Malakai 1

1 Ko e tala mamafa, ko e folofola ʻa Sihova ʻia Malakai, ki ʻIsileli.

A prophecy: This message came from the Lord concerning Israel through Malachi.

2 ‌ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova, “kuo u ʻofa kiate kimoutolu.” Ka ʻoku mou pehē, “Kuo ke ʻofa ʻi he hā kiate kimautolu? ʻIkai ko e taʻokete ʻo Sēkope ʻa ʻIsoa?” ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova: “Ka naʻaku ʻofa kia Sēkope,

I have loved you, says the Lord. But you ask, “How have you loved us?” Wasn't Esau Joseph's brother? the Lord responds. But I loved Joseph

3 pea ne u fehiʻa kia ʻIsoa, pea naʻaku ʻai ke lala hono ngaahi moʻunga, mo hono tofiʻa ko e toafa ki he fanga ngata.”

and despised Esau. I have made Esau's mountain homeland into a wasteland, and turned his inheritance into a desert for jackals.

4 Ka koeʻuhi ʻoku pehē ʻe ʻItomi, “Kuo fakamasiva ʻakimoutolu, ka te mau liliu mai mo langa hake ʻae ngaahi potu ʻoku lala;” ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau, “Te nau langa hake, ka te u holoki hifo ia ʻeau; pea tenau ui ʻakinautolu, ‘Ko e mata fonua ʻoe angahala,’ pea, ‘Ko e kakai ʻoku houhau ki ai ʻa Sihova ʻo taʻengata.’”

The people of Edom may be saying: “We have been beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says, They may try and build, but I will tear down. They will be called a land of wickedness, and the people those who make the Lord angry forever.

5 Pea ʻe mamata ʻa homou mata, pea temou pehē, “ʻE fakaongoongolelei ʻa Sihova mei he ngataʻanga ʻo ʻIsileli.”

You will see this destruction with your own eyes, and you will say, “The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.”

6 “ʻOku fakaʻapaʻapa ʻae foha ki heʻene tamai, mo e tamaioʻeiki ki heʻene ʻeiki: pea ka ko e tamai au, pea kofaʻā ʻa hoku ongoongolelei? Pea ka ko e ʻeiki au, kofaʻā ia ʻae manavahē kiate au? ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau kiate kimoutolu, ʻE kau taulaʻeiki, ʻoku paetaku ki hoku huafa. Pea ʻoku mou pehē, ‘Ko e hā ʻemau paetaku ki ho huafa?’

A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. So if I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? says the Lord Almighty to you priests who show contempt for me. But you ask, “How have we shown contempt for you?”

7 ‌ʻOku mou feilaulau ʻaki ʻae ma fakalielia ʻi hoku feilaulauʻanga; pea ʻoku mou pehē, ‘Kuo mau fakalieliaʻi koe ʻi he hā?’ ʻI hoʻomou pehē, ‘Ko e meʻa vaʻinga pe ʻae keinangaʻanga ʻa Sihova.’

By making defiled offerings on my altar. Then you ask, “How have we defiled you?” By saying the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect.

8 Pea kapau ʻoku mou ʻomi ʻae kui ʻo feilaulauʻaki, ʻikai ʻoku kovi ia? Pea kapau ʻoku mou feilaulau ʻaki ʻaia ʻoku ketu mo ia ʻoku mahaki, ʻikai ko e kovi ia? Ko eni, ʻatu ia kiate ia ʻoku puleʻi koe; ʻe fiemālie ai ia kiate koe, pe te ne maʻu lelei koe?” ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau.

When you offer a blind animal as a sacrifice, isn't that wrong? Or when you offer an animal that is crippled or sick, isn't that wrong? Would you give such gifts to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Would he be kind and show favor to you? asks the Lord Almighty.

9 Pea ko eni, ʻoku ou tala kiate kimoutolu, “Fakakolekole ki he ʻOtua koeʻuhi ke ne ʻaloʻofa mai kiate kitautolu: ʻoku mei homou nima ʻae meʻa ni: pea te ne maʻu lelei hamou taha?” ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau.

So why don't you try being kind to God, begging him to be merciful to you? But when you bring such offerings, why should he show favor to you? asks the Lord Almighty.

10 “He ko hai koā ha taha ʻiate kimoutolu te ne fie tāpuni ha matapā taʻetotongi? Pea naʻa mo e tutu ʻae afi ʻi he funga feilaulauʻanga ʻoʻoku ʻoku ʻikai fai taʻetotongi. ʻOku ʻikai te u leleiʻia ʻiate kimoutolu,” ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau, “pea ʻe ʻikai te u maʻu ha feilaulau mei homou nima.

I really wish one of you would shut the Temple doors to stop you lighting pointless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept offerings from you.

11 Koeʻuhi ʻe lahi ʻa hoku huafa ʻi he lotolotonga ʻoe ngaahi Senitaile, mei he hopo hake ʻae laʻā ʻo aʻu ki heʻene tō hifo; pea ʻe ʻomi ʻae fakanamu kakala ki hoku huafa mei he potu kotoa pē, mo e feilaulau maʻa; koeʻuhi ʻe ongoongo lahi ʻa hoku huafa ʻi he lotolotonga ʻoe hiteni,” ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau.

I am honored by nations from the farthest east to the distant west; everywhere people make offerings to me of incense and pure sacrifices. I am honored among the nations, says the Lord Almighty.

12 “Ka kuo mou fakalieliaʻi ia, ʻi hoʻomou pehē, ‘ʻOku taʻemaʻa ʻae keinangaʻanga ʻa Sihova, ʻaia mo hono ngaahi fua, pea ko e meʻa fakalielia ʻa hono meʻakai.’

But you dishonor me when you say the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect, and that its food can be treated with contempt.

13 Naʻa mou pehē foki, ‘Vakai, tā ko e meʻa fakafiu!’ Pea kuo mou kuhu ki ai;” ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau; “pea naʻa mou ʻomi ʻaia naʻe lavea, pea mo e ketu, pea mo e mahaki; naʻe pehē pe ʻa hoʻomou ʻomi ʻae feilaulau: pea ʻe totonu koā ʻa ʻeku maʻu ia mei homou nima?” ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova.

You say, “All this is too much trouble!” and you sniff scornfully at it, says the Lord Almighty. But when you bring animals that are stolen or crippled or sick and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept what you're giving? asks the Lord.

14 “Ka ʻe malaʻia kiate ia ʻoku kākā, ʻaia ʻoku ʻi heʻene fanga manu ʻae manu tangata, pea kuo ne fuakava, ka ʻoku ne feilaulau ʻaki ʻae meʻa fakalielia kia Sihova:” he ʻoku pehē mai ʻe Sihova ʻoe ngaahi kautau, “Ko au ko e Tuʻi lahi, pea ʻoku fakailifia ʻa hoku huafa ʻi he lotolotonga ʻoe hiteni.”

Cursed are those who cheat by vowing to bring a ram as a sacrifice and then offers an imperfect animal to the Lord. For I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and I am respected among the nations!