Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowd and to us his disciples,
Nipele, Che Yesu ŵausalile mpingo wa ŵandu ni ŵakulijiganya ŵao kuti,
2 “Moses was the [renowned] teacher who taught [the people the laws that God gave him] [MTY]. Now, the Pharisees and the men who teach our [Jewish] laws have made themselves the ones who interpret those laws [IDM].
“Ŵakwiganya malajisyo ni Mafalisayo akwete ukombole wa kusala uchenene Malajisyo.
3 Consequently, you should do whatever they tell you that you must do. But do not do what they do, because they themselves do not do what they tell [you that you must do].
Kwalye ligongo lyo mpikanichisye ni kutenda chachili chose chichansalile. Nambo nkasyasya isambo yao, pakuŵa ngakutenda yele yakuisala yo.
4 They [require you to obey many rules that are difficult to obey]. But they themselves [do not help anyone obey those rules. It is] as if they are tying up loads that are hard to carry and putting them on your shoulders [MET] [for you to carry. But they] themselves [do not desire to help anyone obey those laws. They are like] people who do not want to lift [even the slightest load] that they [could lift] [MET]
Akutaŵanga misigo jakutopela ni kwatwika ŵandu mmakoyo, nambo ŵele achinsyene wo ngakusaka atamuno kukwaya ni chala.
5 [with] one finger. Whatever they do, they do it to be seen by other people {so that other people will see them doing that}. [For example], they make extra wide the tiny boxes containing portions of Scripture that they wear on their arms. They enlarge the tassels on their robes, [to make others think that they are pious].
Ŵanyawo akugatenda masengo gao gose kuti apate kuloleka ni ŵandu. Akuwala indu yailembekwe malembelo ga malajisyo pachanya meeso ni konjechesya ukulu wa nguo syao kuti aloleche ali ŵandu ŵa Akunnungu.
6 [They want people to honor them. For example], at dinner parties they sit in the seats where the most important people sit. In the places of worship [they want to sit] in the seats where the most honored people sit.
Ikwanonyela kutama peuto pa kuchimbichikwa mu indimba ni itengu ya kuchimbichikwa mmajumba ga kupopelela.
7 Also, [they want people to] greet them [respectfully] in the marketplaces and to honor them by calling them ‘Teacher’.
Ikwanonyela kwakomasya kwa kwachimbichisya pa kusumichisya malonda ni kusaka ŵandu ŵaŵilanje, ‘Jwakwiganya.’
8 But you [who are my disciples] should not allow people to address you [honorably] as ‘Rabbi’, [which means ‘teacher]’. I [am the] only one who is [really] your teacher, which means that you are all [equal, like] brothers and sisters, [and none of you should act superior to another, as the Pharisees do].
Nambo ŵanyamwe nkaŵilanjikwa ‘Jwakwiganya,’ pakuŵa jwakwiganya jwenu ali jumo pe, ni wose ndi achalongo.
9 Do not [honor anyone] on earth [by] addressing him as ‘Father’, because God, your Father in heaven, is the only [spiritual] father of all of you.
Atamuno ngasimummilanga mundu ‘Atati’ pa chilambo pano, pakuŵa Atati ŵetu ali ŵamo pe, ŵaali kwinani.
10 Do not [allow people to] call you ‘Instructors’, because I, the Messiah, am the one instructor who [teaches all of] you.
Atamuno ngasimmilanjikwa ‘ilongola’ pakuŵa chilongola jwenu ali jumo pe, yaani Kilisito.
11 In contrast, everyone among you who wants [God to consider them] to be important must serve others as servants do.
Nombe jwali jwankulungwa jwenu chaaŵe katumetume jwenu.
12 [God] will humble those who exalt themselves. And [he] will exalt those who humble themselves.”
Jwakulikwesya chatuluswe ni jwakulitulusya chachikweswa.
