Ephesians 4
1 Therefore I, who am in prison because [I serve] the Lord [Jesus], urge you, whom God has chosen [to be his people, to do these things]: Conduct your lives as [God’s people] should.
Ary noho izany izaho, mpifatotra noho ny amin’ ny Tompo, dia mangataka aminareo mba handeha miendrika ny fiantsoana izay niantsoana anareo,
2 Always be humble, and do not demand your own rights. Be patient [with each other], and, because you love each other, endure each other’s ([irritating] behavior/behavior that you do not like).
amin’ ny fanetren-tena rehetra sy ny fahalemem-panahy, amin’ ny fahari-po mifandefitra amin’ ny fitiavana,
3 [God’s] Spirit has caused you to be united [with one another], so do all that you can to remain united [with one another] by acting peacefully [toward each other].
mazoto mitana ny firaisana avy amin’ ny Fanahy amin’ ny fehim-pihavanana.
4 [All we believers form just one group] [MET], and we have only one [Holy] Spirit. Similarly, you were chosen {[God] chose you} in order that you all might confidently keep expecting one [set of good] things [from God].
Iray ny tena, ary iray ny Fanahy, dia toy ny niantsoana anareo ho amin’ ny fanantenana iray momba ny fiantsoana anareo;
5 There is only one Lord, [Jesus Christ]. We all believe the same [teaching about him. It was to show that we belong to him] alone that [we had someone] baptize us.
iray ny Tompo, iray ny finoana, iray ny batisa,
6 There is one God, who is the [spiritual] Father of all [us believers]. He [rules] over all his people; he enables all his people [to do powerful things] (OR, he sustains all his people); and his [Spirit lives] in all his people.
iray Andriamanitra sady Rain’ izy rehetra, Izay ambonin’ izy rehetra sy manerana azy rehetra ary ao amin’ izy rehetra.
7 Christ has generously given to each one of us spiritual gifts, just like he decided to give them.
Fa samy nomena ny fahasoavana araka ny ohatry ny fanomezan’ i Kristy avy isika rehetra.
8 [When Christ gave] gifts to his people, [it was similar to what the Psalmist said about God receiving tribute money] from those whom he had conquered, When he ascended to heaven, he gave as gifts to people the things [that he had taken] from the people whom he captured:
Koa izany no ilazany hoe: Raha niakatra ho any amin’ ny avo Izy, dia nitondra olona maro ho babo Ka nanome fanomezana ho an’ ny olona.
9 The words ‘he ascended’ certainly imply/indicate [RHQ] that Christ had also previously descended to the earth.
(Ary ny amin’ ny hoe niakatra, inona moa izany, afa-tsy ny efa nidina ho any ambanin’ ny tany koa?
10 Christ, who descended [to earth], is also the one who ascended to the most exalted position in heaven, in order that he might show his power [MTY] throughout the universe.
Izay nidina, dia Izy koa no Ilay niakatra any ambonin’ ny lanitra rehetra, hamenoany ny zavatra rehetra.)
11 He appointed some people to be apostles. He appointed some people to be (prophets/ones who reveal messages that come directly from God). He appointed some people to be (evangelists/ones whose work is to tell others the message about Christ). He appointed some people to lead and teach [the congregations].
Ary Izy no nanome ny sasany ho Apostoly, ary ny sasany ho mpaminany, ary ny sasany ho evanjelista, ary ny sasany ho mpiandry sy mpampianatra,
12 [He appointed all of these] in order that they would prepare God’s people to do [God’s] work, so that all the people who belong to Christ [MET] might become [spiritually] mature.
ho fanatanterahana ny olona masìna, ho amin’ ny asan’ ny fanompoana amin’ ny fiangonana, ho amin’ ny fampandrosoana ny tenan’ i Kristy,
13 He wants all of us [believers] to be united [because] we all believe in the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God) and [because] we all know [him]. He wants us to become spiritually mature; that is, he wants us to be (perfect/all that God wants us to be), [just like] Christ was ([perfect/all that God wanted him to be]).
mandra-pahatongantsika rehetra ho amin’ ny firaisan’ ny finoana sy ny fahalalana tsara ny Zanak’ Andriamanitra, ka ho lehilahy lehibe, mahatratra ny ohatry ny halehiben’ ny fahafenoan’ i Kristy;
14 Then we will no longer be [spiritually immature], like [MET] little children [are immature]. We will no longer be constantly [changing what we believe, like] [MET] waves of the sea are [constantly changing as the wind blows and] tosses them back and forth. We will not allow people who teach [what is false] and who scheme to deceive/influence us.
mba tsy ho zaza intsony isika, ka ahilangilana sy ampitambolimbolenin’ ny rivotry ny fampianarana samy hafa rehetra amin’ ny saim-petsy ataon’ ny olona sy ny fihendreny hahatanteraka ny hevitry ny famitahana;
15 Instead, by loving [others] as we behave as [God’s] truth requires (OR, speak in a loving manner what is true), we will become more and more like Christ in every way. He is the one [who controls/guides all his people] [MET], [just like a person’s] head [controls/guides his] body.
fa mba hanaraka ny marina amin’ ny fitiavana ka hitombo amin’ ny ny zavatra rehetra ho amin’ izay Loha, dia Kristy;
16 He [enables all those who belong to him to mature spiritually. A person’s body grows stronger, as] each part of the body is joined to the others by the ligaments and as each part (functions properly/works as it should). Similarly, believers will become mature [spiritually] by loving each other and by each of them doing the work [that God wants them to do] [MET].
