< John 8 >
1 But Jesus went [with us disciples] to Olive [Tree] Hill [and we stayed near there that night].
Yesu sane kɔɔ Ngo Bepɔ no so.
2 Early the next morning, we returned to the Temple [courtyard]. Many people gathered around Jesus, so he sat down to teach them.
Adeɛ kyee anɔpa no, ɔsane baa asɔrefie. Nnipa bebree baa ne nkyɛn ma ɔhyɛɛ aseɛ kyerɛkyerɛɛ wɔn.
3 Then men who taught the [Jewish] laws and some of [SYN] the Pharisee [religious group] brought a woman to him. She was seized {[They] had [arranged to] seize her} while she was having sex with a man who was not her husband. They made her stand up in front of the group [that was listening to Jesus].
Ɔgu so rekasa no, Yudafoɔ mpanin ne Farisifoɔ de ɔbaa bi a wɔkyeree no sɛ ɔrebɔ adwaman baa nʼanim.
4 Then they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was seized {[we] seized this woman} while she was having sex with a man who is not her husband.
Wɔka kyerɛɛ Yesu sɛ, “Ɔkyerɛkyerɛfoɔ, yɛkyeree ɔbaa yi sɛ ɔrebɔ adwaman,
5 Moses commanded us in the laws that [he gave us] that we should throw stones at such women [and kill them]. So what do you say [we should do]?”
nanso Mose mmara hyɛ yɛn sɛ, ɔbaa biara a wɔbɛkyere no saa ɛkwan no so no, ɛsɛ sɛ wɔsi no aboɔ. Ɛdeɛn na woka wɔ ho?”
6 They asked this question as a trap so that they could accuse him. [If he said that they should not kill her, they would shame him for disobeying the law of Moses. If he said that they should kill her, they could accuse him to the Roman governor]. But Jesus bent down and wrote something on the ground with his finger.
Wɔbisaa no yei de sum no afidie sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a wɔbɛnya asɛm bi agyina so atoto nʼano. Nanso, Yesu bɔɔ ne mu ase de ne nsateaa twerɛtwerɛɛ fam.
7 While they continued to question him, he stood up and said to them, “Whichever one of you has never sinned can be the first one to start throwing stones at her.”
Wɔgu so rebisabisa no nsɛm no, ɔmaa ne mu so ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mo mu biara a ɔnyɛɛ bɔne da no, nni ɛkan nto boɔ mmɔ no.”
8 Then he stooped down and wrote [some more] on the ground.
Ɔsane bɔɔ ne mu ase twerɛtwerɛɛ fam.
9 After they heard what he said, those [who were questioning him] went away, one by one, the older ones first [and then the younger ones, knowing they were all sinners]. Finally only Jesus was there, along with the woman.
Nnipa no tee asɛm a Yesu kaeɛ no, wɔhyɛɛ aseɛ firii hɔ mmaako mmaako firi mpanin no so. Ɛkaa Yesu ne ɔbaa no nko ara.
10 Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one said you must die for your sin?”
Yesu maa ne mu so no, ɔbisaa ɔbaa no sɛ, “Nnipa a wɔde wo baeɛ no wɔ he? Wɔn mu baako mpo nni ha a ɔbɛka asɛm bi atia wo?”
11 She said, “No, sir, no one.” Then Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go [home] now, and do not continue your sinful [life] any longer!”]
Ɔbaa no buaa Yesu sɛ, “Dabi, Owura.” Yesu ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛ saa na ɛte deɛ a, ɛnneɛ me nso menni asɛm biara a mɛka de atia wo. Kɔ, na nkɔyɛ bɔne bio.”
12 Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am [like] a light [MET] for [all the people in] [MTY] the world. [Just like a light reveals what has been in the darkness] [MET], [I reveal God’s truth to them]. Those who walk in the darkness [are unaware of what is around them]. But those who become my disciples will always be aware [of God’s truth] [MET]. They will have my light [which shows them how to have eternal] life.”
Yesu sane toaa ne kasa no so ka kyerɛɛ nnipa no sɛ, “Mene ewiase hann no. Obiara a ɔdi mʼakyi no rennante sum mu da, na ɔbɛnya hann a ɛkyerɛ nnipa ɛkwan ma wɔkɔ nkwa mu.”
13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are just telling about yourself! [Since there is no one else to verify these things that you say about yourself], [we] do not [need to accept that] what you say is true.”
Farisifoɔ no tee asɛm a Yesu kaeɛ no, wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Asɛm a woreka yi, yɛrennye nto mu, ɛfiri sɛ, wo ara na woredi wo ho adanseɛ.”
14 Jesus replied, “Even if I were the [only one to] say these things about myself, what I say is true, because I know that I came from [heaven], and I know that I am going [back to heaven]. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.
Yesu nso buaa wɔn sɛ, “Sɛ me ara meredi me ho adanseɛ mpo a, asɛm a meka no yɛ nokorɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, menim faako a mefiri baeɛ ne faako a merekɔ. Na mo deɛ, monnim faako a mefiri baeɛ ne faako nso a merekɔ.
15 You judge people according to human standards. [The reason] that I am [here is] not (to condemn people/to say that I will punish people) [for their sins].
