Luke 23
1 Indji ba wawu mba, ba lunji Yesu ye ni koshi Bilatus.
Then the whole group got up and took Jesus to Pilate, [the Roman governor].
2 Na lu ni nhanwu andi, ba ka toh asi kpa indji si ti meme na ni tonba ni timeme, ndu ba na kpanyime na nhan iban hi no Kaisar na, na ni yo tuma Almasihu, Ichu.”
They began to accuse Jesus, saying, “We [(exc)] have determined that this fellow has caused political trouble in our country. He has been [telling people that they should] not pay taxes to the Roman government [MTY]. Also, he says that he is the Messiah, a king!”
3 Bilatus Myen, Ahi wuyi Ichu Yahudawa? U Yesu kpanyime niwu, “Anaki wu tre.”
Pilate asked him, “Do you [(sg) claim that you are] the King of the Jews?” He replied, “[It is] as you have [just] now said.”
4 U Bilatus hla ni Firistocin bi ninkon ba ni jubu indji ba, “Mi na vu ni lah tre riri me na.”
Pilate said to the chief priests and [the rest of] the crowd, “I do not conclude that this man is guilty of any crime.”
5 U ba luni tre, andi, “A kpa suron indji ni tie meme na ni hla tre ma ni Yahudiya, a so ma rji ni Galili ye ni wayi.”
But they kept insisting, “He is inciting the people [to riot]! He has been teaching his [ideas] throughout all of Judea [district]. He started [doing it] in Galilee [district] and now he is doing it here!”
6 Niwa Bilatus a woki ma, na miyen indji bi Galili'a wawu
When Pilate heard that, he asked, “Is this man from Galilee [district]?”
7 Wa ye toh ni mre ma andi a he ni zah (kalkashi) pkancin Hiridus, natru Yesu hi ni Hiridus, wa a he nitu ma Wurushelima ni vi bi ton ki.
When they told him that Jesus was [from Galilee, which was the district] that Herod [Antipas] ruled, [he told them] to take Jesus to Herod [Antipas], because Herod was in Jerusalem at that time.
8 Ni wa Hiridus a ku shishi ni wu u ngyiri shu niwu ni suron su se'a ni tu wa azi wau tu lalon mu ni sun toh wu. Wa a wo tre tuma, waa dede ni yoshishi ni sun toh iri kpii wa a ni tie bi so sissri wa a ni tie'a.
[So they did]. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very happy. He [had heard about Jesus], and he had been hoping for a long time that he could see Jesus perform a miracle.
9 Hiridus a miyen Yesu ni mi tre bi gbugbu, u Yesu na sa kpe riri ni wu na.
So he asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not reply [to any of them].
10 Firistocin bi ninkon ba ni biwa ba nhan, lunde kri, ni nha nu
The chief priests and men who taught the [Jewish] laws stood near Jesus, accusing him very strongly.
11 Hiridus ni sojoji ma ba lu ni nhanu, nani whiyen ni wu, u ba sru nkulon bi ndindi ma niwu, na kma tru Yesu hi ni Bilatus.
Then Herod and his soldiers (made fun of/ridiculed) [Jesus]. They put gorgeous clothes on him [to mock him as being a king]. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate.
12 Ba Hiridus mba Bilatus ba tie kpan ni kpamba chachuki (ba na ta yo kpamba ni ko shishi).
Until that time Herod and Pilate had been very hostile to each other, but that very day they became friends.
13 Bilatus yo Firistocin ni bi chu ni jubu ndji ba,
Pilate then gathered together the chief priests and other [Jewish] leaders and the crowd [that was still there].
14 na hla ni bawu, wa hla ni bawu, bi ka nji igu yi ye na indji wa ani ton ndji timeme, bi yi me bi toh, mi, miye ni shishi, mina vu lahtre riri me na wa bi ki nhanwu na.
He said to them, “You brought this man to me, saying that he had caused trouble among the people. But [I want you to know that] after having examined him while you were listening, I do not conclude that he is guilty of any of the things that you are accusing him about.
