Mātiu 18

1 Pea ʻi he ʻaho ko ia naʻe haʻu ai ʻae kau ākonga kia Sisu, ʻonau pehē, “Ko hai ʻoku lahi ʻi he puleʻanga ʻoe langi?”

About that time we disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who [among us will be] the most important when God [MTY/EUP] [makes you] king?”

2 Pea ui ʻe Sisu ha tamasiʻi siʻi ke ʻalu ange kiate ia, ʻo ne tuku ia ki honau haʻohaʻonga,

Jesus called a child to come, and he placed that child in our midst.

3 ‌ʻO ne pehē, “ʻOku ou tala moʻoni atu kiate kimoutolu, Kapau ʻe ʻikai liliu ʻakimoutolu, ke tatau mo e tamaiki iiki, ʻe ʻikai te mou hū ki he puleʻanga ʻoe langi.

He said, “Think about this: If you [(pl)] do not change [the way you(pl) think] and become [as humble] as little children, you [(pl)] will surely not go to the place where God [MTY/EUP] rules.

4 Ko ia ia te ne fakavaivaiʻi ia ʻo hangē ko e tamasiʻi siʻi ni, ko ia pe ʻoku lahi ʻi he puleʻanga ʻoe langi.

The people who become as humble as this child [or any child] is, will be the most important people among those over whom God rules.

5 Pea ko ia te ne maʻu ha tamasiʻi siʻi pehē ʻi hoku hingoa, ʻoku ne maʻu au.

Also, when those who, [because they love] me, welcome [a] child like this one, [God considers] that they are welcoming me.”

6 “Ka ko ia te ne fakahalaʻi ha tokotaha ʻiate kinautolu ni ʻoku siʻi ʻoku tui kiate au, ʻe lelei hake kiate ia ʻo ka ne taupungaʻi ʻaki ia ʻae maka momosi ʻi hono kia, pea lōmakiʻi ia ʻi he loto moana.

“If you cause someone who believes in me to sin, [even if it is someone who is socially unimportant like] this little child, [God will severely punish you]. If a heavy stone were fastened around your neck and you were thrown into the deep waters of the sea, [people would consider that you had been severely punished. But God will punish] you more severely [than that if you cause someone to sin]

7 ʻE malaʻia ʻa māmani koeʻuhi ko e ngaahi fakahala! He kuo pau ʻe hoko ʻae ngaahi fakahala; kae malaʻia ʻae tangata ko ia ʻe hoko ai ʻae fakahala!

It will be terrible for those [MTY] who cause others to stop believing in me. [God will punish them eternally]. It is inevitable that there will be [those who] cause others to stop believing in me. But it will be horrible for everyone who does that.

8 “Ko ia, kapau ʻoku fakahalaʻi koe ʻe ho nima pe ko ho vaʻe, tutuʻu ia, ʻo liʻaki ia ʻiate koe: ʻoku lelei kiate koe haʻo hū ki he moʻui ʻoku ke ketu pe [nima ]mutu, ʻi hoʻo maʻu ʻae nima ʻe ua mo e vaʻe ʻe ua, kae lī koe ki he afi taʻengata. (aiōnios g166)

So, if you [are wanting to use] one of your hands or feet to sin, [stop using that hand or foot! Even if you have to] cut it off [to avoid sinning, do it] [MET]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you are maimed or lame and do not have a hand or a foot. But it is not good that you continue to have your two hands and two feet [and do] [MTY] [the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown into [hell], where there is eternal fire burning. (aiōnios g166, questioned)

9 Pea kapau ʻoku fakahalaʻi koe ʻe ho mata, kapeʻi ia, ʻo liʻaki ʻiate koe: ʻoku lelei kiate koe haʻo hū ki he moʻui ʻoku ke mata taha, ʻi hoʻo maʻu ʻae mata ʻe ua, kae lī koe ki he afi ʻo heli. (Geenna g1067)

If what you see you [makes you want] to sin, [stop looking at those things! Even if you have to] gouge out one of your eyes and throw it away [to avoid sinning, do it] [HYP]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you have only one eye. But it is not good that you continue to have your two eyes [and do the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown {God throws you} into hell where there is eternal fire burning.” (Geenna g1067)

10 “Vakai ke ʻoua naʻa mou manukiʻi ha tokotaha ʻiate kinautolu ni ʻoku siʻi; he ʻoku ou tala atu kiate kimoutolu, ʻOku mamata maʻuaipē ʻi he langi hā nau ʻāngelo ki he fofonga ʻo ʻeku Tamai ʻaia ʻoku ʻi he langi.

“Make an effort that you [(pl)] do not despise [even] one of these children. I tell you [(pl)] truly that [since] the angels [live] in heaven [in the presence of] my Father, [they will report to him if you mistreat the children].

11 Pea kuo hoko mai ʻae Foha ʻoe tangata ke fakamoʻui ʻaia naʻe hē.

12 “Ko e hā homou loto? Kapau ʻoku maʻu ʻe ha tangata ʻae sipi ʻe teau, pea ʻalu hē pe hanau taha, ʻikai ʻoku ne tuku ʻae hivangofulu ma hiva, pea ʻalu ki he ngaahi moʻunga, ʻo kumi ʻaia kuo hē?

