< Colossians 1 >

1 I, Paul, [am writing this letter to you], and our fellow believer Timothy [is with me]. I am an apostle who represents Christ Jesus, because that is what God wanted.
Paulu, aposteli Jesu Kristi nípa ìfẹ́ Ọlọ́run àti Timotiu arákùnrin wa,
2 [I am sending this letter] to you who are in Colossae [city], and who are God’s people, and our faithful fellow believers who have a close relationship with Christ. We pray that God our Father will be acting kindly towards you, and that he will cause you to have [inner] peace.
Sí àwọn ẹni mímọ́ àti àwọn arákùnrin àti arábìnrin nínú Kristi tí wọ́n ń gbé ní ìlú Kolose: Oore-ọ̀fẹ́ àti àlàáfíà fún un yín láti ọ̀dọ̀ Ọlọ́run Baba wa.
3 Very often [HYP] we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, while we are praying for you,
Nígbàkígbà tí a bá ń gbàdúrà fún un yín ni a máa ń dúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ Ọlọ́run Baba Olúwa wa Jesu Kristi.
4 because we have heard that you believe in Christ Jesus, and that you love all God’s people.
Nítorí a ti gbúròó ìgbàgbọ́ yín nínú Jesu Kristi, àti bí ẹ ti ṣe fẹ́ràn gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn mímọ́.
5 You do that because you confidently expect to receive that which God is (reserving/keeping safe) for you in heaven, which you heard about previously when you heard the true message, that is, the message [about Christ].
Ìgbàgbọ́ àti ìfẹ́ tí ń sàn nínú ìrètí tí a gbé pamọ́ fún un yín ní ọ̀run èyí tí ẹ̀yin sì ti gbọ́ tẹ́lẹ̀ nínú ọ̀rọ̀ òtítọ́ ìyìnrere náà,
6 [People] proclaimed it [PRS] to you, just like [people] have proclaimed it in many different countries [HYP, IDM]. The true message is changing more and more people’s lives, just like it changed your lives because you heard it and you truly experienced that God acts kindly towards us in ways we do not deserve.
èyí tí ó ti dé ọ̀dọ̀ yín. Káàkiri àgbáyé ni ìyìnrere yìí ń so èso tí ó sì ń dàgbà, gẹ́gẹ́ bí ó ti ń ṣe láàrín yín láti ọjọ́ náà tí ẹ ti gbọ́ ọ, tí ẹ sì ní ìmọ̀ oore-ọ̀fẹ́ Ọlọ́run nínú gbogbo òtítọ́ rẹ̀.
7 That is just what Epaphras taught you [would happen]. We love Epaphras. He serves Christ together with us and works for Christ faithfully for your benefit.
Ẹ̀yin ti kọ́ ọ lọ́dọ̀ Epafira, ìránṣẹ́ ẹlẹgbẹ́ wa olùfẹ́, ẹni tí ó jẹ́ olóòtítọ́ ìránṣẹ́ Kristi ní ipò wa.
8 He told us that you love [all God’s people], just like God’s Spirit [has enabled you to] (OR, spiritually).
Ẹni ti ó sọ fún wa nípa ìfẹ́ yín nínú ẹ̀mí.
9 Because of what we heard about you, we have also been praying [LIT] very often to God for you [HYP], ever since we heard this report about you. We pray that you will truly know all that God wants you to do; that is, that you will become very wise, and that you will understand spiritual matters well.
Nítorí ìdí èyí, láti ọjọ́ tí a ti gbọ́ nípa yín, a kò sinmi láti máa gbàdúrà fún yin, tí a sì ń gbàdúrà pé kí Ọlọ́run fi ìmọ̀ ìfẹ́ rẹ̀ kún yín nípasẹ̀ ọgbọ́n àti òye gbogbo tí ń ṣe ti Ẹ̀mí.
10 We have been praying like that in order that you will conduct yourselves as the Lord’s people should conduct themselves, in order that you will please the Lord in every way. Specifically, we have been praying like that in order that you will be doing every sort of good deed [IDM] and in order that you will be getting to know God truly, more and more.
Àwa sì ń gbàdúrà yìí kí ẹ lè gbé irú ìgbé ayé tó yẹ fún Olúwa kí ẹ sì máa wu ú ní gbogbo ọ̀nà, kí ẹ sì máa so èso rere gbogbo, kí ẹ sì máa dàgbà nínú ìmọ̀ Ọlọ́run,
11 And we pray that [God] will greatly strengthen you [spiritually] with the mighty power that he has shown [to people], in order that you will always be steadfast and patient [when you experience difficulties], while [at the same time] you will be rejoicing.
pé kí a lè fi ipa gbogbo sọ yín di alágbára gẹ́gẹ́ bí agbára rẹ̀ àti ògo rẹ̀, kí ó lè ṣe é ṣe fún un yín láti máa tẹ̀síwájú nínú sùúrù àti ìpamọ́ra pẹ̀lú ayọ̀.