13 [Then Jesus said to the religious leaders], “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! There will be terrible punishment for [you, because by teaching what is false], you [prevent people] [MTY/HYP] [who are thinking about letting] God rule their lives [from doing that] [MET]. [What you are doing is like] closing a gate [MET] [so that people who] are wanting to enter [a city cannot go in]. As for you, [you do not let] God [rule your lives. Neither do you allow] other people [to let God rule their lives. What you do is like] not going into a [house] yourselves, and not allowing others to enter it [either] [MET].”
“Ulaje uwe kukwenu ŵakwiganya Malajisyo ni Mafalisayo, ŵaulamba! Pakuŵa nkuugala nnango wa Umwenye wa kwinani mmbujo pa ŵandu. Ni ŵanyamwe mwachinsyene ngankwinjila, atamuno ngankwaleka ŵakusaka kwinjila ajinjile.
Ulaje uwe kukwenu ŵakwiganya Malajisyo ni Mafalisayo, ŵaulamba! Nkwasumula ŵawililwe ni achiŵankwawo ipanje yao nchilitendaga ŵandu ŵambone nkupopela mapopelo gamaleu, kwa lye ligongo lyo kulaga kwenu chikuŵe kwakukulungwa nnope.
15 “You are hypocrites, you men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees! Your punishment will be terrible, because you exert yourselves very much to get [even] one person to believe what you teach. For instance, you travel across seas and lands [to distant places] in order to do that. And [as a result], when one person [believes what you teach], you make that person much more deserving to go to hell than you yourselves [deserve to].” (Geenna g1067)
“Ulaje uwe kukwenu ŵakwiganya Malajisyo ni Mafalisayo, ŵaulamba! Pakuŵa nkutaŵa ulendo mu bahali ni pa chilambo kuti nkombole kuntenda namose mundu jumo aŵe jwa kunkuya mwanya. Pankumpata, nkuntenda aŵe mundu jwakwinjila ku jehanamu kumpunda mwachinsyene. (Geenna g1067)
16 “You [Jewish leaders], your punishment will be terrible! You are [like people who are] blind [MET] who are trying to lead others. You say, ‘[In the case of] those who promise to [do] something and then ask the Temple [to affirm what they have promised], it means nothing [if they do not do what] they have promised. But if they ask the gold that is in the Temple [to affirm what they have promised], they must do what they promised.’
“Ulaje uwe kukwenu ilongola ŵangalola! Ŵanyamwe nkutinji mundu alumbililaga kwa Nyuumba ja Akunnungu, kwele kulumbila ko ngaŵa chindu, nambo alumbililaga kwa sahabu ja Nyuumba ja Akunnungu, kwele kulumbilila ko kukwakanganichisya kuchitenda chalumbilile.
17 You are fools, and you are [like people who are] blind [MET]! The gold [that is in the Temple] is important, but [the Temple] is even more important [RHQ], because it is the Temple that the gold is in that sets the gold apart for a special use for God.
Ŵanyamwe ŵangalola ŵakuloŵela! Chapi chachili cha malumbo nnope, sahabu pane Nyuumba ja Akunnungu jajikujitenda sahabu jiŵe jeswela?
18 Also [you say], ‘In the case of those who promise to [do] something and then ask [the altar to affirm what they have promised], it means nothing [if they do not do what they have promised]. But if they ask the gift [that] they have put on the altar [to support what they have promised], they must do [what they promised].’
Sooni nkutinji mundu alumbililaga pa chilisa ngaŵa chindu, nambo alumbilaga nkujikolanga mbopesi jajili pa chilisa, kwele kulumbilila ko kukwakanganichisya kuchitenda chalumbilile.
19 [You are like people who are] blind [MET]. The gift [that is offered] on the altar is important, but the altar is even more important [RHQ] because it is the altar on which the offering is offered that sets it apart for a special use for God.
Ŵanyamwe ŵangalola! Ana kulumbilila chi kwakuli kwamalumbo nnope, kwa mbopesi pane kwa chilisa chachikujitenda mbopesi jiŵe jeswela?
20 So, those who promise to do something, and then ask the altar [to affirm what they have promised] are asking everything on the altar [to support what they promised].