What do you [(pl)] think [you would do in the following situation]? If you had 100 sheep and one of them got lost, you would surely leave the 99 sheep [that are] on the hill and go and search for the lost one [RHQ], would you not?

13 Pea kapau te ne ʻilo ia, ko ʻeku tala moʻoni atu kiate kimoutolu, ʻoku lahi ʻene fiefia [ʻi ]he sipi ko ia, ʻi he hivangofulu ma hiva naʻe ʻikai ʻalu hē.

If you found it, I affirm to you [(pl)] that you would rejoice very much. You would be happy that 99 sheep did not stray away, but you would rejoice even more [because you had found] the sheep that had strayed away.

14 Pea pehē, ʻoku ʻikai ko e finangalo ʻo hoʻomou Tamai ʻoku ʻi he langi, ke malaʻia ha tokotaha ʻiate kinautolu ni ʻoku siʻi.

In the same way [that shepherds do not want one of] their [sheep to stray away], so [God], your Father in heaven, does not want [even] one of these children to go to hell.” (questioned)

15 “Ko ia, kapau ʻe fai angahala kiate koe ʻe ho kāinga, ʻalu ʻo fakahā ʻene kovi kiate ia, ʻa koe pē mo ia: kapau ʻe tokanga ia kiate koe, kuo ke fakalelei mo ho kāinga.

“If a fellow believer sins [against you], go [to him], and when you two are alone, reprove him [for sinning against you]. If that person listens to you [and feels sorry that he has sinned against you], you will have restored [your friendship with] that person.

16 Pea kapau ʻe ʻikai te ne tokanga [kiate koe], pea ke [toki ]ʻave ha tokotaha pe ha toko ua kehe, koeʻuhi ʻe fakapapau ʻae lea kotoa pē mei he ngutu ʻoe fakamoʻoni ʻe toko ua pe toko tolu.

If that person will not listen to you [nor feel sorry that he has sinned against you], go get one or two other people [who will listen to what you both have to say]. Have them go with you so that [what is written] {[Moses wrote]} [in the Scriptures might happen: ] ‘[When one person accuses another in some matter], it should be confirmed by [at least] two or three people {[at least] two or three people should confirm it} [before that person can be declared] guilty {[before they declare that person guilty]}.’

17 Pea kapau ʻe taʻetokanga ia kiate kinautolu, fakahā[ia ]ki he siasi: pea kapau ʻe taʻetokanga ia ki he siasi, tuku ke tatau ia kiate koe mo e tangata hiteni mo e tānaki tukuhau

If the one who has sinned against you will not listen to them [or does not feel sorry that he has sinned against you], tell that to the congregation [so that they can rebuke him]. If that person will not listen to the congregation [or feel sorry that he has sinned against you, exclude him from being a member of your congregation, just like] you [would exclude] pagans, tax collectors, [and others who do not believe in God and sin greatly].

18 “Ko ʻeku tala moʻoni atu kiate kimoutolu, Ko e meʻa ko ia te mou nonoʻo ʻi māmani, ʻe nonoʻo ia ʻi he langi: pea ko e meʻa ko ia te mou veteki ʻi māmani, ʻe veteki ia ʻi he langi.

Keep this in mind: Whatever you decide on earth [about punishing] or [not punishing a member of your congregation] is what has also been decided by [God] in heaven {what [God] in heaven has also decided}.

19 “Pea ʻoku ou tala atu foki kiate kimoutolu, Kapau ʻe loto taha hamou toko ua ʻi māmani ʻi ha meʻa ʻe taha te na kole, ʻe fai ia kiate kinaua ʻe heʻeku Tamai ʻoku ʻi he langi.

Also note this: If [at least] two of you [who live] here on earth agree together about something you ask [God] for [DOU], [God], my Father [who is] in heaven, will give you what you ask for.

20 He ko e potu ko ia ʻoku fakataha ai ʻae toko ua pe ʻae toko tolu ʻi hoku huafa, te u ʻi ai au mo kinautolu.”

[This is true], because wherever [at least] two or three of you assemble because you believe in me [MTY], I am [spiritually] present with you. I [will hear what you ask for and I will ask God to do it for you].”

21 Pea naʻe toki haʻu ai ʻa Pita kiate ia, ʻo ne pehē, “ʻEiki, ʻe liunga fiha ʻae angahala ʻa hoku tokoua kiate au mo ʻeku fakamolemole ia? Ke liunga fitu?”

Then Peter approached [Jesus] and said to him, “How many times must I forgive a fellow believer who [keeps on] sinning against me? [If he keeps asking me to forgive him, must I forgive him] as many as seven times?”

22 Pea pehē ʻe Sisu kiate ia, “ʻOku ʻikai te u pehē kiate koe, Ke liunga fitu [pē ]kae liunga fitungofulu lau ʻe fitu.

Jesus said to him, “I tell you [that the number of] times [you must forgive someone is] not just up to seven, but [you must] ([forgive him] 77 times/never stop forgiving him).

