Luke 18
1 [Jesus] told [his disciples] a parable to teach them that they always ought to pray confidently and not be discouraged [if God does not immediately answer their prayers].
Gbe ɖeka la, Yesu do lo sia na eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo be wòatsɔ fia wo be ehiã be woanɔ gbedodoɖa dzi ɖaa, eye ɖeɖi megate wo ŋu o.
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not revere God, and did not care about people, either.
Egblɔ na wo be, “Ʋɔnudrɔ̃la aɖe nɔ du gã aɖe me. Ame sia mevɔ̃a Mawu o, eye mebua ame aɖeke hã ɖe naneke me o.
3 There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Please decide what is just [in the dispute between me and] the man who is opposing me [in court!’]
Ahosi aɖe si hã nɔ dua me la vaa ʋɔnudrɔ̃la sia gbɔ gbe sia gbe va nɔ kuku ɖem nɛ be, ‘Ɖem le nye ketɔ si me.’
4 For a long time the judge refused [to help her]. But later he thought to himself, ‘I do not revere God and I do not care about people,
“Hena ɣeyiɣi aɖe la, egbe be yemaɖo toe o. Ke mlɔeba la, egblɔ na eɖokui be, ‘Togbɔ be nyemevɔ̃a Mawu alo bua amewo ɖe naneke me o hã la,
5 but this widow keeps bothering me! So I will make sure that she is treated justly. [If I do not do that], she will exhaust me by continually coming to me!’”
le ahosi sia ƒe fuɖeɖe nam atraɖii ta la, makpɔ egbɔ be wotrɔ nu si nye etɔ la nɛ ale be magana be nu nati kɔ nam mlɔeba la le eƒe fuɖeɖe nam ta o!’”
6 Then the Lord [Jesus] said, “[Even though] the judge was not a righteous man, think carefully about what he said!
Aƒetɔ la yi edzi be, “Mise nu si ʋɔnudrɔ̃la madzɔmadzɔ la gblɔ.
7 [Similarly], (God will certainly show that [what you] have done has been right!/will God not show that [what you] have done has been right?) [RHQ] He will do this for you whom he has chosen. [He will do this for you] who pray earnestly to him night and day, asking him to [help you]. He may delay [helping you].
Miebu be Mawu matso afia na eƒe ame tiatia siwo le kuku ɖem nɛ zã kple keli la oa? Ɖe magbɔ dzi ɖi na wo oa?
8 But I tell you, [some day] he will show that what you did was right, and he will do it quickly. But when [I], the one who came from heaven, return to earth, (there may not be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)./will there be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)?) [RHQ]”
Mele egblɔm na mi be aɖe wo enumake. Gake biabia lae nye be nenye be Nye, Amegbetɔ Vi la metrɔ gbɔ ɖe, ame neni makpɔ siwo ƒe xɔse anɔ te le anyigba dzi?”
9 [Jesus] also told a parable [to warn] people who mistakenly thought that they were doing things that made them acceptable to God. Besides, they also despised other people.
Azɔ Yesu do lo sia na ame siwo dana be yewonye ame dzɔdzɔewo, eye womekpɔa ame bubu ɖe naneke me o la be,
10 [He said this]: “Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
“Ame eve aɖewo yi gbedoxɔ me be yewoado gbe ɖa. Ɖeka nye Farisitɔ, eye evelia nye nudzɔla aɖe.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed silently, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men. [Some] extort money [from others]; some treat others unjustly; some commit adultery. [I do not do such things. And I am certainly not] like this tax collector [who cheats people]!
Farisitɔ la do gbe ɖa be, ‘Meda akpe na Mawu be nyemenye nu vɔ̃ wɔla abe ame bubuwo ene o, adzodalawo, ame madzɔmadzɔwo, ahasiwɔlawo, vevietɔ abe nudzɔla si le afi mɛ ɖa ene o.
12 [Our law says that we(exc) should] (fast/abstain from food) [once a week], [but I do more than that. I] fast twice a week! I give [you] ten percent of all that I earn!’
Metsia nu dɔna zi eve le kɔsiɖa ɖeka me, eye metsɔa nye nukpɔkpɔwo ƒe ewolia naa Mawu.’
13 But the tax collector stood far [from the other people in the Temple courtyard because he felt very unworthy]. He would not even look up toward heaven. Instead, he beat on his chest [to show that he was sorry for his sin]. He said, ‘God, I am a sinner; be merciful to me [and forgive me]!’”
“Gake nudzɔla la nɔ tsitre ɖe adzɔge afi aɖe ke, eye melɔ̃ be yeawu mo hã dzi akpɔ dziƒo o; ke boŋ eƒo akɔta hegblɔ be, ‘Mawu, kpɔ nublanui na nye nu vɔ̃ wɔla sia.’
