Ephesians 2

1 Formerly, because you were habitually sinning [DOU], you were ([spiritually] dead/[as unable to please God as a] corpse [MET] is).

روزگاری شما نیز به علّت سرکشی و گناهانتان، مرده بودید.

2 You were acting in the same [evil] way as those who oppose Christ [MTY] act. That is, you were behaving in the [evil] ways [that Satan wanted you to behave]. He rules over evil spiritual beings that no person can see [MTY]. He is the spirit who now powerfully controls the people who disobey God. (aiōn g165)

شما در گناه زندگی می‌کردید، آن هنگام که از روشهای این دنیا و از فرمانروای قدرت هوا پیروی می‌نمودید، یعنی همان روحی که هم اکنون در طغیانگران عمل می‌کند. (aiōn g165)

3 Formerly, we all used to disobey God as they do. We did the things that our self-centered nature wanted us to do. We habitually did those [evil] deeds that our bodies and our minds wanted to do. When we were acting like that, it was certain that [God] would punish [MTY] us, just like he will certainly punish all other [evil people].

ما نیز همگی مانند آنها بودیم. روش زندگی ما، نشان دهندهٔ طبیعت ناپاک ما بود. ما اسیر هوسها و افکار کثیف خود بودیم و دست به هر کار زشتی می‌زدیم. ما با همین طبیعت سرکش به دنیا آمدیم و درست مانند دیگران، زیر خشم و غضب خدا بودیم.

4 But God always acts very mercifully, and he loves us very much.

اما خدا که لطف و رحمتش بیش از حد تصور ماست، ما را آنقدر دوست داشت

5 As a result, even when we were ([spiritually] dead/[as unable to please God as] a corpse [MET] is) because we were habitually sinning, he enabled us to receive [spiritual]/[eternal] life because of our relationship with Christ. [Do not forget this: It is only] because God has acted so kindly toward you, in a way that you did not deserve, that you are saved {that [he] saved you} [from the guilt of your sin]

که ما را با مسیح زنده کرد، گرچه در خطایا مرده بودیم. پس صرفاً در اثر فیض خدا نجات یافته‌ایم.

6 And [it is as though] God gave us spiritual life when he caused Christ Jesus to be alive again after he died [MET]. And [it is as though] God caused us to sit [and rule] [MTY] with him in heaven,

بله، خدا به دلیل کاری که مسیح برای ما انجام داد، ما را با او برخیزانید، و با او در قلمروهای آسمانی در مسیحْ عیسی نشانید،

7 in order that he might show to everyone at all times in the future that he has acted toward us in an extremely kind way because of what Christ Jesus [did for us]. (aiōn g165)

تا از این طریق، بتواند عظمت وصف‌ناپذیرِ فیض خود در مسیح عیسی را در اعصار آینده، به همه نشان دهد، فیضی که در مهربانی‌اش نسبت به ما تجلی یافته است. (aiōn g165)

8 It is [only] by [God] acting [PRS] [toward you] in a way that you did not deserve that you have been saved {that he has saved you} as a result of your trusting [in Christ]. You did not save yourselves. His saving you was his gift to you.

زیرا به‌واسطۀ فیض است که نجات یافته‌اید، از طریق ایمان – و این را نمی‌توانید به حساب خود بگذارید، چرا که هدیه‌ای است از جانب خدا.

9 He did not save any of you because of anything you yourselves did. Because you have done nothing [to save yourselves], you cannot be proud of your efforts to save yourselves.

نجات پاداش اعمال نیک ما نیست، و از این رو، هیچ‌کس نمی‌تواند به سبب آن به خود ببالد.

10 It is God who has made us what we are now. Because of our relationship with Christ Jesus, he has enabled us to receive [spiritual/eternal] life in order that we should conduct our lives habitually doing the good deeds that God previously planned for us to do.

زیرا ما ساختۀ دستِ خداییم، و در مسیحْ عیسی آفریده شده‌ایم تا کارهای نیک انجام دهیم، کارهایی که خدا از دیرباز تدارک دیده تا در آنها سلوک کنیم.

11 You [Ephesians] have been non-Jews from the time that you were born. The Jews ([insult you/say that you are not God’s people]) [by] calling you ‘those who are not circumcised’. They [proudly] call themselves ‘we [(exc)] who are circumcised’. [They have allowed people to] circumcise [them to indicate that they are God’s people, but] that has [only] changed their bodies, [not their] ([inner beings/hearts]).

از این رو، به یاد داشته باشید که شما که غیریهودی زاده شُده‌اید، در گذشته غریبه به شمار می‌آمدید، و یهودیانی که به ختنه شدن خود افتخار می‌کنند، شما را «خدانشناسان ختنه‌نشده» می‌خواندند، گرچه این ختنه که به دست انسان صورت می‌گیرد، صرفاً بر بدنشان اثر می‌گذارد، نه بر دلشان.