12 And we pray that you will be thanking God our Father, because he has enabled you/us to receive the things that he will give to his people in heaven [SYN].
Kí a máa dúpẹ́ nígbà gbogbo lọ́wọ́ Baba, ẹni tí ó kà yín láti jẹ́ alábápín nínú ogún àwọn ẹni mímọ́ nínú ìjọba ìmọ́lẹ̀.
13 God our Father rescued us [spiritually] so that the evil one no longer rules us [MET, MTY], and he caused us now to be ruled by his Son, whom he loves.
Nítorí tí ó ti já wa gbà kúrò nínú agbára òkùnkùn ó sì mú wa wá sí ìjọba Ọmọ tí ó fẹ́ràn.
14 That is, because of our relationship with his Son (OR, because of what the one who is also God did), God has redeemed/bought us; in particular, he has forgiven our sins.
Nínú ẹni tí a ní ìràpadà, àti ìdáríjì ẹ̀ṣẹ̀.
15 God’s Son reveals perfectly what God, his Father, is like, whom no one can see. God’s Son existed before and ranks above everything that God has created.
Kristi ni àwòrán Ọlọ́run tí a kò le rí, àkọ́bí gbogbo ẹ̀dá.
16 When God created everything that is on the earth, he did it by having his Son do it. He created everything that [people] can see, and also everything which is in heaven that [people] cannot see. In particular, his Son created all ranks of important spirit beings. [And his Son ranks above everything], because God by the work of had his Son, and because by his Son all things were created {because [God] had his Son create everything} in order that everything might praise his Son,
Nítorí nípa rẹ̀ ní a dá ohun gbogbo: àwọn ohun tí ń bẹ ní ọ̀run àti ní ayé, ohun tí a rí àti èyí tí a kò rí, wọn ìbá ṣe ìtẹ́, tàbí agbára, tàbí àṣẹ, nípasẹ̀ rẹ̀ ni a dá ohun gbogbo àti fún un.
17 and because it is his Son who existed before anything else existed, and because God sustains everything by what his Son [does].
Ó ti wà ṣáájú kí ohunkóhun tó wà, nínú rẹ̀ ni a sì so ohun gbogbo papọ̀ ṣọ̀kan.
18 And [God’s Son ranks above everything], because it is his Son who [rules over his people] [MET] [as a person’s] head [controls his physical] body, because his Son causes his people to live [spiritually]. [God’s Son] is the first one who became alive again, in order that he should become more important than anything and everyone.
Òun ni orí fún ara, èyí tí í ṣe ìjọ; òun ni ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ àti àkọ́bí nínú àwọn òkú, pé nínú ohun gbogbo kí òun lè ní ipò tí ó ga jùlọ nínú ohunkóhun.
19 [God’s Son reveals perfectly what God his Father is like], because his Father chose to live completely in him.
Nítorí ìfẹ́ Ọlọ́run ni pé kí gbogbo ẹ̀kúnrẹ́rẹ́ òun tìkára rẹ̀ lè máa gbé nínú rẹ̀.
20 [God our Father caused his Son to rule us], because he decided to reconcile with himself everything that is on earth and that is in heaven by what his Son did, in order that everything might honor his Son; that is, God our Father decided to reconcile everything to himself as a result of his [Son’s] blood [flowing when he died] on the cross. [The chiastic material is rearranged below so that the directly related propositional clusters are joined together.] 13 God our Father rescued us [spiritually] so that we are no longer ruled by the evil one, and God our Father caused us now to be ruled by his Son (OR, the man who is also God) whom he loves. 14a That is, by means of what his Son did, we have been redeemed by God, our Father. 14b In particular, our sins have been forgiven by God, our Father. 20 God, our Father, has done this because he decided to reconcile to himself, by means of his Son, everything that is on earth and that is in heaven, in order that his Son might be honored; that is, God, our Father decided to reconcile everything to himself by means of God’s Son’s blood [flowing out when he died] on the cross. 15b God cannot be seen by anyone, 15a but his Son reveals perfectly what God—his Father—is like, 19a because it is in his Son that the Father chose 19b that he himself would dwell completely. 15c God’s Son ranks above everything 15d that has been created, 16 because it was by means of God’s Son that God created everything that is on the earth and that can be seen by people, and also everything that is in heaven and that cannot be seen by people. In particular, all types of important spirit beings were created by means of him, since everything has been created by God by means of God’s Son. And his Son ranks above everything, because everything has been created by God, in order that God’s Son might be honored by everything, 17 and because it is he who existed before anything else existed, and since everything is sustained by God by means of God’s Son. 18 And God’s Son ranks above everything because it is he who [rules over all believers, just like a person’s] head [controls his physical body, because he causes all believers to live spiritually]. His Son is the first one who rose from among those who have died, in order that he should become more important than everything and everyone.
