Luke 12
1 Ni nton kima, indji dubu gbugbuwu ba rju ye shubi nitu bran mba ba hon ta chan kpamba. Alu kri tre ni guchi ni mri ko ma ndi, “Mla ya yist wu Farisawa, wandi ahi gyuru ndji nitu zren mba
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].
2 Ba kpe wa ba kawu wandi ana rju kri ndende ni ra na, ba kpe wa ba kari wandi bana toh na.
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}.
3 Nitu kima, ikpi wa wu tre ni bwu ba wo ni kpan, i wuta tre kpe ni riri ni ton, nimi tra, ba dbu hla ni tu nkan.
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.”
4 Mi hla ni yiwu, kpukpanmu, na tie sissri bi wa ba wu ikpa megyen, dana he ni kpe wa ba la tie na.
“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].
5 Ama, mi gbron ton mbi nitu wa be klu'u klu wandi anita wu, a he ni gbengble wu ta u yo ni lu shetan. Ee, Mi hla ni yiwu, klu'u. (Geenna g1067)
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)
6 Bana leni chinche sparo ton nitu wlo bubo tra na? Ni kima me, Irji na kparisu ni iri mba na.
[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}!
7 Infutu wu tume me a bla ba pempe. Natie sissri na. Wu he ni ndu zan chinchen sparo gbugbuwu.
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].
8 Mi hla ni yiwu ndji wa a kri nda tre ni tu mu ni shishi ndji, Vren Ndji ngame ni tre ni tuma ni shishi Maleku Irji,
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.
9 Anita kama ni me ni shishi ndji, ba kama niwu ni shishi Maleku Irji.
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].
10 Ko nha wa a tre lan tre meme nitu Vren Ndji, bakpa wru hle niwu, ama wuta tra valala wu gbron gbrongrji, nitu Ruhu Tsatsra, bana wru hle niwu na.
[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].
11 Bati ngrji wu ye ni shishi kikle bi mitra Sinagog, bi tie chu baba bi ninkon gbu, na du suron mbi rjoku nitu kpe wandi bi tre wa ani kpauyi chuwo na.
[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,
12 Ruhu Tsatsra ni tsro yi ni nton kima, ikpe wa bi tre'a.
because the Holy Spirit will tell you at that very time what you should say.”
13 Ndji rinimi ikpan ndji ba a tre niwu ndi, Ticha, hla ni vayi mu ni du ga gado mbu ni me.
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!”
14 Yesu a hla wu ndi Ndji, anha yo me mi ga tre koh du mi ri nimi tre mbi?
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]”
15 A tre ni ba andi, mla toh ni na du son tu do honyi na, nitu mlason ndji ni vrhi ana nitu kri ni gbugbu ikpi wa a he ni wuna.
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.”
16 Nikima, Yesu a tre parabul ni bawu ndi, “Irju ndji wu wo ri nu birhi gbugbuwu.
Then Jesus told the people this illustration: “There was a certain rich man whose crops grew very well.
17 A son nda mla ya ni kpama nda tre ndi, 'Mi tie ni he, nitu mina he ni bubu wa mi zi biri wu wru mu na?'
[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!’
18 A tre ndi, ngye kpe wa mi ti a yi. Mi zi ba wronmu ni mme bi rigrama, nike mi zi biri wu wrhu mu mba mbru ikpi mu wawu.
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].
19 Mi hla ni suron mu, “Suron, wu he ni kpi gbugbuwu wa wu mla zi wu ise gbugbu ni ko shishi. Kuson si rhi ni so, son piyame.'”
[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]!”’
20 Ee, Irji hla wu ndi, 'Ruhu ndji, ni chu wu luwa, ba kpa vrhi suron meluwa, i ikpi ba wu mla zi ba, wu don ni nha?'
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]’”
21 Kima he na bibi ndji bari, ba vu kpi si mla zi ni tu mba, nda k'ma tie bi kpla ni Irji.
[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.”
22 Yesu a hla ni mri koh ma ndi, Mi hla yiwu, na dame ni tu me na, ikpe wa wuri, ko ni kpame, ikpe wa wu sru.
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.
23 Vri son a zan biri i kpa zan nklon wu sru.
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]
24 Ya kikle chinche ravins, bana chu ndana han na. Ba na he ni tra wu zi kpi ko wron na, ama Irji ni nuba irhi-mba. Wu na zan chinche ba ni anfani ni shishi Irji na?
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]!
25 Inha nimi-mbi, nitu son rhimre nitu kpe, ani du vi wu vri ma hon zan cubit?
(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]
26 Wuta na toh tie mri kpi toh wayi na, nitu ngye wu du suron me du na kuson si na?
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]
27 Ya mri vunvu bi kpan mbi ni shishi to lilies, ni lu gbron mbu, bana tiya na, bana k'ma ya bubu na, ee, Solomon me ni nzu hon ma ana sru ikpi wu bi toh iri-mba na.
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].
28 Irji nita nu ghiga wu wrhu, wandi luwa ahe, i mble ba kau taga ni lu, ani tie he ndana nu nklon wu sru na? Wu ndji wu kpanyime ni wu fime.
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?
29 Na yo shishi ni kpe wa wu rhi ndi sona, na du suron me hamma ni kukru na.
Do not always be concerned about having enough to eat and drink, and do not be worrying about those things.