12 You should constantly remember these things: Formerly you did not have any relationship with Christ. You did not belong to the people of Israel, [the people whom God chose]. You did not know about the things God promised in his agreements [with his people]. You did not confidently expect to go to heaven after you die (OR, [that God would save you]). You [lived] in this world without knowing God.

در آن زمان، شما جدا از مسیح زندگی می‌کردید و متعلق به قوم اسرائیل نبودید و نسبت به ایشان بیگانه شمرده می‌شدید، و هیچ سهمی در عهدهای خدا نداشتید، عهدهایی که مبتنی بود بر وعده‌های خدا به قومش، و زندگی خود را در این دنیا بدون امید و بدون خدا سپری می‌کردید.

13 But now, because of your relationship with Christ Jesus, God has brought you, who had no relationship with him [MET], into his family [MET]. He did that because [you trusted in what Christ accomplished when] his blood [MTY] [flowed from his body when he died on the cross].

اما اکنون از آن عیسی مسیح هستید. گرچه زمانی از خدا دور بودید، اما در اثر کاری که مسیح با خون خود برای شما کرد، اکنون به خدا نزدیک شده‌اید.

14 Christ himself [has caused us Jewish and non-Jewish believers] to have peace [with each other]. He has made both [of our groups] to become one [group]. [Just like people] (tear down/demolish) a wall that separates [groups of people] [MET], he has destroyed the hatred [between Jews and non-Jews].

مسیح پیوند صلح و دوستی ماست. او، ما یهودیان را با شما غیریهودیان آشتی داد و دیوار تبعیض را که ما را از هم جدا می‌کرد، از میان برداشت و ما را عضو یک خانواده ساخت.

15 By dying [MTY] [for us on the cross] he made it no longer [necessary for us to obey] all the [Jewish] laws and rituals [in order to be saved]. He did that in order to enable the two [groups] to become one new group because of our relationship with him. The result was that he has caused us to have peace [with each other].

به این منظور، او در جسم خود، به اعتبارِ نظام شریعت و احکام و مقررات آن پایان بخشید. قصد او این بود که در خویشتن از آن دو گروه از انسان‌ها، قومی نو بیافریند، و میان یهودیان و غیریهودیان صلح و آشتی پدید آوَرَد.

16 By [dying on] the cross [MTY] he caused both Jews and non-Jews to have a peaceful relationship with God. That is how he caused us to no longer be [MET] enemies [with God] (OR, [with each other]).

اکنون که اعضای یک بدنیم، دیگر بین ما کینه و دشمنی وجود ندارد، زیرا مسیح ما و شما را با خدا صلح داده است. دشمنی دیرینهٔ ما سرانجام در پای صلیب او از میان رفت.

17 He came [to earth] and proclaimed that you [non-Jews], who did not have a relationship with [MET] [God], and [us(exc) Jews], who [considered that we(exc) belonged to] [MET] God’s [family], can [all] now have peace [with God].

مسیح این پیغام دلنشین صلح و آرامش را، هم به شما غیریهودیان رساند که از خدا دور بودید، و هم به ما یهودیان که به او نزدیک بودیم.

18 [We know that he has done that] because we both, [Jews and non-Jews], are [now] able to approach God the Father in prayer by the help of his Spirit, because of what Christ [has done].

حال، همهٔ ما، چه یهودی و چه غیریهودی، به یاری روح خدا و در اثر آن فداکاری که مسیح برای ما انجام داده، می‌توانیم به حضور پدر آسمانی‌مان خدا راه یابیم.

19 So [God no longer treats] you [non-Jews] as [people treat] [MET] foreigners and strangers [who live among them] [MET]. Instead, along with all God’s people, [it is as though] you have become citizens of a country that he rules over, and [as though you have become] members of the family [of which he is the father] [MET].

اکنون دیگر شما نسبت به خدا غریب و بیگانه نیستید، بلکه همراه با مقدّسین، اهل وطن الهی می‌باشید و با سایر ایمانداران عضو خانوادهٔ خدا هستید.

20 [Just like] a building is built {[as someone] builds a building} on a foundation, [God has joined you into one group that originated/began] from what the apostles and prophets [taught]. Christ Jesus is the [most important one in that group, just like a] cornerstone [is the most important part of a building]. And

شما به ساختمانی تعلق دارید که زیربنای آن را رسولان و انبیا تشکیل می‌دهند و عیسی مسیح هم سنگ اصلی آن ساختمان است.

21 just like [a builder might] join together all the parts of a building to make it a temple that [people will] dedicate to the Lord [MET], [Christ is continually causing all of] you who have a relationship with [him to be united, in order that you will become one holy group].

ما که ایمان آورده‌ایم، با مسیح به یکدیگر متصل شده‌ایم تا به تدریج رشد کنیم و به صورت یک خانهٔ زیبای عبادت درآییم.

22 And because of your relationship with Christ, [God] is joining you [non-Jews] together with [Jewish believers] to be [like] one building [MET] in which his Spirit lives.

شما غیریهودیان نیز با یکدیگر بنا می‌شوید تا مَسْکَنی شوید که خدا به‌واسطۀ روح خود در آن زندگی می‌کند.