Jwakulumbila kwa chilisa akulumbilila kwa chele chilisa cho, ni kwa chose chachili pachanya pakwe.
21 Those who promise to do something, and then ask the Temple [to affirm what they promised], are asking that [God], to whom the Temple belongs, [will affirm what they have promised].
Ni jwakulumbila kwa Nyuumba ja Akunnungu akulumbilila kwa Nyuumba ja Akunnungu ni kwa jwele jwakutama nkati mo.
22 Those who promise to do something and then ask heaven [to affirm what they promised] are asking the throne of God and [God], who sits on that throne, [to affirm what they promised].”
Nombe jwakulumbila kwa kwinani akulumbilila kwa chitengu cha Umwenye wa Akunnungu, ni kwa jwele jwakutama pachanya pakwe.
23 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites because, [even though] you give [to God] a tenth of [the herbs you produce, such as] mint, dill, and cummin, you do not [obey God’s] laws that are more important. [For example, you do not act] justly toward others, you do not act mercifully toward people, and you are not trustworthy. It is good to [give a tenth of your herbs] to God, but you should also [obey] these other [more important laws].
“Ulaje uwe kukwenu ŵakwiganya Malajisyo ni Mafalisayo, ŵaulamba! Nkupochela mbopesi kwa ŵandu, atamuno pa masamba ga kununjila, ni bisali ni jila, nkuileka indu yekulungwa yailajichikwe ni Malajisyo mpela ila kupanganya yaikwanonyelesya Akunnungu ni chanasa ni chikulupi. Gelega ni gankusachilwa kugakamulisya pangagaliŵalila gane.
24 You [leaders are like] blind people [who are trying to lead others. According to your laws you say that touching gnats and camels makes you unacceptable to God. What you are doing is like] straining a gnat [out of a jar of water so that you do not swallow it and thereby become unacceptable to God], and [at the same time] swallowing a camel [with the water] [MET]!”
ilongola ŵangalola! Nkujityosya membe mu yakung'wa, nambo nkuchimila chinyama chachikuŵilanjikwa ngamia!
25 “You men who teach people the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites! You are greedy and selfish, but you [make yourselves appear holy. You are like] cups and plates that have been cleaned on the outside, but on the inside [they are very filthy].
“Ulaje uwe kukwenu ŵakwiganya Malajisyo ni Mafalisayo, ŵaulamba! Nkosya chikombe ni mbale kwa paasa, nambo nkati nkuleka indu impatile kwa wiyi ni nsese.
26 You blind Pharisees! First you must [stop being greedy and selfish]. [Then you will be able to do what] is [righteous. That will be like] cleaning the inside of a cup first. Then when you clean [MET] the outside [of the cup], [the cup will truly be clean].”
Ugwe Mfalisayo jwangalola! Njosye chikombe nkati kaje ni paasa chipasalale.
27 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites! You are like tombs [SIM] that are painted white [so that people can see them and avoid touching them]. The outside surfaces are beautiful, but inside they are full of dead people’s bones and filth.
“Ulaje uwe kukwenu ŵakwiganya Malajisyo ni Mafalisayo, ŵaulamba! Pakuŵa nkulandana ni malembe gagasililwe ni chokaa, nombe kwa paasa gakuwoneka kuŵa gambone, nambo nkati mwakwe gagumbele maupa ga ŵawe ni usakwa wejinji.
28 You are [like those tombs]. When people look at you, they think that you are righteous, but in your (inner beings/hearts) you are hypocrites and you disobey [God’s] commands.”
Iyoyopeyo ni ŵanyamwe kwa paasa nkuoneka ni ŵandu kuŵa ŵambone nambo nkati ngumbele ulamba ni ungalimate.
29 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! Your punishment will be terrible! You rebuild the tombs of the [prophets whom others killed long ago]. You decorate the monuments [that honor] righteous [people].
“Ulaje uwe kukwenu ŵakwiganya Malajisyo ni Mafalisayo, ŵaulamba! Nkugumba malembe ga ŵakulondola ŵa Akunnungu ni kugasalalisya malembe ga ŵandu ŵambone.
