Malakias 1

1 Herrens Ords Profeti over Israel ved Malakias.

An oracle. The message of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.

2 Jeg har elsket eder, siger Herren; men I sige: Hvorudi har du elsket os? Er ikke Esau Jakobs Broder? siger Herren, dog elskede jeg Jakob.

‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord. ‘But you ask, “How have you shown love to us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ explains the Lord of hosts, ‘yet I loved Jacob,

3 Men Esau hadede jeg og gjorde hans Bjerge øde og hans Arv til Hjem for Ørkens Drager.

but hated Esau, and made his mountains a desolation, and transformed his ancestral land into a wilderness.

4 Naar Edom siger: Vi ere knuste, men vi ville komme igen og opbygge de øde Stæder, da siger den Herre Zebaoth saaledes: De ville bygge, men jeg vil nedbryde, og man skal kalde dem Ugudeligheds Land og det Folk, paa hvilket Herren er vred indtil evig Tid.

When Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and rebuild the ruined places”’ the Lord of hosts says, ‘They may build, but I will throw down. They will be called, “The border land of wickedness,” the people against whom the Lord is angry forever.

5 Og eders Øjne skulle se det, og I skulle sige: Herren er stor over Israels Land.

Your own eyes will see this, and you will say, “the Lord’s greatness reaches beyond the border of Israel.”’

6 En Søn skal ære Faderen og en Tjener sin Herre; dersom jeg da er Fader, hvor er min Ære? og er jeg Herre, hvor er Frygten for mig? siger den Herre Zebaoth til eder, I Præster, som foragte mit Navn, og dog sige: Hvormed have vi foragtet dit Navn?

‘A son honours his father and servant their master. If I am a father, where is my honour? And if I am a master, where is the one who fears me? So says the Lord to you, priests who despise my name. You ask, “How have we despised your name?”

7 I, som fremføre besmittet Brød paa mit Alter, og dog sige: Hvormed besmitte vi dig? Dermed, at I sige: Herrens Bord er foragteligt.

You offer on my altar bread that is polluted. You ask, “How have we polluted it?” Because you say, “The table of the Lord is contemptible.”

8 Og naar I fremføre noget blindt til at ofres, se I intet ondt deri; og naar I fremføre noget halt eller sygt, se I intet ondt deri; bring dog din Landshøvding det! mon han vil finde Behag i dig eller være dig naadig? siger den Herre Zebaoth.

When you offer the blind animal for sacrifice, “It doesn’t matter!” And when you offer the lame and the sick “It doesn’t matter!” Give an animal like that to your governor; will he be pleased with it? Will he receive you favourably?’ says the Lord of hosts.

9 Og nu, beder dog ydmygelig for Guds Ansigt, at han vil forbarme sig over os! — af eders Haand er dette begaaet, — mon han for eders Skyld vil være naadig? siger den Herre Zebaoth.

Now, plead for the favour of God with such an offering, so that he may be gracious to us. ‘Would I receive any of you favourably?’ says the Lord of hosts.

10 Gid der dog var een iblandt eder, som vilde tillukke Dørene, at I ikke skulde optænde Ild paa mit Alter forgæves? jeg har ingen Lyst til eder, siger den Herre Zebaoth, og har ikke Behag i Offergaver af eders Haand.

‘If only one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you could not kindle useless fires on my altar! I have no pleasure in you,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘Nor will I accept an offering from your hand.

11 Thi fra Solens Opgang og indtil dens Nedgang er mit Navn stort iblandt Hedningerne, og paa hvert Sted bliver der ofret Røgelse, bliver der frembaaret for mit Navn og det rene Offergaver; thi stort er mit Navn iblandt Hedningerne, siger den Herre Zebaoth.

For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place they offer to my name a pure offering. For my name is great among the nations,’ says the Lord of hosts.

12 Men I vanhellige det, idet I sige: Herrens Bord, det er besmittet, og hvad angaar det, som ydes dertil, at Maden derpaa er foragtelig.

‘But you profane me when you say, “The table of the Lord is polluted, and its food is contemptible.”

13 Og I sige: Se, hvilken Møje! og I blæse ad det, siger den Herre Zebaoth, og I fremføre, hvad der er røvet, og det halte og det syge, ja, fremføre det som Offergave; skulde jeg have Behag i saadant af eders Haand? siger Herren.

You say also, “How tired we are of all this!” and you sniff contemptuously at it. You have brought the blind, the lame and the sick as offerings. Should I accept this from your hand?’ says the Lord of hosts.

14 Og forbandet er den, som bedrager, naar han dog har en Han i sin Hjord, og den, som gør Løfte og ofrer noget beskadiget til Herren; thi jeg er en stor Konge, siger den Herre Zebaoth, og mit Navn er forfærdeligt iblandt Hedningerne.

‘Cursed be the cheat, who has in his flock a valuable male, but vows and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished animal! For I am a great king,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and my name is feared among the nations.’