< Malaki 2 >

1 Sasa, ninyi makuhani, amri hii ni kwa ajili yenu.
And now, this commandment is for you, O ye priests.
2 Kama hamtasikiliza, na kama hamtalichukua hili mioyoni mwenu na kunipa utukufu kwa jina langu, “asema Bwana wa Majeshi, Kisha nitatuma laana kwenu, na nitalaani baraka zenu. Kiukweli, nilishawalaani tayari, kwa sababu hujaweka sheria zangu moyoni.
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts: I will even send out against you a curse, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I will curse the same, because ye do not lay it to heart.
3 Tazama, nitakikemea kizazi chako, na nitapaka mavi juu ya uso wako, mavi ya dhabihu zenu, na mtachukuliwa pamoja nayo.
Behold, I will destroy unto you the seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your festive offerings; and one shall take you away with it.
4 Na mtajua kwamba nimetuma hii sheria kwenu, kwamba agano langu litakuwa ni juu yangu na Lawi,” asema Bwana wa Majeshi.
And ye shall thereby know that I have sent out unto you this commandment, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
5 Agano langu na yeye lilikuwa agano la uhai na amani, na nilimpa vitu hivi kama njia ya kuniheshimu. aliniheshima na alisimama akawa na hofu kwa jina langu.
My covenant was with him life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and because of my name he had dread.
6 Mafundisho ya kweli yalikuwa kwenye kinywa chake, na uovu haukupatikana kinywani mwake. Alitembea na mimi kwa amani na unyoofu, na aliwarudisha wengi kutoka dhambini.
The law of truth was in his mouth, and falsehood was not found on his lips: in peace and equity he walked with me, and many did he turn away from iniquity.
7 kwa sababu midomo ya makuhani huhifadhi maarifa, na watu watatafuta maagizo kutoka kwenye kichwa chake, kwa sababu ni mjumbe wa Bwana wa Majeshi.
For the priest's lips are ever to keep knowledge, and the law are they to seek from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8 lakini umepita mbali na njia ya kweli. Umesababisha wengi kuwa na mashaka ya kutii sheria. umeliharifu agano la Lawi,” asema Bwana wa Majeshi.
But ye are indeed departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of the Levite, saith the Lord of hosts.
9 Kwa hiyo nimewafanya ninyi nanyi kudharauliwa mbele ya watu, kwa sababu hamkutunza njia zangu, lakini badala yake mnapendelea katika maagizo yenu.
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and low before all the people, in the same measure as ye do not keep my ways, but act with partiality in the law.
10 Sisi sote hatuna baba mmoja? Siyo Mungu yule mmoja aliyetuumba sote? kwa nini tunafanyiana hila kila mtu na ndugu yake, mnariharibu agano la baba zetu?
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? [then] why shall we deal treacherously every man against his brother, to profane the covenant of our fathers?
11 Yuda amefanya hila na ameona kinyaa kwa vitu vilivyowekwa katika Israeli na Yerusalem. Yuda amenajisi mahali patakatifu pa Bwana ambapo anapapenda, na ameoa binti wa miungu migeni.
Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination hath been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the sanctuary of the Lord which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
12 Mungu akukatilie mbali kutoka kwenye hema ya Yakobo na uzao wa mtu aliyefanya haya, hata yule anayeleta sadaka kwa Bwana wa Majeshi.
The Lord will cut off unto the man that doth this, son and grandson, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that bringeth near an offering unto the Lord of hosts.
13 Na wewe pia fanya hivyo. Unafunika madhabahu ya Bwana kwa machozi, kwa kilio na kuugua, kwa sababu hatakubali sadaka na kuzipokea kutoka mikononi mwako.
And this do ye secondly, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with loud complaint, so that he turneth not any more his regard to the offerings, nor receiveth it with favor at your hand.
14 Lakini wasema, ni kwa sababu gani?” Kwa sababu Bwana amekuwa shahidi kati yako wewe na mke wako wa ujana wako, kinyume chake umekuwa si mwaminifu, ingawa yeye ni mwenzako na mke wa agano lako.
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast indeed dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
15 Je yeye hakuwafanya kuwa mmoja, hata kwa sehemu ya roho yake? Sasa ni kwanini aliwafanya ninyi kuwa mmoja? Kwa sababu alikuwa anategemea kupata watoto wacha Mungu. Kwa hiyo jiepushe mwenyewe ndani ya moyo wako, na asiwepo mtu asiye mwaminifu kwa mke wa ujana wake.
And not one doth so who hath a remnant of a [good] spirit; for what desireth such a one? he seeketh [to possess] a godly posterity: therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none of you deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
16 “Nakuchukia kuachana,” asema Bwana, Mungu wa Israel, “afunikizaye nguo yake kwa udhalimu,” asema Bwana wa Majeshi. “Kwa hiyo jilinde ewe mwenyewe ndani ya roho yako na usiwe mtu asiye mwaminifu.”
For he hateth putting away [the wife], so hath said the Lord the God of Israel, and him who covereth his garment with violence, so hath said the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, and deal not treacherously.
17 Mmechosha Bwana na maneno. Lakini mwasema, “Tumekuchoshaje?” Kwa kusema Kila mmoja aliyefanya uovu ni mzuri kwa upande wa Bwana, na anafuraha nao;” au “Yuko wapi Mungu wa Haki?”
Ye have wearied the Lord with your words: yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? By your saying, Every one that doth evil is good in the eyes of the Lord, and in them he findeth delight; or else, Where is the God of justice!

< Malaki 2 >