1
Na sasa, enyi makuhani, amri hii yawahusu ninyi.
“And now this decree is for you, O priests:
2
Kama hamtaki kusikia, na kama hamtaki kuitia moyoni, ili kulitukuza jina langu, asema Bwana wa majeshi, basi nitawapelekeeni laana, nami nitazilaani baraka zenu; naam, nimekwisha kuzilaani, kwa sababu hamyatii haya moyoni.
If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.
3
Angalieni, nitaikemea mbegu kwa ajili yenu, nami nitapaka nyuso zenu mavi, naam, mavi ya sadaka zenu; nanyi mtaondolewa pamoja nayo
Behold, I will rebuke your descendants, and I will spread dung on your faces, the waste from your feasts, and you will be carried off with it.
4
Nanyi mtajua ya kuwa mimi nimewapelekeeni amri hii, ili agano langu liwe na Lawi, asema Bwana wa majeshi.
Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.
5
Agano langu naye lilikuwa agano la uhai na amani; nami nikampa ili aogope, naye akaniogopa, akalicha jina langu.
“My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.
6
Sheria ya kweli ilikuwa kinywani mwake, wala udhalimu haukuonekana midomoni mwake; alikwenda pamoja nami katika amani na unyofu, na kuwageuza wengi hata wakaacha uovu.
True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.
7
Kwa maana yapasa midomo ya kuhani ihifadhi maarifa, tena yawapasa watu kuitafuta sheria kinywani mwake; kwa kuwa yeye ni mjumbe wa Bwana wa majeshi.
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
8
Bali ninyi mmegeuka mkaiacha njia; mmewakwaza watu wengi katika sheria; mmeliharibu agano la Lawi, asema Bwana wa majeshi.
But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.
9
Kwa sababu hiyo mimi nami nimewafanya ninyi kuwa kitu cha kudharauliwa, na unyonge, mbele ya watu wote, kama vile ninyi msivyozishika njia zangu, bali mmewapendelea watu katika sheria.
“So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”
10
Je! Sisi sote hatuna Baba mmoja? Mungu aliyetuumba siye mmoja tu? Basi, mbona kila mmoja wetu anamtenda ndugu yake mambo ya hiana, tukilinajisi agano la baba zetu?
Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
11
Yuda ametenda kwa hiana, na chukizo limetendeka katika Israeli, na katika Yerusalemu; maana Yuda ameunajisi utakatifu wa Bwana aupendao, naye amemwoa binti ya mungu mgeni.
Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.
12
Bwana atamtenga mtu atendaye hayo, yeye aliye macho, na yeye ajibuye, atamtenga na hema za Yakobo, pia atamtenga yeye amtoleaye Bwana wa majeshi dhabihu.
As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and aware—even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts.
13
Tena mnatenda haya nayo; mnaifunikiza madhabahu ya Bwana kwa machozi, kwa kulia na kwa kuugua, hata asiiangalie tena hiyo dhabihu, wala kuitakabali mikononi mwenu na kuiridhia.
And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.
14
Lakini ninyi mwasema, Ni kwa sababu gani? Ni kwa sababu Bwana amekuwa shahidi kati ya wewe na mke wa ujana wako, uliyemtenda mambo ya hiana, angawa yeye ni mwenzako, na mke wa agano lako.
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
15
Hakuna mtu mmoja aliyetenda hivi, ambaye alikuwa na ufahamu kidogo. Au je! Kuna mtu mmoja atafutaye mzao mwenye kumcha Mungu? Kwa hiyo jihadharini roho zenu; mtu awaye yote asimtende mke wa ujana wake mambo ya hiana.
Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
16
Maana mimi nakuchukia kuachana, asema Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli; naye aifunikizaye nguo yake kwa udhalimu namchukia, asema Bwana wa majeshi; basi jihadharini roho zenu, msije mkatenda kwa hiana.
“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.
17
Mmemchokesha Bwana kwa maneno yenu. Lakini ninyi mwasema, Tumemchokesha kwa maneno gani? Kwa kuwa mwasema, Kila atendaye mabaya ni mwema machoni pa Bwana, naye huwafurahia watu hao, au, Mungu mwenye kuhukumu yuko wapi?
You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”