15 Ba kpe, Hiridus me, ala ka tru kma ye ni tawu, bi toh, igu yi na tie ikpe wa ba wu'a na
[Obviously] Herod did not [conclude that] either, because he sent him back to me [without punishing him]. [So it] is clear that this man has not done anything for which we [(inc)] should kill him.
16 Ni tu ki mi gbi ton niwu ni kachuwo.
So I will [have my soldiers] flog him and then release him.”
17 Wa hi gbigbi ni Bilatus ndu chu indji u y'bi iri no ba ni Idin)
18 Wawu mba wu ba lu tre vovome, ndu ba, “Nji gu mba hi, na nji Barabas grji!”
But the whole crowd shouted, “Execute this man! Release Barrabas for us [(exc)]!”
19 Barabas a guri wa ba yo ni mitra u lo ndji bi latra, nitu wa aka kpa suron tie meme ni bawu ni gbu na wu ndji.
Barrabas was a man who had tried to persuade people in the city to rebel [against the Roman government. While doing that], he had murdered [someone]. So he had been put {they had put him} in prison, [where he was waiting to be executed].
20 Bilatus ala tre, asun ka Yesu chuwo.
Because Pilate wanted to release Jesus, he tried to persuade the crowd again.
21 Ba la tre vovome, ni, “Giciye wu, giciye wu.”
But they kept shouting, “[Command your soldiers to] kill him by nailing him to a cross!/Have him crucified!”
22 A hla ni bawu nkpu u tra, “Nitu ngye, a ngye yi indji yi tie wa a meme? Mi na toh kpe wa a tie wa bi wah bi wu'u ni tu ma na. Ni naki to bi kle nu'u yah, me ka'u chuwo.”
He [spoke to them] a third time and asked them, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have concluded that he has done nothing for which he deserves to die. So I will [have my soldiers] flog him and then release him.”
23 Ba kri titu, na tre gbangban me, ndi ba sun ndu ba giciye wu, u tre mba ka mren Bilatus saran.
But they kept insisting. They shouted loudly that [Jesus] should be nailed {that [Pilate] should [have his soldiers] nail [Jesus]} to a cross. Finally, because they continued to shout [PRS] [so loudly],
24 U Bilatus a kpanyime ni bawu ni kpi wa ba sun.
Pilate decided to do what the crowd requested.
25 Wa ba miyen a nji grji ni bawu na no ba i wa ba yo ni tra u lo ndji'a nitu wa a kpa suron tie meme nda wu ndji, na no Yesu ni kpi wa son.
The man who had been {whom they had} put in prison because he had rebelled [against the government] and who had murdered [someone], he released! That was the man whom the crowd had asked him [to release]. He handed Jesus over [to the soldiers], to do what [the crowd] wanted.
26 Ba nji hi, na zu vu guri inde ma Siman Bakurane, a rji ni gbu siye, u ba ban giciyen gran ni wu gba, ndu nji hu Yesu.
As the soldiers were taking [Jesus] away, they seized a man named Simon, [who was] from Cyrene [city in Africa]. He was returning [to Jerusalem] from out in the countryside. They [took from Jesus the cross that he had been carrying. Then] they put it on Simon’s shoulders, and [told him to] carry it behind Jesus.
27 Chubu nji ni mba ba lo suron na ni yi nitu ma, na ni hu.
A large crowd followed Jesus. The crowd included many women who were beating their breasts [to show how sad they were], and wailing for him.
28 Wa kma yaba, Yesu tre, “Bi mri mba Urushalima, na yi nitu mu na, bi ka yi ni tu-mbi ni mri-mbi.
But Jesus turned to them and said, “You women of Jerusalem, do not cry for me! Instead, cry because of [what is going to happen to] yourselves and your children!
29 Bi toh, ivi ni ye wa ba tre, lulu a biwa ba son ni krju ni bi wa bana ngrji na, ni sisan wa bana mma na.”
I want you to know that there will soon be a time when people will say, ‘Women [SYN] who have never borne children or nursed babies are fortunate!’
