Malachi 1

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

Nkɔmhyɛ nsɛm a Awurade nam Odiyifoɔ Malaki so de maa Israel.

2 ‘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,

“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,

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

na matane Esau, mayɛ nʼasase mmepɔ mmepɔ no bonini, na nʼagyapadeɛ nso madane no anweatam a nnompo te soɔ.”

4 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.

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.

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

Mode mo ankasa ani bɛhunu na moaka sɛ, ‘Awurade kɛseyɛ tra Israel ahyeɛ nyinaa so!’

6 ‘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?”

“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?’

7 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.”

“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.

8 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.

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.

9 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.

“Afei mo nsrɛ Onyankopɔn, na ɔnhunu yɛn mmɔbɔ. Sɛ afɔrebɔdeɛ sei firi mo nkyɛn a, ɔbɛgye mo ato mu anaa?” Asafo Awurade na ɔrebisa.

10 ‘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.

“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.

11 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.

“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.

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

“Nanso mode kasa fi ka sɛ Awurade ɛpono ho nte. Na mobu ɛso aduane nso animtia.

13 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.

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.

14 ‘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.’

“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.