Luke 12
1 While they were doing that, many thousands of people gathered [around Jesus]. There were so many that they were stepping on each other. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of [becoming] hypocrites [like] the Pharisees. Their [evil influence] [MET] [spreads to others like] yeast [spreads its influence in dough].
Le ɣeyiɣi siawo katã me la, ameha la dzi ɖe edzi akpeakpewo ale gbegbe be afɔɖoƒe meganɔ anyi o. Azɔ etrɔ ɖe eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo ŋu, eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Mikpɔ nyuie le Farisitɔwo kple woƒe alakpanuwɔnawo ŋu. Wowɔa nu abe ame nyui ene, evɔ wovɔ̃ɖi ŋutɔ. Gake woƒe alakpanuwɔnawo ava dze go gbe ɖeka.
2 People will not be able to continue concealing the things that [they or other] people try to conceal now. [God] will [some day] cause the things that are hidden now to be known {[everyone] to know the things that they hide now}.
Ava dze go abe ale si nuʋãnu nana be abolomɔ hona ɖe dzi hlodzoo ene.
3 All the things that you say in the dark [secretly, some day] will be heard {people will hear them} in the daylight. The things you have whispered [SYN] privately among yourselves in your rooms will be proclaimed {[people] will proclaim them} publicly.”
Nu sia nu si miegblɔ le viviti me la, woasee le kekeli me, eye nu si mietsɔ do dalĩ le miaƒe xɔgãwo me la, woaɖe gbeƒãe le xɔwo tame.”
4 “My friends, listen [carefully]. Do not be afraid of people who [are able to] kill you, but after they kill you, there is nothing more that they can do [to hurt you].
Ke mele egblɔm na mi xɔ̃nyewo be, “Migavɔ̃ na ame siwo di be yewoawu mi o. Ŋutilã la koe woate ŋu awu, ke womekpɔ ŋusẽ ɖe míaƒe luʋɔwo ya dzi o.
5 But I will warn you about the one that you should truly be afraid of. You should be afraid of [God], because he not only has [the power to] cause people to die, he has the power to throw them into hell afterward! Yes, he is truly the one that you should be afraid of! (Geenna g1067)
Gake magblɔ ame si wòle be miavɔ̃ la na mi, eyae nye Mawu ame si si ŋusẽ le be wòate ŋu awu ame atsɔe aƒu gbe ɖe dzomavɔ me. (Geenna g1067)
6 [Think about] the sparrows. [They are worth so little] that [you] can [RHQ] buy five of them for only two small coins. But not one of them is ever forgotten by God {God never forgets one of them}!
“Ho neni akpakpa atɔ̃ xɔna? Menye sidi ʋɛ aɖe koe oa? Woƒe home mede naneke kura o ɖe? Gake Mawu meŋlɔa wo dometɔ ɖeka pɛ hã be o.
7 You are worth more [to God] than many sparrows. So do not be afraid [of what people can do to you! God] even knows how many hairs there are on each of your heads, [so that if you(sg) lose one hair, he knows about it. So nothing bad can happen to you without his knowing it].
Miaƒe taɖa katã gɔ̃ hã ƒe xexlẽme le nyanya me na Mawu. Migavɔ̃ o, elabena miexɔ asi na Mawu tsɔ wu atsutsrɔewo.
8 I want to tell you also that if people, [without being afraid, are willing to] tell others [that they are my disciples], [I], the one who came from heaven, will acknowledge before [God that they are my disciples]. [I will do that while] God’s angels listen.
“Medi be mana kakaɖedzi mi be, Nye, Amegbetɔ Vi la, made bubu mia ŋu le dutoƒe le mawudɔlawo ŋkume, nenye be miawo hã mieʋu menye le anyigba sia dzi abe mia xɔlɔ̃ ene.
9 But if people [are] afraid to say in front of others that they are [my disciples], [I] will say, while God’s angels listen, that they are not [my disciples].
Ke ame si ke gbe nu le gbɔnye le amewo gbɔ la, nye hã magbe nu la eya hã gbɔ le mawudɔlawo ƒe ŋkume.
