Romans 4
1 Let's take Abraham as an example. From a human viewpoint he is the father of our nation. Let's ask, “What was his experience?”
Toloba nini na tina na Abrayami, koko na biso? Azwaki nini na bomoto?
2 For if Abraham was set right by what he did, he would have had something to boast about—but not in God's eyes.
Soki Abrayami atangamaki lokola moto ya sembo na nzela ya misala, akokaki solo komikumisa; kasi liboso ya Nzambe, ezali bongo te!
3 However, what does Scripture say? “Abraham trusted God, and so he was considered as being a good person who did right.”
Makomi elobi nini? « Abrayami azalaki na kondima epai ya Nzambe, yango wana Nzambe atangaki ye lokola moto ya sembo. »
4 Whoever works gets paid—it's not considered as a gift, but because they've earned their wages.
Soki moto asali mosala, batangaka lifuti na ye lokola likabo te, kasi lokola motoki na ye.
5 But God, who makes sinners right, considers them as right not because they've worked for it but because they trust in him. This is why
Nzokande, soki moto asali mosala te, kasi andimeli Nzambe oyo atangaka bato ya masumu lokola bato ya sembo, kondima na ye ekokomisa ye moto ya sembo.
6 David speaks of the happiness of those whom God considers as right, and not because they worked for it:
Davidi mpe alobaki bongo tango atatolaki esengo ya moto oyo Nzambe akomisi sembo na kozanga misala:
7 “How happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
« Esengo na bato oyo mabe na bango elimbisami, mpe masumu na bango elongwe!
8 How happy are those the Lord does not consider sinful.”
Esengo na moto oyo Nkolo atangelaka lisumu te! »
9 Now is this blessing just for the Jews, or is it for others too? We've just stated that Abraham was accepted as good and right because he trusted God.
Boni, esengo yango ezali kaka mpo na bato oyo bakatisa ngenga to ezali mpe mpo na bato oyo bakatisa ngenga te? Solo, tozali koloba: Mpo ete Abrayami azalaki na kondima, Nzambe atangaki ye lokola moto ya sembo.
10 But when did this happen? When Abraham was a Jew or before?
Esalemaki tango nini? Esalemaki liboso na ye kokatisa ngenga to sima na ye kokatama ngenga? Esalemaki te sima na ye kokatama ngenga; esalemaki nde liboso na ye kokatisa ngenga.
11 It was actually before he became a Jew by being circumcised, which was a confirmation of his trust in God to make him right. This happened before he was circumcised, so he is the father of everyone who trusts in God and are considered as right by God, even though they may not be circumcised Jews.
Nzambe apesaki ye elembo ya kokatama ngenga lokola kashe ya bosembo oyo azwaki na nzela ya kondima, wana azalaki akatama nanu ngenga te. Boye akoma na mbala moko tata ya bato nyonso oyo bandimaka, wana bazali bakatama ngenga te mpo ete bango mpe bakoma bato ya sembo,
12 He is also the father of circumcised Jews not merely because they're circumcised, but because they follow the example of the trust in God our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
mpe tata ya bato oyo bakatisa ngenga, ba-oyo bakatama ngenga kaka te, kasi balandaka mpe ndakisa ya kondima oyo Abrayami, tata na biso, azalaki na yango liboso ete bakata ye ngenga.
13 God's promise to Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him was not based on his keeping of the law, but because he was made right through his trust in God.
Ezali na nzela ya Mobeko te nde Abrayami mpe bakitani na ye bapesamelaki elaka ya kozwa mokili lokola libula, kasi ezali nde na nzela ya bosembo oyo ewutaka na kondima.
14 For if the promised inheritance is based on keeping the law, then the issue of trusting God is not necessary, and the promise is pointless.
Pamba te soki ezali bato oyo batosaka mibeko nde bakozwa libula yango, wana kondima ezali lisusu na tina te mpe elaka ezali te,
15 For the law results in punishment—but if there's no law then it cannot be broken.
pamba te Mobeko ebendaka kanda ya Nzambe. Nzokande, esika oyo Mobeko ezali te, kobuka Mobeko mpe ezalaka te.
16 So the promise is based on trusting God. It is provided as a free gift, guaranteed to all the children of Abraham—not merely to those who follow the law, but also to those who trust like Abraham, the father of us all.
Yango wana, elaka eyaka na nzela ya kondima, mpo ete ezala na nzela ya ngolu mpe mpo ete ezala mpo na bakitani nyonso ya Abrayami: kaka te mpo na ba-oyo babengami bakitani na nzela ya Mobeko, kasi mpe mpo na ba-oyo bazali na kondima ya Abrayami oyo azali tata na biso nyonso,
17 As Scripture says, “I've made you the father of many nations.” For in the presence of God, Abraham trusted in the God who makes the dead alive and speaks into existence what didn't previously exist.
kolanda ndenge ekomama: « Nakomisaki yo tata ya bikolo ebele. » Azali tata na biso na miso ya Nzambe oyo ye andimaki, Nzambe oyo apesaka bomoi epai ya bakufi mpe azalisaka biloko oyo etikala kozala te.
18 Against all hope Abraham in hope trusted God, so he could become the father of many peoples, just as God had promised him: “This is how many descendants you'll have!”
Atako Abrayami akokaki lisusu te kotia elikya, kasi atiaki kaka elikya mpe andimaki; boye akomaki tata ya bikolo ebele, kolanda ndenge Nzambe aloba mpo na ye: « Bakitani na yo bakozala ebele. »
19 His trust in God didn't weaken even though he thought his body was practically dead (he was around a hundred years old), and knew that Sarah was too old to have children.
Abrayami akomaki na mibu pene nkama moko, kasi kondima na ye elembaki te atako atalaki nzoto na ye, oyo ezalaki lisusu na makasi te, mpe nzoto ya Sara oyo akokaki lisusu kobota te.
20 He held on to God's promise—he didn't doubt it. Instead his trust in God grew stronger, and he gave glory to God.
Nzokande, na esika ete atia tembe na elaka ya Nzambe mpe aboya kondima, kasi kondima na ye epesaki ye lisusu makasi koleka mpe azalaki kopesa Nzambe nkembo,
21 He was totally convinced that what God had promised he had the power to deliver.
wana andimisamaki makasi ete Nzambe azali na makoki ya kokokisa elaka na Ye.
22 That's why Abraham was considered right by God.
Yango wana, mpo na kondima na ye, Nzambe atangaki ye lokola moto ya sembo.
23 The words “Abraham was considered right” weren't just written down for his benefit.
Nzokande, ezali mpo na ye moko kaka te nde ekomama: « Nzambe atangaki ye lokola moto ya sembo; »
24 They were for us too, those of us who will be considered as right, since we trust in God who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.
ezali mpe mpo na biso oyo Nzambe akotanga lokola bato ya sembo mpo ete tondimelaka Ye oyo asekwisaki, kati na bakufi, Yesu, Nkolo na biso,
25 Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and was raised to life to make us right.
oyo akabamaki mpo na masumu na biso mpe asekwaki mpo ete tokoma bato ya sembo.
