: Wherein have we wearied him? In that you say: Every one that doth evil, is good in the sight of the Lord, and such please him: or surely where is the God of judgment?