10 [I will tell you] also that [God is willing to] forgive people who say bad things about me, the one who came from heaven, but [he] will not forgive anyone who says evil things about what the Holy Spirit [does].
Nenye be ame aɖe ƒo nu vɔ̃ɖi le nye Amegbetɔ Vi la ŋu la, ɖewohĩ woatsɔe akee, ke ame si agblɔ nya vɔ̃ɖi aɖe ɖe Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ŋu la, womatsɔe akee gbeɖe o.
11 [So] when people ask you in Jewish worship houses and in the presence of rulers and other authorities [about your trusting in me], do not worry about how you will answer them [when they accuse you]. Do not worry about what you should say,
“Nenye be wokplɔ mi va ƒuƒoƒedzikpɔlawo kple amegãwo ŋkume be yewoadrɔ̃ ʋɔnu mi la, migatsi dzi le nu si miagblɔ la alo atsɔ aɖe mia ɖokui nu ŋu o.
12 because the Holy Spirit will tell you at that very time what you should say.”
Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ŋutɔ ade nya si tututu miagblɔ la nu na mi ne ɣeyiɣia ɖo.”
13 Then one of the people in the crowd said to [Jesus], “Teacher, tell my [older] brother to divide my father’s property and give me [the part that belongs] to me!”
Ame aɖe do ɣli tso ameawo dome gblɔ nɛ be, “Nufiala, meɖe kuku na wò, gblɔ na nɔvinyeŋutsua be wòama fofonye ƒe nuwo me atsɔ tɔnye nam!”
14 But Jesus replied to him, “Man, (no one appointed me in order that I would settle [matters when people are] disputing about property!/did anyone appoint me in order that I would settle [matters when people are] disputing about property?) [RHQ]”
Yesu ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Ŋutsu, ame kae ɖom miaƒe ʋɔnudrɔ̃lae be matso nya sia ƒomevi me?”
15 Then he said to the whole crowd, “Guard yourselves very carefully, in order that you do not desire other people’s things in any way! No one can make his life secure by [obtaining] many possessions.”
Eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Mikpɔ nyuie! Milé be na mia ɖokui tso ŋukeklẽ ŋuti, elabena ame ƒe agbe menɔa eƒe nukpɔkpɔ vivivo la me o.”
16 Then Jesus told the people this illustration: “There was a certain rich man whose crops grew very well.
Azɔ edo lo sia be, “Agble nyui aɖe si wɔa nuku la nɔ gatɔ aɖe si.
17 [So] he said [to himself], ‘I do not know what to do, because I do not have any place [big enough] to store all my crops!’
Le nyateƒe me, eƒe nukuawo wɔ ale gbegbe be eƒe avawo katã yɔ fũu gbã go, eye megakpɔ nɔƒe na mamlɛawo gɔ̃ hã o. Ebu ta me le nu si wòawɔ la ŋu vevie,
18 Then he thought to himself, ‘[I know] what I will do! I will tear down my grain bins and build larger ones! Then I will store all my wheat and other goods in [the big new bins].
eye susu aɖe va nɛ mlɔeba. Edo ɣli gblɔ be, ‘Menya nu si tututu mawɔ, magbã nye ava xoxoawo, eye matu esiwo lolo wu la ɖe wo teƒe, ale be mate ŋu akpɔ nɔƒe na nye nukuawo katã.
19 [Then] I will say to myself [SYN], “Now I have plenty of goods stored up. [They will last] for many years. [So now] I will take life easy. I will eat and drink [all that I want to] and be happy [for a long time]!”’
Eye manɔ anyi agblɔ na ɖokuinye be, “Nɔvi èdzra nuɖuɖu geɖewo ɖo ɖi hena ƒe geɖe siwo gbɔna, eya ta xɔ gbɔgbɔ nàɖe dzi ɖe anyi, ɖu nu, nano nu, eye nàɖu agbe nyuie.”’
20 But God said to him, ‘You foolish [man]! Tonight you will die! (Then all [the goods] you have saved up [for yourself] will [belong to someone else, not to] you!/Do you think that you [will benefit from] all that you have stored up for yourself?) [RHQ]’”
“Gake Mawu gblɔ na kesinɔtɔ sia be, ‘O, wò abunɛtɔ, egbe zã sia me ke woaxɔ wò agbe le asiwò. Ke ame ka tɔ nu siwo katã wòdzra ɖo ɖi la azu?’