30 You say, ‘If we had [lived] when our ancestors [MET] [lived], we would not have helped [MET] those who killed [MTY] the prophets.’
Nkutinji, ‘Tukaapali kalakala katema ka achambuje ŵetu, ngatukaŵe pamo mmaulajo ga ŵakulondola ŵa Akunnungu!’
31 Thus [you recognize that you should honor the prophets, but you disregard the word of God that other men whom God has sent teach you. In that way] you testify against yourselves that you are descendants and disciples [MET] of those who killed the prophets.
Kwakuŵecheta yeleyo nkulilosya mwachinsyene kuti ŵanyamwe ndi achiŵana ŵa aŵala ŵaŵauleje ŵakulondola ŵa Akunnungu.
32 You are as ready to murder people as [MET] your ancestors were!
Hayaga, mmalichisye masengo gaŵachokwele achambuje ŵenu!
33 [You people are so wicked] You are [as dangerous as poisonous] snakes [DOU, MET]! (You [foolishly] think that you will escape being punished in hell!/Do you [foolishly] think that you will escape when [God] punishes [wicked people] in hell?) [RHQ] (Geenna g1067)
Ŵanyamwe ŵa uŵelesi wa lijoka lya sumu! Chimmutuche chinauli ulamusi wa ku jehanamu? (Geenna g1067)
34 Take note that this is why I will send prophets, wise men, and other men who will teach you [my message]. You will kill some of them by nailing them to crosses, and you will kill some in other ways. You will whip some of them in the places where you worship, and [you will] chase them from city to city.
Nipele lye ligongo lyo une ngumpelechela ŵanyamwe ŵakulondola ŵa Akunnungu, ŵandu ŵa lunda ni ŵakwiganya malajisyo, ŵane mwa ŵanyawo chimwaulaje ni kwaŵamba pa nsalaba, ni ŵane chimwapute ibokola mmajumba genu ga kupopelela ni kwasosa mmisi jinajose.
35 As a result, God will consider that you are guilty for killing [SYN] all the righteous [people], including killing [MTY] [Adam’s son] Abel, who was a righteous man [SYN], and Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you [are guilty of] killing [in the holy place] between the Temple and the altar, and for killing [all the prophets] who lived between [the times that those two men lived].
Nipele chileŵo chichiŵe kukwenu kwa ligongo lya miasi ja ŵandu ŵambone jajijitiche mu chilambo muno. Elo chitandile chiwa chi che Habili jwanganakola chileŵo mpaka chi che Sakalia, mwana ju che Balakia, jumwammuleje pa Nyuumba ja Akunnungu pasikati ja papaswela ni chilisa.
36 Think about this: You people who have observed my ministry, it is you whom [God] will punish [for killing all] those [prophets]!”
Isyene ngunsalila kuti, ŵandu ŵa uŵelesi u chalamulikwe kwa ligongo lya indu yi.
37 “O [people of] Jerusalem [MTY, APO], you killed the prophets [who lived long ago], and you killed others whom [God] sent to you. You killed them by throwing stones at them [DOU]! Many times I wanted to gather you together [to protect you], like a hen gathers her young chicks under her wings [MET]. But you did not want [me to do that].
“Yelusalemu! Ugwe Yelusalemu! Nkwaulaga ŵakulondola ŵa Akunnungu ni kwaputa maganga ŵelewo ŵaŵatumikwe kukwenu. Ana kalingwa nasachile kwasonganganya achiŵana ŵenu, mpela nguku ijikuti pakwasonganganya achiŵanagwe kusi kwa mapapiko gakwe, nambo mwakanile.
38 So listen to this: Your city [SYN] will [soon] become an uninhabited place.
Ayaga nipele, nyuumba jenu chijisigale lisame pe.
39 Keep this in mind: You will see me again only when I [return], and you say [about me], ‘[God] is truly pleased with this man who comes with God’s authority [MTY].’”
Ngunsalila, ngamuumona sooni mpaka pachinchiti, ‘Akole upile jwele jwakwika mu liina lya Ambuje.’”
