< Malaki 2 >

1 “Sasa onyo hili ni kwa ajili yenu, enyi makuhani.
“Now, you priests, this commandment is for 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 listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not take 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 rebuke your offspring, and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.
4 Nanyi mtajua kuwa nimewapelekea onyo hili ili kwamba Agano langu na Lawi lipate kuendelea,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says 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 them to him that he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of 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 unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, 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 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 Lakini mmegeuka mkaiacha njia, na kwa mafundisho yenu mmesababisha wengi kujikwaa. Mmevunja agano na Lawi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
But you have turned away from the path. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says 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 I have also made you contemptible and wicked before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for 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?
Don’t we all have one father? Hasn’t one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning 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.
Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign 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 who does this, him who wakes and him who answers, out of the tents of Jacob and him who offers 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.
“This again you do: you cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn’t regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand.
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.
Yet you say, ‘Why?’ Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and the wife of your 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 he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his 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.
One who hates and divorces”, says the LORD, the God of Israel, “covers his garment with violence!” says the LORD of Hosts. “Therefore pay attention to your spirit, that you don’t be unfaithful.
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. Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the LORD’s sight, and he delights in them;’ or ‘Where is the God of justice?’

< Malaki 2 >