21 [Then Jesus ended this illustration by saying], “That is what will happen to those who store up goods just for themselves, but who do not value the things [that] God [considers] valuable.”
“Enye nyateƒe be, ale ame sia ame si le nu nyuiwo dzram ɖo na eɖokui, eye kesinɔnuwo mele esi le Mawu gome o la lee nye esi.”
22 Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, “So I want to tell you this: Do not worry about [things you need] in order to live. Do not worry about [whether you will have enough food] to eat or [enough clothes] to wear.
Yesu trɔ ɖe eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo ŋu, eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Le esia ta la, mele egblɔm na mi be, migatsi dzi le nu si miaɖu hena agbenɔnɔ alo nudodo siwo miaƒe ŋutilã hiã ŋu o,
23 It is important to have sufficient food and clothing, but (the way you conduct your lives is more important./is not the way you conduct your lives more important?) [RHQ]
elabena agbe xɔ asi wu nuɖuɖu eye ŋutilã xɔ asi wu nudodo.
24 Think about the birds: They do not plant [seeds], and they do not harvest [crops]. They do not have rooms or buildings in which to store crops. But God provides food for them. [And] you are certainly much more valuable than birds. [So God will certainly provide what you need]!
Mikpɔ akpaviãwo ɖa, womeƒã nu o, womeŋea nu o, eye ava ɖeka hã mele wo si be woadzra nuɖuɖu ɖo ɖe eme o, gake wokpɔa woƒe gbe sia gbe nuɖuɖu, elabena Mawu ŋutɔ naa nuɖuɖu wo. Evɔ miawo la, miele vevie na Mawu wu xeviwo katã!
25 (There is not a one of you who can add a little bit to how long he lives by worrying about it!/Is there any of you who can add a little bit to how long he lives by worrying about it?) [RHQ]
Hekpe ɖe esia ŋu la, mia dometɔ ka ate ŋu ato dzitsitsi me atsɔ gaƒoƒo ɖeka pɛ akpe ɖe eƒe agbe ŋu?
26 Worrying is a small thing to do. So since you cannot add to your life, (you certainly should not worry about other things that [you need to have in order to live!]/why do you worry about other things that [you need to have in order to live]?) [RHQ]
Eye nenye be dzimaɖeɖi mate ŋu awɔ nu sue siwo megblɔ va yi o la, viɖe kae wòanye be miatsi dzimaɖeɖi ɖe nu gãwo ŋu?
27 Think about the way that flowers grow [in the fields]. They do not work [to earn money], and they do not make their own clothes. But I tell you that [even though King] Solomon, [who lived long ago, wore very beautiful clothes], his clothes were not as beautiful as one of those [flowers].
“Mikpɔ dzogbenyawo le baliwo me ɖa. Wometrea ɖeti alo lɔ̃a avɔ o, gake Solomo ame si nɔ atsyɔ̃ gã me hã ƒe atsyɔ̃ɖoɖo mede seƒoƒo siawo tɔ nu kura o.
28 God makes the flowers beautiful, but they grow in the fields for only a short time. Then [they are cut at the same time that the grass] is cut, and thrown into an oven [to be burned to make heat for baking] bread. [So they really are not worth very much. But you are very precious to] God, [and he] will [care for you] much more [than he cares for the grass by filling it with beautiful flowers]. So he will certainly provide clothes for you, who [live much longer than the grass. Why] [RHQ] [do you] trust him so little?
Nenye be Mawu ɖoa atsyɔ̃ na gbe le gbedzi, gbe si nɔa anyi egbe, eye wotsɔnɛ ƒua gbe ɖe dzo me etsɔ la, ɖe mate ŋu aɖo atsyɔ̃ na mi sãa wu gbe siawo oa? O, mi xɔse ʋɛ tɔwo!
29 Do not always be concerned about having enough to eat and drink, and do not be worrying about those things.
Gawu la, migaɖe fu na mia ɖokuiwo le nuɖuɖu kple nunono ŋuti o, migana esia nakplɔ mi ade nuxaxa me o. Mawu ana wo mi.
