Malaki 3
1 Tazama, namtuma mjumbe wangu, atakayeandaa njia mbele yangu. Na Bwana, ambaye mnamtafuta, atakuja ghafla katika hekalu lake; na mjumbe wa agano, ambaye katika yeye mnafurahi, tazama anakuja.” asema Bwana wa Majeshi.
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith Yhwh of Armies.
2 Na ni nani atakeyevumilia siku ya kuja kwake? na nani atasimama akishatokea? Yeye ni kama mtu asafishaye kwa moto na kama sabuni ya kufulia.
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
3 Atakaa na kutawala kama msafishaji wa fedha, na atawasafisha wana wa Lawi. na atawafanya wawe safi kama dhahabu na fedha, na wataleta sadaka za haki kwa Bwana.
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto Yhwh an offering in righteousness.
4 Na sadaka ya Yuda na Yerusalem itampendeza Bwana, kama siku za kale, na miaka ya zamani.
Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Yhwh, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 Kisha nitapita karibu na ninyi kuwahukumu. na nitakuwa shahidi mwepesi dhidi ya wachawi, wazinzi, mahsahidi wa uongo, na kinyume cha wale wanaoonea wafanyakazi katika mizigo yake, wanaoonea wajane na yatima, na anayemfukuza mgeni kutoka kwenye haki yake, na kwa wale wasionitii mimi,”asema Bwana wa majeshi.
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith Yhwh of Armies.
6 Mimi Bwana, sibadiliki; pia ninyi, watu wa Yakobo, hamkutumia.
For I am Yhwh, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Toka siku za baba zenu mmegeukia mbali na amri zangu na hamkuzitunza. Nigeukieni, nami nitawarudia ninyi,” asema Bwana wa majeshi. Lakini mwasema, tutakurudiaje?
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Yhwh of Armies. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Mwanadamu anaweza kumwibia Mungu? Mnaniibia mimi, lakini mwasema, 'Tumekuibiaje?' kwa zaka na sadaka.
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Mmelaani kwa laana, kwa kuniibia mimi, taifa lote hili.
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Leteni zaka kamili katika ghalani, ili kwamba kiwemo chakula katika nyumba yangu. Na mnijaribu kwa hili,” asema Bwana wa Majeshi. “kama sitawafungulia madilisha ya mbinguni na kuwamwagia baraka juu yenu, ili kwamba hakutakuwa na sehemu ya kutosha kuzipokea.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith Yhwh of Armies, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 Nitamkemea mharibifu kwako, kwamba asiharibu mavuno yenu ya nchi yenu; mizazibu yenu katika shamba haitapukutisha kabla ya wakati wake,” asema Bwana wa Majeshi.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith Yhwh of Armies.
12 Mataifa yote watakuita mbarikiwa; kwa ajili yako itakuwa ni nchi ya furaha,” asema Bwana wa Majeshi.
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith Yhwh of Armies.
13 Maneo yenu yamekuwa magumu kinyume changu,” asema Bwana. lakini mwasema, “Tumesema nini kinyume chako?'
Your words have been stout against me, saith Yhwh. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 mmesema, 'Hakuna maana kumtumikia Mungu. Kuna faida ya namna gani kutunza maagizo yake au kutembea huku mkiomboleza mbele za Bwana wa Majeshi?
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before Yhwh of Armies?
15 Na sasa tunamwita mwenye kiburi mbarikiwa. Waharifu si kufanikiwa tu, bali kumjaribu Mungu na kumwepuka.”
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 Kisha wale wanaomweshimu Bwana walisemezana mmoja baada ya mwingine; Bwana yuko makini kutusikiliza, na kitabu cha kumbukumbu kiliandikwa mbele zake kwa ajili ya wale wanamwogopa Bwana na kuliheshimu jina lake.
Then they that feared Yhwh spake often one to another: And Yhwh hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared Yhwh, and that thought upon his name.
17 “Watakuwa wangu,” asema Bwana wa majeshi,” hazina zangu, katika siku nitakayotenda; nitawapenda, kama mtu anavyompenda mwanawe anayemhudumia.
And they shall be mine, saith Yhwh of Armies, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Kisha zaidi sana nitatofautisha kati ya haki wenye haki na waovu, kati ya anayemwabudu Mungu na asiyemwabudu yeye.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
