Malaki 1
1 Nkɔmhyɛ nsɛm a Awurade nam Odiyifoɔ Malaki so de maa Israel.
[This is] the message that Yahweh gave to [the prophet] Malachi to [give to the people of] Israel.
2 “Madɔ mo,” sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie. “Nanso, mobisa sɛ, ‘Wodɔɔ yɛn ɛkwan bɛn so?’” Na Awurade bua sɛ, “Esau nyɛ Yakob nua anaa? Nanso madɔ Yakob,
Yahweh says, “I have [always] loved you [Israeli people].”
3 na matane Esau, mayɛ nʼasase mmepɔ mmepɔ no bonini, na nʼagyapadeɛ nso madane no anweatam a nnompo te soɔ.”
But you reply, “In what way have you loved us?” Yahweh replies, “[This is how I loved you]: [It is true that your ancestor] Jacob was [RHQ] Esau’s [younger] brother, and I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau. I caused his hilly region to become (desolate/a place where crops did not grow). I caused the land which he possessed to become a desert where jackals/wolves live.”
4 Ebia Edom bɛka sɛ, “Ɛwom sɛ wɔadwera yɛn deɛ, nanso yɛbɛsane asi mmubuiɛ no bio.” Nanso, yei ne deɛ Asafo Awurade nso seɛ: “Wɔbɛsi nanso mɛbubu no. Wɔbɛfrɛ wɔn, Amumuyɛ Asase, nnipa a Awurade abufuo bɛtena wɔn so daa.
[The descendants of Esau who live in] Edom may say, “[Yes, ] we have been crushed/ruined, but we will rebuild [houses] in the ruins.” But the Commander of the armies of angels replies, “They may build [houses again], but I will demolish [them again]. Their [country] will be called ‘The land where wicked people [live]’ and [their people will be called] ‘The people with whom Yahweh is angry forever’.”
5 Mode mo ankasa ani bɛhunu na moaka sɛ, ‘Awurade kɛseyɛ tra Israel ahyeɛ nyinaa so!’
When you [Israeli] people yourselves see [what I will do to them], you will say, “[It is evident far] beyond the borders of Israel that Yahweh is [very] great!”
6 “Ɔbabarima de obuo ma nʼagya, na ɔsomfoɔ de anidie ma ne wura. Sɛ meyɛ Agya a, anidie a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde ma me no wɔ he? Sɛ meyɛ Owura a, obuo a ɛfata me no wɔ he?” Yei na Asafo Awurade bisa. Mo asɔfoɔ, mo na mosɛe me din. “Na mobisa sɛ, ‘Ɛkwan bɛn na yɛ nam so sɛee wo din?’
But the Commander of the armies of angels says to the priests, “Boys honor their fathers, and servants [respect] their masters. So, if I am [like your] father and your master, why [RHQ] do you not honor and respect me? You have despised me [MTY]!” But you ask, “(How/In what way) have we despised you?”
7 “Mode aduane a ɛho agu fi bɛgu mʼafɔrebukyia so. “Afei mobisa sɛ ‘Ɛkwan bɛn so na yɛfa guu wo ho fi?’ “Sɛ mokaa sɛ, Awurade ɛpono ho yɛ aniwu enti.
[Yahweh replies, ] “[Instead of honoring me, you have despised me] by offering sacrifices on my altar that are unacceptable to me.” Then you ask, “What sacrifices have we given that have been unacceptable to you?” [Yahweh replies, ] “You think that (it does not matter/it is okay) if you do not respect my altar.
8 Sɛ mode mmoa a wɔn ani abɔ bɔ afɔdeɛ a, ɛnyɛ mmusuo? Sɛ mode mmoa a wɔyare anaa wɔyɛ mpakye bɔ afɔdeɛ a, ɛnyɛ mmusuo? Ɛyɛ a, momfa akyɛdeɛ a ɛte saa no nkɔma mo amrado, na monhwɛ sɛ, nʼani bɛsɔ na wagye wo ato mu anaa?” Deɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ nie.