30 The people who do not know God are always worried about such things. But your Father [in heaven] knows that you need those things, [so you should not worry about them].
Xexemedukɔwo katã dagbana be yewoakpɔ gbe sia gbe nuɖuɖu, ke mia Fofo si le dziƒo nya miaƒe hiahiãwo.
31 Instead, be concerned about letting [God] completely direct [your life]. Then [he] will also give you enough of the things [you need].
Ke boŋ midi eƒe fiaɖuƒe la, eye woatsɔ nu siawo katã akpe ɖe eŋuti na mi.”
32 [You who are my disciples are like a] small flock of sheep, [and I am like your shepherd]. So you should not be afraid. Your Father [in heaven] wants to let you rule with him [in heaven].
Eya ta migavɔ̃ o, mi alẽha sue sia, elabena edzɔ dzi na mia Fofo si le dziƒo la ŋutɔ be wòatsɔ fiaɖuƒe la na mi.
33 [So now] sell the things that you own. Give [the money that you get for those things] to poor people. [If you do that, it will be as though] you are providing for yourselves purses that will not wear out, and [God will give] you a treasure in heaven that will always be safe. There, no thief can come near [to steal it], and no termite can destroy it.
Midzra nu siwo le mia si, eye miatsɔ ga la ana hiãtɔwo, esia adzi miaƒe fetu si le dziƒo la ɖe edzi. Ne miedzra miaƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖo ɖe dziƒo, fiafitɔ aɖeke mate ŋu afi wo o, eye gbagbladza aɖeke hã mate ŋu aɖu wo o.
34 Remember that [the things] that you [think are the most] valuable are [the things] that you will be constantly concerned about.”
Afi si miaƒe kesinɔnuwo le la, afi ma miaƒe dzi hã anɔ.
35 “Be always ready [for doing God’s work] [MET], like [people] who have put on their work clothes and are ready [during the day], with their lamps burning all night.
“Midzra ɖo, eye miaƒe akaɖiwo nanɔ bibim.
36 Be [ready for me to return] [MET], like servants who are waiting for their master to return after being at a wedding feast [for several days]. They are [waiting to] open the door for him and [start working for him again] as soon as he arrives and knocks at the door.
Miawo la, miɖi dɔla siwo le mɔ kpɔm na woƒe aƒetɔ be ne egbɔ tso srɔ̃ɖeƒe eye wòva ƒo ʋɔa la, ne yewoaʋui nɛ enumake.
37 If those servants are awake when he returns, [he will] be very pleased with them. I will tell you this: He will put on [the kind of clothes] that servants wear and tell them to sit down, and he will serve them a meal.
Dɔla siawo akpɔ dzidzɔ ŋutɔ, ne woƒe aƒetɔ gbɔ, eye wòkpɔ be wole ŋudzɔ; vavã mele egblɔm na mi be dɔla siawo anɔ kplɔ̃ ŋu, eye eya ŋutɔ ado subɔvi ƒe awu aɖo kplɔ̃ ɖe woƒe akɔme be woaɖu nu.
38 [Even] if he comes between midnight and sunrise, if he finds that his servants are [awake and] ready [for him], he will be very pleased with them.
Mienya ɣe ka ɣie wòava o, ate ŋu ava le zã ga asiekɛ me loo alo zãtitina. Gake ne eva ɖo ko, dzi adzɔ eƒe dɔla siwo katã le klalo la.
39 But you must also remember this: If owners of a house knew what time a thief was coming, they [would stay awake and] would not allow their house to be broken into [and their goods to be stolen] {[the thief] to break into the house [and steal their goods]}.
Ame sia ame anɔ klalo na eƒe vava nenye be wònya ga si me wòle vava ge. Ɖeko wòle abe ale si ame nanɔ ŋudzɔ na fiafitɔ ƒe vava nenye be enya ga si me tututu wòle vava ge ene.
40 Similarly, you must be ready [for me to return], because [I], the one who came from heaven, will come [again] at a time when you do not expect [me to come].”