23 Ko ia ʻoku fakatatau ai ʻae puleʻanga ʻoe langi ki ha tuʻi, naʻe loto ke fakamaauʻi ʻene kau tamaioʻeiki.

[In order to illustrate] why [you should do this], I [will tell you a story in which] God [MTY/EUP], [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over, is compared {I compare God, [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over} to a king [and his officials]. That king told [some of his servants that he wanted] his officials to pay what they owed him.

24 Pea kamata fai ʻe ia ʻae fakamaau, pea ʻomi kiate ia ʻae tokotaha naʻe totonu ke ne totongi [ki he tuʻi ]ʻae taleniti ʻe mano.

[So those officials were brought to the king to] settle [their accounts with him]. [One of the officials who were brought] owed the king several million dollars.

25 Ka ko e meʻa ʻi he ʻikai haʻa ne meʻa ke totongi ʻaki, naʻe fekau ʻe heʻene ʻeiki ke fakatau ia, mo hono uaifi, mo ʻene fānau, mo ia kotoa pē naʻe ʻaʻana, ʻo totongi ʻaki.

But because he did not have [enough money] to pay [what he owed], the king demanded that he, his wife, his children and all he possessed be sold [to someone else, and that the king] be repaid [with] {receive} [the money that was paid for them].

26 Pea fakatōmapeʻe ʻae tamaioʻeiki, ʻo hū kiate ia, ʻo ne pehē, ‘ʻEiki, ke ke faʻa kātaki kiate au, pea te u totongi kotoa pē kiate koe.’

Then that official, [knowing that he did not have the money to pay that huge debt], fell on his knees [in front of the king] and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’

27 Pea toki manavaʻofa ʻae ʻeiki ki he tamaioʻeiki ko ia, ʻo ne tukuange ia, ʻo ne fakamolemole kiate ia ʻae totongi.

The king, [knowing that the official could never pay all that huge debt], felt sorry for him. So he canceled his debt and released him.

28 Ka naʻe ʻalu ʻae tamaioʻeiki ko ia, ʻo ne ʻilo ʻae tokotaha ʻo ʻene kaungā tamaioʻeiki, naʻe totonu ke totongi ʻaki kiate ia ʻae tenali ʻe teau: pea ne puke ʻe ia ia, ʻo kuku hono kia, ʻo pehē, ‘Totongi mai kiate au ʻaia ʻoku ʻaʻaku.’

Then this official went to another one of the king’s officials who owed him a bit less than a year’s wages. He grabbed him [by the throat], started choking him, and said to him, ‘Pay back what you owe [me]!’

29 Pea fakatōmapeʻe ʻa ʻene kaungā tamaioʻeiki ki hono vaʻe, ʻo ne kole kiate ia, ʻo pehē, ‘Ke ke faʻa kātaki kiate au, pea te u totongi kotoa pē kiate koe.’

That official fell on his knees and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’

30 Ka naʻe ʻikai te ne fai; ka naʻe ʻalu ia, ʻo tuku ia ki he fale fakapōpula, kaeʻoua ke ne totongi ʻaia naʻe totonu.

But this official kept refusing [to cancel that small debt that the man owed him]. Instead, he [caused that official to be] put in prison [and to stay there] until he could pay back all the money that he owed him.

31 Ka ʻi he mamata ʻa ʻene kaungā tamaioʻeiki ki he meʻa kuo fai, naʻa nau mamahi lahi, pea ʻalu ʻo fakahā ki honau ʻeiki ʻaia kotoa pē kuo fai.

When the other officials [of the king] learned that this had happened, they felt very distressed. So they went to the king and reported in detail what had happened.

32 Pea ui ia ʻe heʻene ʻeiki, ʻo ne pehē kiate ia, ‘ʻAe tamaioʻeiki angakovi ko koe, ne u fakamolemolea koe ʻi he totongi kotoa pē ko ia, ko e meʻa ʻi hoʻo kole kiate au:’

Then the king summoned the official [who had owed him several million dollars]. He said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I canceled that huge debt [that you owed me] because you begged me [to do so]

33 Pea ʻikai naʻe taau mo koe hoʻo manavaʻofa foki ki ho kaungā tamaioʻeiki, ʻo hangē ko ʻeku manavaʻofa kiate koe?

You should have been merciful [and canceled your fellow official’s debt], just like I was merciful to you [and canceled your debt] [RHQ]!’

34 Pea ʻita ai ʻene ʻeiki, ʻo ne tuku atu ia ki he kau fakamamahi, kaeʻoua ke ne totongi ʻaia kotoa pē naʻe totonu.

The king was very angry. He handed this official over to some jailers who would torture him severely until he paid all of the debt that he owed.”

35 “ʻE fai pehē foki ʻe heʻeku Tamai ʻi he langi kiate kimoutolu, ʻo kapau ʻe ʻikai te mou taki taha fakamolemolea mei hono loto ʻae ngaahi angahala ʻo hono kāinga.”

[Then Jesus continued by saying], “That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if you do not [feel merciful and] sincerely forgive a fellow believer [who sins against you].”