30 Gbungblu wawu ba yo suron wa ikpi biki, i Timbi toh wu son kpi baki ngame
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].
31 Wuka yo suron meni iko mulki Irji guchi, i ba vu kpibiyi nha niwu tuma.
Instead, be concerned about letting [God] completely direct [your life]. Then [he] will also give you enough of the things [you need].
32 Na tie sissri na, ikran mri nitu Iti-mbu toh a bi ni du nuta ri ko mulki ma.
[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].
33 Le ni ikpi me ni nu sadaka. Wran ngomble ni kpa-mbi wa ana y'ba na - ikpe ndindi ni shulu wandi ana kle na, i ndji wu y'bi na ye whiewhiere na, i imra na kpa timeme na.
[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.
34 Bubu wa ikpe ndindi me he'a, suron me ni he ngame.
Remember that [the things] that you [think are the most] valuable are [the things] that you will be constantly concerned about.”
35 Lo kpa mla tie ni rjirji ni nchi, ni du ilu me si kpan,
“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.
36 nna ndji biwa basi gben ti-kohmba du k'ma rjini ko gran, anita ye wrunko, baka bwu niwu gbagbla.
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.
37 Lulu he ni tu igran biwa tikomba niye to ba si gben yemma. Njanji, mi hla yiwu, ani mla kpama tie wu tindu nda du ba son nitu tabur, wa a ni lu tindu bawu.
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.
38 Tikoh anita ye ni nh'ma wu ha ko nh'ma wu tra nda ye toh bi ki ni sisren si gben i lulu ni tu igran baki.
[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.
39 Ama bika toh, tikoh nita toh nton wa ndji wu y'bi ni ye'a, ana du rhi ni ko'a na.
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]}.
40 Son ni sro, wuna toh nton wa vren ndji ni yena.
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].”
41 Bitrus a tre, “Bachi wusi hla tre yi ni tawu megyen ka ni konha?”
Peter said, “Lord, are you [(sg)] speaking this illustration [only] for us or for everyone [else also]?”
42 Bachi a sa ndi, “A hi nha ndji ndindi wa tikoma ni nu ndu ya mbru igran ma, ani mla ta nuba biri mba ni ntonma?
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].
43 Lulu he ni tu igran wa tikoh niye toh si ti ndu wa bana nu anita k'ma ye.
If the servant is doing that work when his master returns, [his master] will be very pleased with him.
44 Njanji mi hla yiwu, ani yo ni tu ikpi koh ma wau.
I tell you this: His master will appoint him to supervise all of his affairs [permanently].
45 Igran a nita tre ni suron ma ndi, “Bachi mu ani ti grji ni ye, nda lu si tsi igran lilon baba mba biwa ba he ni wo ma, nda rhi nda so nda wha,
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.
46 Bachi igran niye ni ivi wa ana tie mre na mba nton wa ana to na, anic'ba tie tsitsa nda ban yo ni bubu bi ka toti ndindi.
[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.
47 Igran kima, nitu ana toh suron bachima ye, ama dana mla son nda tie kpi wa ani son na, ba tsiwu branbran.
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}.
48 I waa ana toh na ama nda tie ikpe wa du ba tsiwu a, ba tsiwu ifimeyi. Ndi wa banu ikpi bran bran, ni wo ma, ba kpa branbran. Wandi ba zi kpi gbugbuwu ni woma, ba mye ikpi wa azan kima.
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].”
49 Mi ye nitu ye yo lu ni gbungblu mem, i mi son ndi ilu anina nu ye.
“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.
50 Ama mi he ni baptisma wa batie nimu'a, suron mu ni lo nitu du ba kle kima.
I must soon suffer [IDM] greatly. I am distressed, and I will continue to be distressed until my suffering is finished.
51 Bi ya mi ye nji isi ye ni gbungblu meme? Ana toki na, mi hla yiwu, ahi iga.
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.
52 Rji ni zizan, hini shishi, ndi ton ba he niko, iga ni ri, ndi tra nitu ndi ha, i iha nitu tra.
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].
53 Baga ni kpamba, iti mba vren wa ni ihi ma. Ihi wa vren ma mba iwa vren ma, i wa vren ni ihi lonma.
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.”
54 Yesu asia hla ni kpa ndi ba, ngame ndi, “Bita toh kpa lu ni lunde rhi ni yalu, bika gbla tre ndji, tenlu ni ye wa ani he toki.
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.
55 Gyungwu nita ni fu ni rji ni kogbo, bi tre ndi, gbaji wu hwuma ni ye, wa ani ye toki.
[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.
56 Bi gyru tu-mbi, bi to sran, tsro kpa ikpi nimemembani shulu, i ti tie nihe nina toh sran ikpi wa si zren zizan na.
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]!
57 Bi ti he mu nina gatre ni kpame na?
(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]
58 Wuta hi niwandia no son na, ni shishi ndji wu ga tre, bita rhi he ni nko, bika mla ti ni kpambi, nitu du na njiwu hi lo, ni du ndji wu ga tre kana vu nuwa ani, njiwu hi tro na.
[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.
59 Mi hla niwu, wuna to wru na, se wu han kubu wa ba han pempyeme
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].”