Eya ta minɔ ŋudzɔ ɣeawo katã ɣi elabena, Nye, Amegbetɔ Vi la, mava le gaƒoƒo si me ame aɖeke manɔ mɔ kpɔm nam o.”
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you [(sg)] speaking this illustration [only] for us or for everyone [else also]?”
Petro biae be, “Aƒetɔ, míawo ko nèle lo siawo dom na loo alo ame sia ame?”
42 The Lord replied, “[I am saying it for you and for anyone else] [MET, RHQ] who is like a faithful and wise manager in his master’s house. His master appoints him to [supervise affairs in his house] and to give all the [other] servants their food at the proper time. [Then he leaves on a long trip].
Aƒetɔ la ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Azɔ ame kae nye dɔla nuteƒewɔla kple nunyala, ame si eƒe aƒetɔ atsɔ ɖo eƒe aƒemetɔwo nu be wòana woƒe nuɖuɖu wo le enaɣi mahã?
43 If the servant is doing that work when his master returns, [his master] will be very pleased with him.
Eme anyo na dɔla ma ne eƒe aƒetɔ trɔ gbɔ va kpɔ be ewɔ eƒe dɔdeasi.
44 I tell you this: His master will appoint him to supervise all of his affairs [permanently].
Le nyateƒe me la, aƒetɔ la atsɔe aɖo eƒe nuwo katã nu.
45 But that servant might think to himself, ‘My master [has been away] for a long time, [so he probably will] not return soon [and find out what I am doing].’ [Then he might] start to beat the [other] servants, both male and female ones. [He might also start] to eat [a lot of food] and get drunk.
Gake nenye be dɔla ma gblɔ le eƒe dzi me be, ‘Nye aƒetɔ anɔ anyi ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe hafi agbɔ.’ Eya ta wòde asi ame siwo wotsɔ de eƒe dzikpɔkpɔ te la ƒoƒo me, eye wòle aha mum la,
46 [If he does that, and if] his master returns on a day when the servant does not expect him, then his master will (cut him into two pieces/punish him severely) [HYP] and put him [in the place where he puts all] those who do not [serve him] faithfully.
eƒe aƒetɔ ava le ŋkeke si mele mɔ kpɔm nɛ o kple gaƒoƒo si menya o la dzi, eye wòaɖee ɖa le nɔƒe kɔkɔ si wòdae ɖo, eye wòadae ɖe ame mawɔnuteƒewo dome.
47 Every servant who knows what his master wants him to do but who does not get himself ready and does not do what his master desires will be beaten severely {[The master] will beat severely every servant who knows what his master wants him to do but who does not get himself ready and does not do what his master desires}.
“Woahe to na dɔla ma vevie, elabena enya eƒe aƒetɔ ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu be wòawɔ ɖe edzi, gake egbe mewɔe o.
48 But every [servant] who did not know [what his master wanted] him to do, and who did things for which he deserved to be punished, will be beaten lightly {[the master] will beat lightly every [servant] who did not know [what his master wanted] him to do and did the things for which he deserved that [his master] would beat him}. [God will treat his people similarly, because he] expects a lot from those people whom [he] has allowed [to understand a lot]. People who entrust things [to others’ care] expect those people [to care for those things] very well. Similarly, [God] expects a lot from those people whom he has allowed [to understand a lot]. Furthermore, he expects the most from people to whom he has given the most [ability].”
Ame si menya be nane si wɔm yele la nye vɔ̃ o la ƒe tohehe masesẽ o. Ame si si wotsɔ nu geɖe dee la, wodi ŋutete geɖe tso egbɔ, elabena nu si wotsɔ de eƒe dzikpɔkpɔ te la sɔ gbɔ.”
49 “I came to earth to cause [there to be trials] [MET], [which will purify you as] fire [purifies metal] (OR, to cause judgment/divisions among you). I wish that the time when [you] will be purified {when [God] will purify you} (OR, when divisions will be caused {to cause divisions among people}) had already begun.
“Ɖe meva be made agbe yeye ƒe dzo anyigbadzitɔwo me. Ne ɖe mewu dɔ sia nu xoxo la, ne anyo ŋutɔ hafi.
