Malachi Propheta 1

1 Onus verbi Domini ad Israel in manu Malachiae prophetae.

A prophecy: This message came from the Lord concerning Israel through Malachi.

2 Dilexi vos, dicit Dominus, et dixistis: In quo dilexisti nos? Nonne frater erat Esau Iacob, dicit Dominus, et dilexi Iacob,

I have loved you, says the Lord. But you ask, “How have you loved us?” Wasn't Esau Joseph's brother? the Lord responds. But I loved Joseph

3 Esau autem odio habui? et posui Seir montes eius in solitudinem, et hereditatem eius in dracones deserti.

and despised Esau. I have made Esau's mountain homeland into a wasteland, and turned his inheritance into a desert for jackals.

4 Quod si dixerit Idumaea: Destructi sumus, sed revertentes aedificabimus quae destructa sunt: Haec dicit Dominus exercituum: Isti aedificabunt, et ego destruam: et vocabuntur termini impietatis, et populus, cui iratus est Dominus usque in aeternum.

The people of Edom may be saying: “We have been beaten down, but we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says, They may try and build, but I will tear down. They will be called a land of wickedness, and the people those who make the Lord angry forever.

5 Et oculi vestri videbunt: et vos dicetis: Magnificetur Dominus super terminum Israel.

You will see this destruction with your own eyes, and you will say, “The Lord is great, even beyond the borders of Israel.”

6 Filius honorat patrem, et servus dominum suum: si ergo Pater ego sum, ubi est honor meus: et si Dominus ego sum, ubi est timor meus, dicit Dominus exercituum? ad vos, o sacerdotes, qui despicitis nomen meum, et dixistis: In quo despeximus nomen tuum?

A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. So if I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? says the Lord Almighty to you priests who show contempt for me. But you ask, “How have we shown contempt for you?”

7 Offertis super altare meum panem pollutum, et dicitis: In quo polluimus te? In eo quod dicitis: Mensa Domini despecta est.

By making defiled offerings on my altar. Then you ask, “How have we defiled you?” By saying the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect.

8 Si offeratis caecum ad immolandum, nonne malum est? et si offeratis claudum, et languidum, nonne malum est? offer illud duci tuo, si placuerit ei, aut si susceperit faciem tuam, dicit Dominus exercituum.

When you offer a blind animal as a sacrifice, isn't that wrong? Or when you offer an animal that is crippled or sick, isn't that wrong? Would you give such gifts to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Would he be kind and show favor to you? asks the Lord Almighty.

9 Et nunc deprecamini vultum Dei ut misereatur vestri (de manu enim vestra factum est hoc) si quomodo suscipiat facies vestras, dicit Dominus exercituum.

So why don't you try being kind to God, begging him to be merciful to you? But when you bring such offerings, why should he show favor to you? asks the Lord Almighty.

10 Quis est in vobis, qui claudat ostia, et incendat altare meum gratuito? non est mihi voluntas in vobis, dicit Dominus exercituum: et munus non suscipiam de manu vestra.

I really wish one of you would shut the Temple doors to stop you lighting pointless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept offerings from you.

11 Ab ortu enim solis usque ad occasum, magnum est nomen meum in Gentibus, et in omni loco sacrificatur, et offertur nomini meo oblatio munda: quia magnum est nomen meum in Gentibus, dicit Dominus exercituum.

I am honored by nations from the farthest east to the distant west; everywhere people make offerings to me of incense and pure sacrifices. I am honored among the nations, says the Lord Almighty.

12 Et vos polluistis illud in eo, quod dicitis: Mensa Domini contaminata est: et quod superponitur, contemptibilis est cum igne, qui illud devorat.

But you dishonor me when you say the Lord's table doesn't deserve respect, and that its food can be treated with contempt.

13 Et dixistis: Ecce de labore, et exufflastis illud, dicit Dominus exercituum, et intulistis de rapinis claudum, et languidum, et intulistis munus: numquid suscipiam illud de manu vestra, dicit Dominus?

You say, “All this is too much trouble!” and you sniff scornfully at it, says the Lord Almighty. But when you bring animals that are stolen or crippled or sick and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept what you're giving? asks the Lord.

14 Maledictus dolosus, qui habet in grege suo masculum, et votum faciens immolat debile Domino: quia Rex magnus ego, dicit Dominus exercituum, et nomen meum horribile in Gentibus.

Cursed are those who cheat by vowing to bring a ram as a sacrifice and then offers an imperfect animal to the Lord. For I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and I am respected among the nations!