1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
Na sasa, enyi makuhani, amri hii yawahusu ninyi.
2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
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.
3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
Angalieni, nitaikemea mbegu kwa ajili yenu, nami nitapaka nyuso zenu mavi, naam, mavi ya sadaka zenu; nanyi mtaondolewa pamoja nayo
4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
Nanyi mtajua ya kuwa mimi nimewapelekeeni amri hii, ili agano langu liwe na Lawi, asema Bwana wa majeshi.
5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
Agano langu naye lilikuwa agano la uhai na amani; nami nikampa ili aogope, naye akaniogopa, akalicha jina langu.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
Sheria ya kweli ilikuwa kinywani mwake, wala udhalimu haukuonekana midomoni mwake; alikwenda pamoja nami katika amani na unyofu, na kuwageuza wengi hata wakaacha uovu.
7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Kwa maana yapasa midomo ya kuhani ihifadhi maarifa, tena yawapasa watu kuitafuta sheria kinywani mwake; kwa kuwa yeye ni mjumbe wa Bwana wa majeshi.
8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
Bali ninyi mmegeuka mkaiacha njia; mmewakwaza watu wengi katika sheria; mmeliharibu agano la Lawi, asema Bwana wa majeshi.
9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
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.
One Father
10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
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?
11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
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.
12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
Bwana atamtenga mtu atendaye hayo, yeye aliye macho, na yeye ajibuye, atamtenga na hema za Yakobo, pia atamtenga yeye amtoleaye Bwana wa majeshi dhabihu.
13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
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.
14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
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.
15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
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.
16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
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.
17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
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?