50 I must soon suffer [IDM] greatly. I am distressed, and I will continue to be distressed until my suffering is finished.
Tsideta dziŋɔ aɖe le ŋgɔnye, eye anye nu si ate ɖe dzinye va se ɖe esime enu nava yi.
51 Do you think that as a result of my coming to earth people will live together peacefully? No! I must tell you, [that is not what will happen! Instead, people] will be divided.
Miebu be ŋutifafae metsɔ va anyigba dzia? Gbeɖe, dzre kple domemama boŋ metsɔ vɛ.
52 Because some people in one house [will believe in me and some will not], they will be divided. [For example], three people in one house [who do not believe in me] will oppose two [who do believe], or two [who do not believe in me] will oppose three [who do believe].
Tso azɔ dzi yina la, ƒomewo me ama, akpa etɔ̃ adze yonyeme, eye akpe eve atsi tsitre ɖe ŋunye. Alo akpa eve adze yonyeme, eye akpa etɔ̃ atsi tsitre ɖe ŋunye.
53 A man will oppose his son, or a son will oppose his father. A woman will oppose her daughter, or a woman will oppose her mother. A woman will oppose her daughter-in-law, or a woman will oppose her mother-in-law.”
Vi kple tɔ ƒe gbe madze gbe dzi o le tanye, nenema ke adika aɖo vinyɔnu kple dadaa dome. Eye nenye be lɔ̃xo aɖe aɖo nu nyui aɖe be yeawɔ la, lɔ̃xoyɔvia atu afɔ eme.”
54 He [also] said to the crowds, “[In this country], when you see a [dark] cloud forming in the west, you immediately say ‘It is going to rain!’ and that is what happens.
Yesu trɔ ɖe ameha la ŋu azɔ, eye wògblɔ be, “Ne miekpɔ lilikpowo le ƒu ƒom ɖe ɣetoɖoƒe la, miegblɔna be, ‘Agbafie le wɔwɔ ge.’ Eye tsi dzana hã vavã.
55 [In this region], when the wind blows from the south, you say, ‘It is going to be a very hot day!’ and that is what happens.
Ne anyigbemeya de asi ƒoƒo me la, miegblɔna be, ‘Egbe la, ŋdɔ le ʋuʋu ge sesĩe.’ Eye esia hã vaa eme.
56 You hypocrites! By observing the clouds and the wind, you are able to discern what is happening regarding [the weather]. It is disgusting that you are not able to discern [what God is doing] at this present time [RHQ]!
Mi alakpanuwɔlawo! Mienya be tsi le dzadza ge alo ŋdɔ le ʋuʋu ge to ŋkuléle ɖe yame kple anyigba ŋu me. Gake miegbe be yewomalé ŋku ɖe nu si gbɔna la ƒe dzesi si ƒo xlã mi la ŋu o.
57 (Each of you ought to determine now what is the right thing for you to do, [while you still have time to do that]!/Why cannot each of you determine what is the right [thing for you to do now while you still have time to do that]?) [RHQ]
“Nu ka ta miagbe be yewomakpɔ nu si nyo la na mia ɖokuiwo o ɖo?
58 [If you do not do that, God will punish you] [MET]. [It will be like what happens when] someone takes one of you to court, saying that you [(sg)] have done something very bad. You should try to settle things with him while you are still on the way to the court. If he forces you to go to the judge, the judge will decide that you are guilty and put you into the hands of the court officer. Then that officer will put you in prison.
Nenye be wò futɔ tsɔ nya ɖe ŋuwò, eye nèkpɔe le mɔ dzi wòyina fia ƒe ʋɔnu kple wò nya la, tɔe, eye nàlé avu le mi kplii dome. Ne menye nenema o la, ʋɔnudrɔ̃la ade wò mɔ.
59 I tell you that if you go to prison, you will never get out, [because you will never be able to] pay every bit [of what the judge says you owe] [MET]. [Similarly, you ought to settle accounts with God before you die, too].”
Eye ne wode wò mɔ la, ànɔ afi ma va se ɖe esime nàxe fe siwo katã nènyi la wòavɔ keŋkeŋ.”