14 [Then Jesus said], “I tell you [(pl)] that as the tax collector went home, the record of his sins was erased {[God] erased the record of his sins}, not that of the Pharisee. [Remember this]: Those who exalt themselves will be humbled {[God] will humble all those who exalt themselves}, but those who humble themselves will be exalted {[he] will exalt those who humble themselves}.”
Mele egblɔm na mi be nudzɔla sia trɔ yi aƒe me kple dzidzɔ, elabena Mawu tso afia nɛ. Ke wometsɔ Farisitɔ la ƒe nu vɔ̃ kee o, elabena woabɔbɔ dadalawo katã ɖe anyi eye woado ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la ɖe dzi.”
15 [One day when many people were coming to Jesus], they were also bringing small children. They wanted him to put his hands on [the children and bless them]. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked [those who were bringing those children].
Gbe ɖeka la, dzila aɖewo kplɔ wo viwo vɛ be Yesu nada asi ɖe wo dzi ayra wo. Gake esi nusrɔ̃lawo kpɔ esia la, wonya wo be womegaɖe fu na Aƒetɔ la o.
16 But Jesus called the children [to come to him]. He said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me! Do not stop them! It is people who are [humble and trusting] like they are who can experience God ruling [their lives].
Ke Yesu yɔ ɖeviawo va eɖokui gbɔe, eye wògblɔ be, “Mina ɖevi suewo nava gbɔnye, eye migaxe mɔ na wo o, elabena ame sia tɔgbiwo tɔe nye mawufiaɖuƒe la.
17 Note this: Those who do not [trust God and] allow him to direct [their lives], as children [do], will not enter the [MET] place where God rules.”
Le nyateƒe me la, mele egblɔm na mi be ame si maxɔ mawufiaɖuƒe la abe ɖevi sue ene o la mage ɖe eme gbeɖe o.”
18 A [Jewish] leader asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
Gbe ɖeka la, Yudatɔwo ƒe kplɔla ɖeka biae be, “Nufiala nyui, nu ka tututu wòle be mawɔ hafi ate ŋu anyi agbe mavɔ dome?” (aiōnios g166)
19 Jesus said to him, “Only God is good! No one [else] is good! (So you(sg) should consider carefully what [you are implying by] calling me good!/[Do you realize that you are implying that I am God by] calling me good?) [RHQ]
Yesu biae be, “Ebu be ènya nu si gblɔm nèle esi nèyɔm be ame nyuia? Le nyateƒe me la, ame aɖeke menyo o, negbe Mawu ɖeka ko.
20 [But to answer your question], you [(sg)] know the commandments that [God gave Moses. He commanded such things as] ‘do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely [about what you have seen or heard], honor your father and mother.’”
Ke le wò biabia ŋu la, magblɔ be ènya seawo xoxo be, ‘Mègawɔ ahasi o, mègafi fi o, mègawu ame o, mègada alakpa o, bu fofowò kple dawò kple bubuawo.’”
21 The man said, “I have obeyed all those [commandments] ever since I was young. [So] ([there must be something else I have not done./is that enough]?)”
Ŋutsua ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Mewɔ ɖe se siawo katã dzi tso keke nye ɖevime ke.”
22 When Jesus heard [him say] that, he replied to him, “There is one thing that you [(sg)] have not [done] yet. Sell all that you own. Then give [the money] to poor people. [The result will be that] you will have [spiritual] riches in heaven. Then come and be my disciple!”
Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Esusɔ nu vevi ɖeka nàwɔ, yi nàdzra nu siwo katã le asiwò, eye nàtsɔ ga la na ame dahewo; esia anye kesinɔnu na wò le dziƒo, ekema va nàdze yonyeme.”
23 The man became sad when he heard that, because he was very rich [and he did not want to give everything away].
Gake esi ŋutsua se nya sia la, etrɔ dzo nublanuitɔe, elabena kesinɔtɔ gã aɖe wònye.
24 Jesus looked at the man [as he left], and said, “It is very difficult for those who are wealthy [to decide] to let God rule [MET] their [lives].
Yesu nɔ eyome kpɔm esi wòyina, eye wògblɔ be, “Asesẽ na kesinɔtɔ ŋutɔ be wòage ɖe mawufiaɖuƒe la me!
25 [You would say] that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is [almost] as difficult [HYP] for rich people [to decide] to let God rule their [lives].”
Anɔ bɔbɔe na kposɔ be wòato abi ƒe vo me ado, tsɔ wu be kesinɔtɔ nage ɖe mawufiaɖuƒe la me.”
26 [The Jews thought that God favored rich people, so they thought that if God did not save rich people, he would not save others, either]. So [one of the disciples] who heard him say that replied, “If that is so, it seems that no one will be saved {[that God] will not save anyone} [RHQ]!”
Ame siwo le afi ma se nya si wògblɔ la gblɔ be, “Nenye be esesẽ alea ɖe, ekema ame ka koŋ ate ŋu akpɔ ɖeɖe sia?”