30 U ba fare tre ndu tita, “Ku chan ta, ni Igbulume, Bika kata.
Then, [in order that they will not have to suffer greatly when their enemies destroy this city], people who are left in the city will say to the mountains, ‘Fall down on us!’ And people will say to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
31 Ba ni na tie kpi biyi u kunkron a ri he ni shushu, ahi ngeri ani tie u kunkro klu ye?
[I am innocent] [MET]. [I am like] a living tree [that people do not try to burn. But the people of Jerusalem deserve that their enemies punish them. They are like] dry wood that is ready to [burn]. So if they [nail me to the cross], ([their enemies] will certainly do much worse things to them!/what worse things will happen to them?) [RHQ]”
32 U ba nji indji hari biwa ba lah-tre, hi niwu baba Yesu.
Two other men who were criminals were also being led away {[The soldiers] also led away two other men who were criminals}. They were going to be executed {[The soldiers] were going to execute them} [with Jesus].
33 Wa ba ka ri ni bubu wa ba yo, “kyukyu” niki ba ka kpan ba ni kunkron'a (giciye) ni bi y'bi hari, u ri ni wo kori, u ri ni ko ta.
When they came to the place which is called ‘The Skull’, they nailed [Jesus] to a cross [after removing his clothes]. They did the same thing to the two criminals. They crucified one at the right [side of Jesus] and one at his left [side].
34 Yesu tre “Itie, kpa wruhle ni bawu, don bana toh kpe wa ba tie na.” Ba lu ni ta chacha, na yaba inklon ga.
Jesus prayed, “[My] Father, forgive them, because they do not realize [whom] they are doing [this to]!” Then [the soldiers] divided Jesus’ clothing by gambling with something like dice, [to decide which piece of clothing each one would get].
35 Indji ba lu niya bi nji ndji (mulki) ba wa ba ye si tsawu andi, “A kpa bari chuwo. Dun kpa tuma chuwo ki, toh wawu yi hi Almasihu u Irji, wa ba chu'a.”
Many people stood nearby, watching. And the [Jewish] leaders (made fun of/ridiculed) [Jesus], saying, “He [said] [IRO] [that he] saved other people! If he is the Messiah, the one God has chosen, he should save himself!”
36 Bi lokpa me ba tsawu, na wa niye, nda ni dren iman wa'a sa.
The soldiers also ridiculed him because he [claimed to be a king]. They came up to him and offered him some sour wine.
37 Nani tre, “U ta hi chu Yahudawa, U ka kpa tume chuwo.”
They said to him, “If you [(sg)] are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 U gban ri he niwu tu, “I wa yii a chu Yahudawa.”
[They] also [fastened on the cross] a sign [that stated] why [they] were nailing him to the cross. [But all it said was], ‘This is the King of the Jews’.
39 Iri ni mi bi y'bi hari ba wa ba kpan ba, a mre'u andi, “A na wuyi Almasihu na? ka tu me chuwo ni kita me.
One of the criminals who was hanging [on a cross] began to insult Jesus, saying, “You [(sg) said that you] are the Messiah, so [you must be powerful]! So save yourself, and save us, too!”
40 U ri ma sah, wa ya losuron, “U na tie sissri Irji na, nitu wa ba wuta baba?
But the other [criminal] rebuked him, saying, “(You [(sg)] should be afraid of God [punishing you]!/Are you not afraid of God [punishing you]?) [RHQ] They are punishing him [and us] similarly.
41 U mbu ba tie tsra, ki kpa mbu nitu kpe wa ki tie, Igu yi ana tie kperi memema na.”
They have justly decided that we [(inc) two] must die. They are punishing us as we deserve [for the evil things that we did]. But this man has done nothing wrong!”
42 Nna la tre, “Yesu na kparisu ni me na, uta ri ni ko Itie me.”
Then he said, “Jesus, [please] remember me [and take care of me] when you become king!”
43 Yesu hla ni wu, “Njanji tre misi hla niwu, luwa u he nime ni Firdausi.”
Jesus replied, “I want you [(sg)] to know that today you [(sg)] will be with me in the place where everyone is happy!” (OR, that today you will be with me in Paradise!)