You offer for sacrifices animals that are blind. (Is that not wrong?/That is disgusting!) [RHQ] And you offer for sacrifices animals that are crippled or that have diseases. (Is that also not wrong?/That [also] is disgusting!) [RHQ] If you tried to give presents like that to your governor, (do you think [RHQ] that he would be pleased?/he would certainly not be pleased!) (Would he [RHQ] accept such gifts? He would certainly not accept such gifts!) [That is what] the Commander of the armies of angels says!”
9 “Afei mo nsrɛ Onyankopɔn, na ɔnhunu yɛn mmɔbɔ. Sɛ afɔrebɔdeɛ sei firi mo nkyɛn a, ɔbɛgye mo ato mu anaa?” Asafo Awurade na ɔrebisa.
[And he also says, ] “You plead with me to be merciful to you. But you bring to me sacrifices that are not acceptable to me, so why should I be kind to you [RHQ]?”
10 “Anka mepɛ sɛ mo mu baako kɔtoto asɔredan no apono mu, na obi ankɔsɔ ogya a ɛmfata wɔ mʼafɔrebukyia so! Mʼani nsɔ mo, na merennye afɔrebɔdeɛ biara a ɛfiri mo nkyɛn,” sɛdeɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ nie.
The Commander of the armies of angels [also] says, “I wish/desire that one of you would shut the gates [of the temple courtyard], in order that no one could offer those worthless sacrifices. I am not pleased with you, and I will not accept the offerings that you bring to me.
11 “Ɛfiri deɛ owia pue kɔsi deɛ owia kɔtɔ, me din bɛyɛ kɛseɛ wɔ amanaman no mu. Baabiara, wɔde afɔrebɔdeɛ a ɛho teɛ ne nnuhwam bɛbrɛ me, ɛfiri sɛ, me din bɛyɛ kɛseɛ wɔ amanaman no mu,” sɛdeɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ nie.
[People of other] nations honor me [MTY] [every day], from sunrise/morning until sunset/evening. All over the world people offer incense and [other] pure/acceptable offerings to me [MTY]. [They do that] because [people among all] the nations know that I [MTY] am [very] great.
12 “Nanso mode kasa fi ka sɛ Awurade ɛpono ho nte. Na mobu ɛso aduane nso animtia.
But you [priests show that you] despise me [by what you do]. You say, ‘[It is all right if] people pollute the altar by bringing sacrifices that are unacceptable.’
13 Na moka sɛ adesoa bɛn nie, na moyi mo ani firi mʼasɛm so,” sɛdeɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ nie. “Sɛ mode mmoa a wɔapirapira, a wɔyɛ mpakye anaa wɔyareyare bɛbɔ afɔdeɛ ma me a, me nsɔ mu anaa?” Yei na Awurade bisa.
You say ‘We are tired of [burning all these sacrifices on the altar].’ You (turn up your noses at/act very disrespectfully toward) [me]. When you bring [to me] animals that have been stolen or ones that are crippled or that have diseases, to offer them for sacrifices, [do you think that] [RHQ] I should accept them?
14 “Nnome nka osisifoɔ a ɔwɔ odwennini a ɔfata wɔ ne nnwankuo mu, na ɔhyɛ bɔ sɛ ɔde no bɛma nanso ɔde deɛ wadi dɛm na ɛbɔ afɔdeɛ ma Awurade. Meyɛ ɔhempɔn, na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔsuro me din wɔ amanaman mu,” sɛdeɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ nie.
[I will] curse anyone who [tries to] cheat [me] by solemnly promising [to bring to me a perfect] ram from his flock [of sheep] and then brings to me one that has defects. [If anyone does that, I will punish him], because I am a great king; [I am] the Commander of the armies of angels and [people of the other] nations revere me [MTY], [but you do not]!”
