1
Ufunuo wa neno la Bwana kwa Israeli kwa mkono wa Malaki
This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:
2
Nimewapenda ninyi, asema Bwana. Lakini ninyi mwasema, Umetupendaje? Je! Esau siye ndugu yake Yakobo? Asema Bwana; ila nimempenda Yakobo;
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved,
3
bali Esau nimemchukia na kuifanya milima yake kuwa ukiwa, na urithi wake nimewapa mbweha wa nyikani.
but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”
4
Ijapokuwa Edomu asema, Tumepondwa-pondwa, lakini tutarudi na kupajenga mahali palipoachwa hali ya ukiwa; Bwana wa majeshi asema hivi, Wao watajenga, bali mimi nitaangusha; na watu watawaita, Mpaka wa uovu, na, Watu ambao Bwana anawaghadhabikia milele.
Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.
5
Na macho yenu ninyi yataona, nanyi mtasema, Bwana ndiye mkuu kupita mpaka wa Israeli.
You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great—even beyond the borders of Israel.’”
6
Mwana humheshimu baba yake, na mtumishi humcha bwana wake; basi, kama mimi ni baba yenu, heshima yangu iko wapi? Na kama mimi ni bwana wenu, kicho changu ki wapi? Bwana wa majeshi awauliza ninyi, enyi makuhani, mnaolidharau jina langu. Nanyi mwasema, Tumelidharau jina lako kwa jinsi gani?
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
7
Mnatoa chakula kilichotiwa unajisi juu ya madhabahu yangu Nanyi mwasema, Sisi tumekutia unajisi kwa jinsi gani? Kwa sababu mwasema, Meza ya Bwana ni kitu cha kudharauliwa.
By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.
8
Tena mtoapo sadaka aliye kipofu, si vibaya? Na mtoapo sadaka walio vilema na wagonjwa, si vibaya? Haya! Mtolee liwali wako; je! Atakuwa radhi nawe? Au atakukubali nafsi yako? Asema Bwana wa majeshi.
When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
9
Na sasa, nawasihi, ombeni fadhili za Mungu, ili atupe neema; ikiwa jambo hili limetoka katika mikono yenu; je! Atawakubali nafsi zenu? Asema Bwana wa majeshi.
“But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
10
Laiti angekuwapo kwenu mtu mmoja wa kuifunga milango; msije mkawasha moto bure madhabahuni pangu! Sina furaha kwenu, asema Bwana wa majeshi, wala sitakubali dhabihu yo yote mikononi mwenu.
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
11
Kwa maana tokea maawio ya jua hata machweo yake jina langu ni kuu katika Mataifa; na katika kila mahali unatolewa uvumba na dhabihu safi kwa jina langu; maana jina langu ni kuu katika Mataifa, asema Bwana wa majeshi.
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.
12
Lakini ninyi mnalitia unajisi, kwa kuwa mwasema, Meza ya Bwana imetiwa unajisi; na matunda yake, yaani, nyama yake, hudharauliwa.
“But you profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is contemptible.’
13
Tena mwasema, Tazama, jambo hili linatuchokesha namna gani! Nanyi mmelidharau, asema Bwana wa majeshi; nanyi mmeleta kitu kilichopatikana kwa udhalimu, na kilema, na kilicho kigonjwa; ndivyo mnavyoleta sadaka; je! Niikubali hii mikononi mwenu? Asema Bwana.
You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.
14
Lakini na alaaniwe mtu mwenye kudanganya, ambaye katika kundi lake ana mume, akaweka nadhiri, ila amtolea Bwana kitu kilicho na kilema; kwa maana mimi ni Mfalme mkuu, asema Bwana wa majeshi, na jina langu latisha katika Mataifa.
“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.