Malaki 1

1 Nkɔmhyɛ nsɛm a Awurade nam Odiyifo Malaki so de maa Israel.

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of his messenger. Lay [it], I pray you, to heart.

2 “Madɔ mo,” sɛnea Awurade se ni. “Nanso mubisa se, ‘Wodɔɔ yɛn wɔ ɔkwan bɛn so?’” Na Awurade bua se, “Esau nyɛ Yakob nua ana? Nanso madɔ Yakob,

I have loved you, says the Lord. And you said, Wherein have you loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

3 na matan Esau, mayɛ nʼasase mmepɔwmmepɔw no kesee, na nʼagyapade nso magyaw ama nweatam so nnompo.”

and hated Esau and laid waste his borders, and made his heritage as dwellings of the wilderness?

4 Ebia Edom bɛka se, “Ɛwɔ mu sɛ wɔadwerɛw yɛn de, nanso yɛbɛsan asi mmubui no.” Nanso sɛɛ na Asafo Awurade nso se: “Wobesi nanso mebubu no. Wɔbɛfrɛ wɔn Amumɔyɛ Asase, nnipa a Awurade abufuw bɛtena wɔn so daa.

Because one will say, Idumea has been overthrown, but let us return and rebuild the desolate places; thus says the Lord Almighty, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall be called The borders of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord has set himself for ever.

5 Mode mo ankasa ani behu na moaka se, ‘Awurade kɛseyɛ tra Israel ahye nyinaa!’

And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, The Lord has been magnified upon the borders of Israel.

6 “Ɔbabarima de obu ma nʼagya, na ɔsomfo de nidi ma ne wura. Sɛ meyɛ Agya a, nidi a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde ma me no wɔ he? Sɛ meyɛ Owura a, obu a ɛfata me no wɔ he?” Eyi na Asafo Awurade bisa. “Mo asɔfo, mo na mosɛe me din. “Na mubisa se, ‘Ɔkwan bɛn na yɛnam so asɛe wo din?’

A son honours [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honour? and if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord Almighty. You the priests are they that despise my name: yet you said, Wherein have we despised your name?

7 “Mode aduan a ho agu fi begu mʼafɔremuka so. “Afei mubisa se ‘Ɔkwan bɛn so na yɛafa agu wo ho fi?’ “Sɛ mokae se, Awurade pon ho yɛ aniwu nti.

In that you bring to mine altar polluted bread; and you said, Wherein have you polluted it? In that you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and that which was set thereon you have despised.

8 Sɛ mode mmoa a wɔn ani abɔ bɔ afɔre a, ɛnyɛ mmusu? Sɛ mode mmoa a wɔyare anaa wɔyɛ mpakye bɔ afɔre a, ɛnyɛ mmusu? Ɛyɛ a, momfa akyɛde a ɛte saa no nkɔma mo amrado, na monhwɛ sɛ, nʼani bɛsɔ na wagye wo ato mu ana?” Nea Asafo Awurade se ni.

For if you bring a blind [victim] for sacrifices, [is it] not evil? and if you bring the lame or the sick, [is it] not evil? offer it now to your ruler, [and see] if he will receive you, if he will accept your person, says the Lord Almighty.

9 “Afei monsrɛ Onyankopɔn, na onhu yɛn mmɔbɔ. Sɛ afɔrebɔde sɛɛ fi mo nkyɛn a obegye mo ato mu ana?” Asafo Awurade na ɔrebisa.

And now entreat the face of your God, and make supplication to him. These things have been done by your hands; shall I accept you? says the Lord Almighty.

10 “Anka mepɛ sɛ mo mu baako kɔtoto asɔre dan no apon mu, na obi ankɔsɔ ogya a ɛmfata wɔ mʼafɔremuka so! Mʼani nsɔ mo na merennye afɔrebɔde biara a efi mo nkyɛn,” sɛnea Asafo Awurade se ni.

Because even amongst you the doors shall be shut, and [one] will not kindle [the fire of] mine altar for nothing, I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept a sacrifice at your hands.

11 “Efi nea owia pue kosi nea owia kɔtɔ, me din bɛyɛ kɛse wɔ amanaman no mu. Baabiara, wɔde afɔrebɔde a ɛho tew ne nnuhuam bɛbrɛ me, efisɛ, me din bɛyɛ kɛse wɔ amanaman no mu,” sɛnea Asafo Awurade se ni.

For from the rising of the sun even to the going down [thereof] my name has been glorified amongst the Gentiles; and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great amongst the Gentiles, says the Lord Almighty.

12 “Nanso mode kasa fi ka se Awurade pon ho ntew. Na mubu so aduan nso animtiaa.

But you profane it, in that you say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and his meats set thereon are despised.

13 Na moka se, ‘Adesoa duruduru!’ Na muhua no animtiaabu kwan so,” sɛnea Asafo Awurade se ni. “Sɛ mode mmoa a wɔapirapira, wɔyɛ mpakye anaa wɔyareyare bɛbɔ afɔre ma me a, minso mu ana?” Eyi na Awurade bisa.

And you said, These [services] are troublesome: therefore I have utterly rejected them with scorn, says the Lord Almighty: and you brought in torn victims, and lame, and sick: if then you should bring an offering, shall I accept them at your hands? says the Lord Almighty.

14 “Nnome nka osisifo a ɔwɔ odwennini a ɔfata wɔ ne nguankuw mu, na ɔhyɛ bɔ sɛ ɔde no bɛma nanso ɔde nea wadi dɛm na ɛbɔ afɔre ma Awurade. Meyɛ ɔhempɔn, na ɛsɛ sɛ wosuro me din wɔ amanaman mu,” sɛnea Asafo Awurade se ni.

And cursed [is the man] who had the power, and possessed a male in his flock, and whose vow is upon him, and who sacrifices a corrupt thing to the Lord: for I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and my name is glorious amongst the nations.