44 U ba he niki ni krafi tanne, u bubu ka tie bwu kagon gbu'a wawu, hi ni krafi tiya.
[Then it] was about noontime. It became dark over the whole land, [and it stayed dark] until three o’clock in the afternoon.
45 U rji grji ka ku. U bre gontra tra u tre ni Irji a yar tie hari ni tsutsuma ye ni meme.
There was no light from the sun. Then the [thick] curtain [that closed off the most holy place] in the Temple split into two pieces. [That signified that ordinary people could now go into the presence of God].
46 Ni yar yi ni lan gbangban me, Yesu tre, “Itie, mi ka Ruhu Mu no niwo me.” wa tre naki, na que.
[As that happened], Jesus shouted loudly, “Father, I put my spirit into your care [MTY]!” When he said that, he [EUP] died.
47 U Jirimia a toh kpi wa a tie, na gbire Irji san, “Gbigbi iguyi a hi indji ndindi.”
When the officer [who supervised the soldiers who were executing Jesus] saw what happened, he praised God [for the way Jesus died], saying, “[I am] sure that this man had done nothing wrong!”
48 U Ijubu indji ba wawu, wa ba hu ba ye ndu ba ye toh ikpi wa a tie ni shishi mba, ba kma ni wru wo ni san mba.
When the crowd of people who had gathered to see those events saw what happened, they returned [to their homes], beating their chests [to show that they were sorrowful].
49 Bi wa ba toh wawu mba'wu, ni imba bi wa ba hu ba rji ni Galili, u ba ka kri ni gbugbanmu, na si ya kpe wa a si zren
All of Jesus’ friends, including the women who had come with him from Galilee [district], stood at a distance and saw everything that happened.
50 U indji ri ba yowu Yusufu, ahi vren u majalisan ni ugbu na indji ndindi.
There was a man named Joseph who [came there]. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea. He was a good and a righteous man, and he was a member of the [Jewish] Council.
51 Wa na kpa nyime ni kpi wa ba tre ni kpi wa ba tie na, rji ni Arimatiya ni meme Yahudiya, i wa a si kben hi koh Irji.
But he had not agreed with the other Council [members] when they decided [to kill Jesus] and when they [planned how to] do it. He was waiting expectantly for [the time when] God [would send] his king to begin to rule.
52 Igu ki, ahi ni Bilatus, na miyen wu a ndu ban ikpon Yesu no wawu.
He went to Pilate and asked [Pilate to permit him] to [take] Jesus’ body [and bury it. After Pilate allowed him to do that],
53 Wa nji grji ye meme, na nyewu ni pri ndindi, na kayo ni mi bbe wa ba shime ni kpa tita, ni bubu wa ba na rju ndrjo toh na.
he [and some others] took [Jesus’ body] down [from the cross]. They wrapped it in a linen cloth. Then they put his body in a tomb that he had [hired others to] dig out of a rock [cliff]. No one had ever put a body in it before.
54 Ivi ri ri ni vi, u Asabaci te whiwhre.
[They had to do it quickly because] that was [Friday], the day when [people] prepared [things for the Jewish day of rest]. (The Sabbath/The day of rest) was about to start [at sunset, so they had to finish burying Jesus’ body before sunset].
55 Ba imba biwa ba ye baba Yesu rji ni Galili, ba hu nda toh wrji wa ibbe'a a he nda toh ka ba yo nkpon ma'a.
The women who had come with [Jesus] from Galilee [district] followed [Joseph and the men who were with him]. They saw the tomb, and they saw how the men laid [Jesus’] body [inside it, and saw the men roll a huge stone across the entrance].
56 U ba kma hi, u ba wa inye u gban ni turare. U ba kusi ni ivi Asabaci, nidu.
Then the women returned to the houses [where they were staying. That evening] they prepared spices and ointments to put [on Jesus’ body], but (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day) they rested, according to what [Moses] had commanded.