Àti nípasẹ̀ rẹ̀ láti bá ohun gbogbo làjà àwọn nǹkan tí ń bẹ láyé àti èyí tí ń bẹ ní ọ̀run, nípa mímú àlàáfíà wá nípasẹ̀ ẹ̀jẹ̀ rẹ̀, tí a ta sílẹ̀ lórí igi àgbélébùú.
21 As for you, [although] formerly God [considered you his] enemies (OR, [God considered you] as alienated [from him]) and [although] you were formerly hostile [to God] because you thought evil thoughts and because you did evil deeds,
Ẹ̀yin ya ara yín nípá kúrò lọ́dọ̀ Ọlọ́run nígbà kan rí, ẹ jẹ́ ọ̀tá nínú ọkàn yín nítorí ìwà búburú yín.
22 nevertheless, God our Father has now reconciled you [with himself. He did that] as a result of his Son dying physically. He did it in order that you should be completely holy when he brings you into his presence.
Ṣùgbọ́n nísinsin yìí, ó ti bá yín làjà nípa ara Kristi nípa ikú láti mú un yín lọ sí iwájú rẹ̀ ní mímọ́, aláìlábàwọ́n àti kúrò nínú ìdálẹ́bi,
23 He wants you to continue [DOU] to believe the message about Christ; specifically, he wants you to continue to be stable/steadfast and to continue to confidently expect to receive that which you heard about when you heard that message. That message has been proclaimed {They have proclaimed that message} to people in very many places [HYP]; and I, Paul, also become someone who tells it to people.
bí ẹ̀yin bá dúró nínú ìgbàgbọ́ yín, tí ẹ fi ẹsẹ̀ múlẹ̀, tí ẹ sì dúró ṣinṣin, láláìyẹsẹ̀ kúrò nínú ìrètí ti ìyìnrere ti ẹ̀yin ti gbọ́, èyí tí a ti wàásù rẹ̀ fún gbogbo ẹ̀dá lábẹ́ ọ̀run, àti èyí ti èmi Paulu ṣe ìránṣẹ́ fún.
24 At the present time I am rejoicing that I am suffering for your benefit; that is, I am completing what Christ [decided] that I should suffer physically for the benefit of all believers, [who are as dear to him as] his own body.
Nísinsin yìí èmi ń yọ̀ nínú ìjìyà fún un yín. Inú mi sì dùn, nítorí mo ń ṣe ìrànlọ́wọ́ láti jẹ ìyà tó ṣẹ́kù nínú ìyà Kristi fún ara rẹ̀, èyí tí ì ṣe ìjọ.
25 I myself became someone who serves God’s people, because I was appointed {[God] appointed me} to be responsible to [help] you [who are non-Jews]. I became one who serves God’s people in order that I should make known to you non-Jews the whole message from/about God.
Nínú èyí tí a fi ṣe ìránṣẹ́ fún gẹ́gẹ́ bí iṣẹ́ ìríjú Ọlọ́run tí a fi fún mi fún yín láti mú ọ̀rọ̀ Ọlọ́run ṣẹ.
26 [We did not know this message previously; that is, God] concealed it from [the people who lived in all] the previous ages, but he has now revealed it to his people. (aiōn g165)
Ó ti pa àṣírí ìjìnlẹ̀ yìí mọ́ fún ayérayé àti láti ìrandíran. Ṣùgbọ́n nísinsin yìí, gẹ́gẹ́ bí ìfẹ́ ọkàn rẹ̀, ó ti fihàn fún àwọn ẹni mímọ́. (aiōn g165)
27 That is, God decided to reveal to them this message, which declares that he will greatly bless the non-Jews. Specifically, this message declares that Christ, [by his Spirit], will live in you who are non-Jews, with the result that you confidently expect that you will experience how glorious [God is].
Àwọn ẹni tí Ọlọ́run yàn láti fihàn láàrín àwọn aláìkọlà nípa ọ̀rọ̀ ògo ohun ìjìnlẹ̀ yìí, èyí tí í ṣe Kristi ìrètí ògo nínú yín.
28 We tell about Christ [to every class of persons]; we warn them, and specifically, we teach everyone very wisely. We do this in order that every person who (has a close relationship with/is united to) Christ may be (all that God wants them to be/perfect) when we present them to Christ.
Àwa ń wàásù rẹ̀, a ń gbani níyànjú a sì ń kọ olúkúlùkù ènìyàn ní ọgbọ́n gbogbo, kí a lè mú olúkúlùkù dé ọ̀dọ̀ Ọlọ́run ní pípé nínú Kristi.
29 In order that I might [achieve/accomplish this], I am also working very hard, depending on Christ to empowering me very greatly.
Sí èyí sì ni èmi ń ṣe làálàá, ti mo sì ń làkàkà pẹ̀lú gbogbo agbára rẹ̀, èyí tó ń ṣiṣẹ́ nínú mi.

< Colossians 1 >