Malaki 1

1 Ujumbe: Neno la Bwana kwa Israeli kupitia kwa Malaki.

The declaration of the word of Yahweh to Israel by the hand of Malachi.

2 Bwana asema, “Nimewapenda ninyi.” “Lakini ninyi mnauliza, ‘Wewe umetupendaje?’” Bwana asema, “Je, Esau hakuwa ndugu yake Yakobo? Hata hivyo nimempenda Yakobo,

“I have loved you,” says Yahweh. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares Yahweh. “Yet I have loved Jacob,

3 lakini nikamchukia Esau, nami nimeifanya milima yake kuwa ukiwa, na urithi wake nimewapa mbweha wa jangwani.”

but Esau I have hated. I have made his mountains an abandoned devastation, and I have made his inheritance a place for the jackals of the wilderness.”

4 Edomu anaweza kusema, “Ingawa tumepondapondwa, tutajenga upya magofu.” Lakini hili ndilo Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote asemalo: “Wanaweza kujenga, lakini nitabomoa. Wataitwa Nchi Ovu, watu ambao siku zote wapo chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana.

If Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins,” Yahweh of hosts will say, “They may rebuild, but I will throw down again. Others will call them 'The country of wickedness' and 'The people whom Yahweh has cursed forever.'

5 Mtayaona kwa macho yenu wenyewe na kusema, ‘Bwana ni mkuu, hata nje ya mipaka ya Israeli!’

Your own eyes will see this, and you will say, 'Yahweh is great beyond the borders of Israel.'”

6 “Mwana humheshimu baba yake, naye mtumishi humheshimu bwana wake. Kama mimi ni baba, iko wapi heshima ninayostahili? Kama mimi ni bwana, iko wapi heshima ninayostahili?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. “Ni ninyi, enyi makuhani, mnaolidharau Jina langu. “Lakini mnauliza, ‘Tumelidharau Jina lako kwa namna gani?’

“A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. If I, then, am a father, where is my honor? If I am a master, where is the reverence for me?” says Yahweh of hosts to you priests, who despise my name. “But you say, 'How have we despised your name?'

7 “Mnatoa sadaka chakula kilichotiwa unajisi juu ya madhabahu yangu. “Lakini ninyi mnauliza, ‘Tumekutia unajisi kwa namna gani?’ “Kwa kusema kuwa meza ya Bwana ni ya kudharauliwa.

By offering polluted bread upon my altar. But you say, 'How have we polluted you?' By saying that Yahweh's table is contemptible.

8 Wakati mletapo dhabihu za wanyama walio vipofu, je, hilo si kosa? Mnapoleta dhabihu zilizo vilema au wanyama wagonjwa, je, hilo si kosa? Jaribuni kuvitoa kwa mtawala wenu! Je, angefurahishwa nanyi? Je, atawakubalia?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not evil? When you offer the lame and sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor! Will he accept you or will he lift up your face?” says Yahweh of hosts.

9 “Basi mwombeni Mungu awe na neema kwetu. Je, kwa sadaka kama hizo kutoka mikononi mwenu, atawapokea?” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

Now you keep asking the face of God, that he may be gracious to us. But Yahweh of hosts says that with such an offering in your hand, would he lift up any of your faces?

10 “Laiti mmoja wenu angalifunga milango ya Hekalu, ili msije mkawasha moto usiokuwa na faida juu ya madhabahu yangu! Sina furaha nanyi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, “nami sitaikubali sadaka toka mikononi mwenu.

“Oh, if only there were one of you who would shut the temple gates, so that you might not light fires on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and I will not accept any offering from your hand.

11 Jina langu litakuwa kuu miongoni mwa mataifa, kuanzia mawio ya jua hata machweo yake. Kila mahali uvumba na sadaka safi zitaletwa kwa Jina langu, kwa sababu Jina langu litakuwa kuu miongoni mwa mataifa,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations and in every place incense and pure offerings will be offered in my name. For my name will be great among the nations,” says Yahweh of hosts.

12 “Lakini mnalinajisi Jina langu kwa kusema kuhusu meza ya Bwana, ‘Imetiwa unajisi pamoja na chakula chake. Ni ya kudharauliwa.’

“But you are profaning it when you say the Lord's table is polluted, and that its fruit, its food, is to be despised.

13 Nanyi mnasema, ‘Mzigo gani huu!’ Nanyi mnaidharau kwa kiburi,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. “Wakati mnapowaleta wanyama mliopokonya kwa nguvu, walio vilema au walio wagonjwa na kuwatoa kama dhabihu, je, niwakubali kutoka mikononi mwenu?” asema Bwana.

You also say, 'How tiresome this is,' and you snort at it,” says Yahweh of hosts. “You bring what has been taken by a wild animal or is lame or sick; and this you bring as your offering. Should I accept this from your hand?” says Yahweh.

14 “Amelaaniwa yeye adanganyaye, aliye na mnyama wa kiume anayekubalika katika kundi lake na kuweka nadhiri ya kumtoa, lakini akatoa dhabihu ya mnyama aliye na dosari kwa Bwana. Kwa kuwa mimi ni Mfalme Mkuu, nalo Jina langu linapaswa kuogopwa miongoni mwa mataifa,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.

“May the deceiver be cursed who has a male animal in his flock and vows to give it to me, and yet sacrifices to me, the Lord, what is flawed! For I am a great king,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and my name will be honored among the nations.”