Malachi 1

1 [This is] the message that Yahweh gave to [the prophet] Malachi to [give to the people of] Israel.

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

2 Yahweh says, “I have [always] loved you [Israeli people].”

“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,

3 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.”

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

4 [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’.”

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.

5 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!”

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

6 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?”

“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?’

7 [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.

“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.

8 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!”

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.

9 [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]?”

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

10 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.

“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.

11 [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.

“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.

12 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.’

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

13 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?

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.

14 [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]!”

“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.