Izy no itomboan’ ny tena rehetra (izay akambana sy ampiarahina tsara) noho ny fifanompoan’ ny isan-tonony, araka ny fiàsan’ izay rehetra momba azy amin’ izay mety ho anjara-asany avy ka hampandrosoany ny tenany amin’ ny fitiavana.
17 The Lord [Jesus] has authorized me to strongly tell you that you must no longer conduct your lives like unbelievers do. The futile/worthless way in which they think [MET] [controls how they conduct their lives].
Koa izao no lazaiko sady ambarako ao amin’ ny Tompo: ny tsy mba handehananareo intsony tahaka ny fandehan’ ny jentilisa amin’ ny fahafoanan’ ny sainy;
18 They are unable to think clearly [MET] [about what is right and what is wrong]. Because they have decided that they do not want to know about God and because they stubbornly [IDM] refuse to [listen to his message], they do not have the [eternal] life that God [gives us].
fa efa tonga maizin-tsaina sy olon-ko azy amin’ ny fiainan’ Andriamanitra ireny noho ny tsi-fahalalana ny anatiny, noho ny hamafin’ ny fony,
19 The result is that because they have ceased (to care/to be concerned) [about what is right and what is wrong], they have (deliberately committed themselves to doing/wholeheartedly decided to do) the shameful things that their bodies want, and they commit all kinds of immoral acts, and continually are eager to do more of those things.
dia olona tsy mahalala henatra intsony ka nanolo-tena ho amin’ ny fijejojejoana hanao izay fahalotoana rehetra amin’ ny fieremana.
20 But when you learned [about] Christ, you did not learn [to behave] like that.
Fa ianareo kosa, dia tsy mba toy izany no nianaranareo an’ i Kristy,
21 I am sure that you heard the message about [Christ], and because you are people who have a close relationship with him, you were taught {[others] taught you} the true [way to live] that Jesus [showed us].
raha Izy tokoa no renareo ka tao aminy no nampianarana anareo, araka ny fahamarinana izay ao amin’ i Jesosy,
22 [You were taught] {[They taught you]} that you must put aside [MET] your evil nature; [that is, that you must not behave like you formerly did]. Your evil desires deceived you, making you want to do evil things and causing you to think that [doing that was good for you]; and your thinking like that was destroying you [spiritually].
mba hialanareo ny toetrareo taloha araka ny fitondran-tenanareo fahiny, izay mihasimba araka ny filan’ ny fitaka;
23 Others taught you that instead, you must let [God’s Spirit] change the way you think,
fa mba hohavaozina kosa ianareo amin’ ny fanahin’ ny sainareo,
24 and that you must start being [MET] the new persons that God made you to become. That is, your [behavior] must be righteous and truly/genuinely devout.
ary mba hotafinareo ny toetra vaovao, izay noforonina araka an’ Andriamanitra amin’ ny fahitsiana sy ny fahamasinana momba ny fahamarinana.
25 Therefore, quit lying to one another. Instead, because we all belong to just one group [of believers], speak truthfully to each other.
Koa esory ny lainga, ka samia milaza ny marina amin’ ny namany avy ianareo rehetra; fa samy isan’ ny momba ny tenan’ ny namantsika avokoa isika.
26 If you get angry, do not sin [as a result of] getting angry. Before the end of the day [MTY], stop being angry;
Tezera, fa aza manota; ary aoka tsy ho tratry ny masoandro milentika ny fahatezeranareo.
27 [by doing that], you will not allow the devil to make you do evil.
Aza manome fitoerana ho an’ ny devoly.
28 Those who have been stealing must not steal any longer. Instead, they should work hard to earn (their living/what they need) ([by] their own efforts/[by] what they do themselves) [MTY], in order that they may have [something] to give to those who are needy.
Aoka izay nangalatra tsy hangalatra intsony; fa aleo hikely aina ka hiasa izay tsara amin’ ny tànany, mba hisy homeny izay tsy manana.
29 Do not use [MTY] foul language. Instead, say only things that are useful for helping people when they need help, things that will help [spiritually] the people that you talk to.
Aoka tsy haloaky ny vavanareo izay teny maloto, fa izay tsara ho fampandrosoana, araka izay tokony hanaovana, mba hahazoan’ ny mihaino fahasoavana.
30 [God has given you his] Spirit (to confirm/to assure you) that some day [God will claim all] you people [whom Christ has] redeemed [MET], [just like people confirm that something belongs to them by] putting their seal on it. So do not cause God’s Holy Spirit to be sad ([by the way you talk/by the things that you say]).
Ary aza mampalahelo ny Fanahy Masin’ Andriamanitra, Izay nanisiana tombo-kase anareo ho amin’ ny andro fanavotana.
31 Do not be resentful at all towards others. Do not become angry in any way. Never shout abusively at others. Never (slander/say bad things about) others. Never act maliciously/be mean in any way.
Esory aminareo ny fo-lentika rehetra sy ny fahavinirana sy ny fahatezerana sy ny fitabatabana sy ny fitenenan-dratsy ary ny lolompo rehetra;
32 Be kind to one another. Act mercifully toward each other. Forgive each other, just like God forgave you because of [what] Christ [has done].
ary aoka samy halemy fanahy amin’ ny namany avy ianareo, ka hifampiantra sy hifamela heloka, tahaka ny namelan’ Andriamanitra ny helokareo ao amin’ i Kristy.