27 But Jesus said, “It is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God can do anything!”
Yesu ɖo eŋu be, “Mawu ate ŋu awɔ nu si amegbetɔ mate ŋu awɔ o!”
28 Then Peter said, “[You know that we(exc) have left] everything we had and have become your disciples [RHQ]. [So what about us?] (OR, [So will God accept/save us?]”)
Petro gblɔ nɛ be, “Míawo la, míegblẽ míaƒe aƒewo kple nu sia nu ɖi dze yowòme.”
29 He said to them, “Keep this in mind: Those who have left [their] homes, [their] wives, [their] brothers, [their] parents, [their] children, [or any other family members], [to tell others] about how God wants to rule [MET] [people’s lives],
Yesu ɖo eŋu be, “Esia le eme vavã, eye ame sia ame si gblẽ eƒe aƒe, srɔ̃a, nɔviawo, dzilawo alo viawo ɖi ɖe mawufiaɖuƒea ta la,
31 [Jesus] took the twelve [disciples] to a place by themselves and said to them, “Listen carefully! We [(inc)] are [now] going up to Jerusalem. [While we are there], everything that has been written by the prophets {that the prophets have written} about [me], the one who came from heaven, will be fulfilled {will occur}.
Azɔ Yesu yɔ nusrɔ̃la wuieveawo va eɖokui gbɔ, gblɔ na wo be, “Abe ale si mienyae ene la, míeyina Yerusalem. Ne míeɖo afi ma la, nyagblɔɖi siwo katã nyagblɔɖilawo gblɔ ɖi tso Amegbetɔ Vi la ŋu la le eme va ge.
32 I will be put into the hands of {[My enemies] will hand me over to} non-Jews. [The non-Jews] will make fun of me and mistreat me and spit on me.
Woatsɔm ade asi na Ame siwo menye Yudatɔwo be woaɖu fewu le ŋunye, ado ŋukpem nyuie, woaɖe ta ɖe ŋunye,
33 They will whip me, and [then] they will kill me. But on the third day [after that] I will become alive again.”
aƒom, eye woawum. Eye le ŋkeke etɔ̃a gbe la, mafɔ tso ku me.”
34 But [the disciples] did not understand any of those things that [he said]. They were prevented {[Something] prevented them} from understanding the meaning of what [he] was telling [them].
Nusrɔ̃lawo mese eƒe nya siwo wògblɔ la ɖeka pɛ hã gɔme o, elabena edze abe ele nu ƒom na wo le lododo me ene.
35 As [Jesus and his disciples] came near to Jericho [city], a blind man was sitting beside the road. [He was] begging [for money].
Esi wote tu Yeriko la, wokpɔ nubiala ŋkuagbãtɔ aɖe wònɔ mɔ to nɔ nu biam le mɔzɔlawo si.
36 When he heard the crowd [of people] passing by, he asked someone, “What is happening?”
Esi wòse ameha ŋkɔ wòva yina la, ebia be wòagblɔ nu si nɔ dzɔdzɔm la na ye.
37 They told him, “Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth [town], is passing by.”
Wogblɔ nɛ be, “Yesu Nazaretitɔ lae va yina.”
38 He shouted, “Jesus, [you who are] descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
Ale wode asi ɣlidodo me be, “Yesu David Vi la, kpɔ nye nublanui!”
39 Those who were [walking] at the front [of the crowd] scolded the man [and] told him to be quiet. But he shouted more loudly, “You who are descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
Ame siwo nɔ Yesu ŋgɔ la blu ɖe eta be wòazi ɖoɖoe, gake ɖeko wògado ɣlia sesĩe wu be, “David Vi, kpɔ nye nublanui.”
40 Jesus stopped and told [people] to bring the man to him. When [the blind man] came near, Jesus asked him,
Esi Yesu va ɖo afi si wònɔ la, etɔ, eye wògblɔ be, “Mikplɔ ŋkuagbãtɔ ma va afii.”
41 “What do you [(sg)] want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, enable me to see [again]!”
Esi wòva la, Yesu biae be, “Nu ka dim nèle tso asinye?” Ŋkuagbãtɔ la ɖe kuku nɛ gblɔ be, “Aƒetɔ medi be makpɔ nu!”
42 Jesus said to him, “[Then] see! Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me], [I] have healed you!”
Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Enyo wò ŋkuwo neʋu nakpɔ nu. Wò xɔse da gbe le ŋuwò.”
43 Immediately he was able to see! And he went with [Jesus], praising God. And when all the people who were [going with Jesus] saw it, they also praised God.
Ŋutsua de asi nukpɔkpɔ me enumake, eye wòdze Yesu yome henɔ Mawu kafum. Ame siwo katã kpɔ nu si dzɔ la hã kafu Mawu.
