Colossians 3

1 You now are alive [spiritually], and [it is as though you were given new life] {[God caused you to become alive]} when he caused Christ to become alive again. So be constantly wanting what is associated with heaven [MTY], where Christ is. There God has given him supreme authority and the highest honor.

Wɔanyane mo ne Kristo aba nkwa mu. Afei monnwene ɔsoro nneɛma ho, baabi a Kristo te Onyankopɔn nifa so di ɔhene no.

2 Be constantly wanting the blessings that God has prepared for you in heaven [MTY]. Do not be constantly wanting [to do the evil deeds that people on] earth do [MTY],

Saa nneɛma no na momma mo adwene nkɔ so, na ɛnnyɛ asase yi so nneɛma.

3 because you have [ceased to behave as you formerly did. You are like people who have] died. You now live [spiritually] together with Christ in [the presence of] God; and [people] cannot see that [you have a new life].

Ɛfiri sɛ, moawu na wɔde mo nkwa ne Kristo ahinta wɔ Onyankopɔn mu.

4 When Christ, who causes you to live [spiritually], is publicly revealed, then God will also reveal you publicly together with Christ, [and you together with Christ will be] glorious.

Na sɛ Kristo a ɔyɛ mo nkwa no ba a, mo ne no bɛba wɔ nʼanimuonyam mu.

5 [Get rid of your evil practices/deeds] [MET, MTY] [as though they were enemies whom] you were killing (OR, [Stop doing evil things] [MET, MTY], just as dead people do not do what is evil). Specifically, do not practice sexual immorality. Do not commit unnatural sexual acts. Do not desire to act like that, and do not desire [to do anything that is] evil. Do not desire to have more things than you need, because, if you do that, you are (worshipping material things instead of worshipping God/making material things to become your god).

Ewiase akɔnnɔdeɛ te sɛ adwamammɔ, afideyɛ, bɔne, ne anibereɛ a ɛyɛ abosonsom no, monyi mfiri mo abrabɔ mu.

6 [Do not behave like that] since God will punish [MTY] those who disobey him, because of their sins.

Wɔn a wɔbɛyɛ asoɔden wɔ saa nneɛma no ho no, Onyankopɔn abufuo bɛba wɔn so.

7 You also formerly did those things when you were disobeying God.

Ɛberɛ bi a atwam no, ɛsiane sɛ na akɔnnɔsɛm di mo abrabɔ so enti, na mo ankasa modi mo akɔnnɔ akyi.

8 Now, however, as for you, do not do any of these evil deeds: Do not get angry in any way [DOU]. Do not act maliciously. Do not (slander/talk evil about) people. Do not talk abusively to people.

Afei, monnyae saa nneɛma yi nyinaa: abufuo, bɔnepɛ, ne ɔtan. Monnyeya obi anaa mommma kasa a ɛho nte mfiri mo anom.

9 Do not lie to one another. Do not do those things, because you have (disposed of/stopped obeying) your former evil nature and stopped doing what you did when you had that former [evil] nature,

Monnnidi atorɔ nkyerɛ mo ho, ɛfiri sɛ, moato onipadua dada ne ne su no atwene

10 and because you have received a new nature. God is causing your new nature to become more and more like his own nature. He created your new nature in order that [you might get to] know [God] truly.

de onipadua foforɔ asi ananmu. Moayɛ nnipa foforɔ a daa Onyankopɔn a ɔbɔɔ mo no resesa mo wɔ ne suban so, sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ bɛhyɛ mo ma.

11 As a result of that, it is not [important whether anyone is a] non-Jew or a Jew, or [whether anyone is] circumcised or not, or [whether anyone is] a foreigner, or even uncivilized, or [whether anyone is] a slave or not a slave. But [what is important is] Christ, who is supremely important in every way.

Esiane saa enti, amanamanmufoɔ ne Yudafoɔ, twetiatwafoɔ ne momonotoyɛ, awudifoɔ, nkoa ne wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho no nni hɔ bio. Kristo wɔ biribiara mu. Kristo te yɛn nyinaa mu.

12 Because God has chosen you to be his people; and because he loves you, be compassionate to one another. Be kind to one another. Be humble. Be meek (OR, be considerate toward one another), be patient with one another,

Moyɛ Onyankopɔn nkurɔfoɔ. Ɔpɛ mo asɛm enti na ɔyii mo sɛ ne deɛ, enti monyɛ timmɔborɔ, ayamyɛ, mommrɛ mo ho ase, monnwo na monyɛ abodwokyerɛ.

13 and tolerate one another’s flaws. Forgive one another, if one of you has a grudge/complaint against another. Just like the Lord [Jesus freely/willingly] forgave you, you too [must freely/willingly forgive one another].

Mommoaboa mo ho mo ho, na obi fom ne yɔnko a, momfa nkyekyɛ mo ho. Sɛdeɛ Awurade de akyɛ mo no, saa ara na mo nso momfa nkyekyɛ mo ho mo ho.

14 And what is more important than all of these is that you love one another, because by doing that you will be perfectly united together.

Yei nyinaa akyi no, momfa ɔdɔ a ɛde baakoyɛ ba no nka mo abrabɔ ho.

15 Because God chose you to live peacefully [with one another] in your local congregations, let that peace which Christ gives control your (inner beings/hearts), and be constantly thanking God.

Momma Kristo asomdwoeɛ no ntena mo akoma mu. Saa asomdwoeɛ yi ho na wɔafrɛ mo nyinaa aba Kristo onipadua baako mu. Monyɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ ayɛyie.

16 And continue to let the message about Christ govern/direct all you think and do, as you very wisely teach and warn one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (OR, songs that God’s Spirit [gives you]), while you sincerely and thankfully sing to God.

Kristo asɛm no ne mu nnepa nyinaa ntena mo akoma mu. Momfa nyansa nkyerɛkyerɛ. Monto asankuo so nnwom ne ayɛyie nnwom ne honhom mu nnwom. Momfiri mo akoma mu nto aseda nnwom mma Onyankopɔn.

17 Whatever you say, and whatever you do, do all of this in the manner that those who are representatives [MTY] of the Lord Jesus [should do], while you constantly thank God, our Father, as you ask the Lord Jesus to take your prayers to God.

Biribiara a moyɛ anaa moka no, monyɛ wɔ Awurade Yesu din mu na momfa ne so nna Agya Onyankopɔn ase.

18 You women, be subject to your husbands, since that is what you should do because you have a close relationship with the Lord [Jesus].

Ɔyerenom, mommrɛ mo ho ase mma mo kununom sɛdeɛ ɛsɛ Awurade mu.

19 You men, love your wives; and, do not be harsh with them.

Okununom, monnɔ mo yerenom na monnhyɛ wɔn ahometeɛ.

20 You children, obey your parents in every circumstance, because the Lord [God] is pleased when you do that.

Mma, adeɛ nyinaa mu, montie mo awofoɔ asɛm na yei na ɛsɔ Onyankopɔn ani.

21 You parents (OR, you fathers), do not correct your children more than you need to, in order that they do not become discouraged.

Agyanom, monnyi mo mma abufuo na ammu wɔn aba mu.

22 You slaves, obey your earthly masters in every circumstance. Do not obey your masters only when they are watching [MTY] you, like those who [merely] want to impress their masters favorably. Instead, obey your masters sincerely. Do this because you reverence the Lord [Jesus] (OR, [God]).

Asomfoɔ, adeɛ nyinaa mu, montie mo wuranom asɛm. Ɛnyɛ sɛ wɔn ani tua mo enti na ɛsɛ sɛ moyɛ na wɔpene mo, na mmom, ɛsiane sɛ modi Awurade ni no enti, momfa akoma pa nyɛ.

23 Whatever [work] you do, work wholeheartedly. Work wholeheartedly, like those who are working for the Lord [Jesus]. Do not work like those who are working [merely] for [their] masters,

Biribiara a moyɛ no, momfa mo akoma nyinaa nyɛ na momfa no sɛ moreyɛ ama Awurade na monnyɛ mma nnipa.

24 because you know that it is the Lord who will [properly/justly] repay you. That is, you will receive what God has promised. [Remember that] it is Christ who is the real master whom you are serving.

Monkae sɛ Awurade bɛkyɛ mo so adeɛ. Mo nsa bɛka adeɛ a ɔde asie ama ne nkurɔfoɔ no bi. Kristo ne owura a mosom no.

25 But [God] will judge everyone impartially. He will punish you according to what you have done that is wrong.

Na obiara a ɔyɛ deɛ ɛntene no, bɔne a ɔyɛ no so akatua na ɔbɛnya a animhwɛ biara nni mu.