Mo ankasa mode mo adwene na ɛbu atɛn na me deɛ, memmu obiara atɛn.
16 But if I did judge [people], what I decided would be correct, because I am not the [only] one [who will decide those things]. I and the one who sent me will both decide.
Nanso, sɛ ɛba sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ mebu atɛn a, mʼatemmuo bɛyɛ atɛntenenee, ɛfiri sɛ, ɛnyɛ me nko na mɛbu atɛn; Agya a ɔsomaa me no ka me ho.
17 It is written {[Moses] wrote} in your law that if [at least] two people testify that [some event has happened], [people should consider] that what they say is true.
Wɔatwerɛ wɔ mo mmara mu sɛ, sɛ adansefoɔ baanu adanseɛ hyia a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ wɔn adanseɛ no yɛ nokorɛ.
18 I am telling you about myself, and the other one who is telling you about me is [my] Father who sent me. [So you should believe that what we declare is true].”
Medi me ho adanseɛ na mʼAgya a ɔsomaa me no nso di me ho adanseɛ.”
19 Then they asked him, “[If you have a] father whom [we can question about you], where is he?” Jesus replied, “You do not know [who] I [really am]. If you knew who I [really am], you would know who my Father is also.”
Nnipa no bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛhe na wʼAgya no wɔ?” Yesu buaa wɔn sɛ, “Monnim me, na monnim mʼAgya no nso. Sɛ monim me a, anka mobɛhunu mʼAgya no nso.”
20 He said these things when he was in the Temple [courtyard], near the place where the people put their offerings. [This was also very close to the place where the Jewish council met]. But no one seized him to arrest him, because it was not yet time [MTY] [for him to suffer and die].
Yesu kaa yeinom nyinaa ɛberɛ a na ɔrekyerɛkyerɛ wɔ asɔredan no mu sikakorabea hɔ no. Obiara antumi amfa ne nsa anka no, ɛfiri sɛ, na ne berɛ a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔkyere no no nnuruiɛ.
21 Jesus also said to them, “I [will soon be] going away. Then [at the end of your life] you will seek me, but you will die [without God forgiving] your sins. Where I will go, you will not be able to come.”
Yesu sane ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mɛfiri mo nkyɛn makɔ; mobɛhwehwɛ me, na morenhunu me. Na mo deɛ, mobɛwu wɔ mo mu. Faako a merekɔ no morentumi mma hɔ bi.”
22 So the Jewish [leaders] said among themselves, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that the reason that he said, ‘Where I go, you will not be able to come’?”
Yudafoɔ no bisabisaa wɔn ho wɔn ho sɛ, “Ɛhe na ɔrekɔ a ɔse ‘obi rentumi nkɔ hɔ bi no?’ Gyama ɔrekɔkum ne ho?”
23 But Jesus continued by saying to them, “You were born here in this world, but I came from heaven. You belong to those who are opposed to God [MTY]. I do not belong to them.
Yesu buaa wɔn sɛ, “Mo deɛ, mofiri asase so ha, nanso me deɛ, mefiri ɔsoro na mebaeɛ. Mo deɛ, mofiri ewiase, nanso me deɛ, memfiri ewiase,
24 I told you that you will die [without God forgiving] your sins. If you do not believe that I am [who I say that I am], you will die [without God forgiving] your sins.”
Ɛno enti na meka kyerɛ mo sɛ mobɛwu wɔ mo bɔne mu no. Na sɛ moannye anni sɛ, mene deɛ mene a, mobɛwu wɔ mo bɔne mu.”
25 So they said to him, “You! Who do you think you are?” Jesus said to them, “Ever since I began [teaching], I have been telling you who I am!
Wɔbisaa no sɛ, “Wo koraa, wone hwan?” Yesu buaa wɔn sɛ, “Mene deɛ daa meka kyerɛ mo sɛ meyɛ.
26 I could judge you and say that [you are guilty of] many things. But instead, [I will say only] what the one who sent me tells me to say. [What he says] is true, and I tell the people in the world [MTY] what I have heard from him.”
Mewɔ mo ho nsɛm pii a anka mɛka atia mo. Nanso, deɛ ɔsomaa me no yɛ ɔnokwafoɔ na asɛm a meka no yɛ deɛ mate afiri ne nkyɛn.”
27 They did not understand that he was talking about his Father [in heaven].
Nnipa no ante no aseɛ sɛ nʼagya ho asɛm na ɔreka akyerɛ wɔn no.
28 So Jesus said, “I am the one who came down from heaven, but when you lift me up [on a cross to kill me], you will know who I am. You will also know that I do not do anything with my own [authority]. Instead, I say just what [my] Father has taught me.
Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Sɛ monya ma Onipa Ba no so wɔ asɛnnua no so a, na mobɛhunu sɛ, mene deɛ mene no, na afei mobɛhunu bio sɛ memfiri me ara me pɛ mu nyɛ biribiara, na mmom, deɛ Agya no somaa me sɛ menka no nko ara na meka.
29 He is the one who sent me, and he helps me. Because I always do the things that please him, he has never abandoned me.”
Deɛ ɔsomaa me no ka me ho daa. Ɔnnyaa me da, ɛfiri sɛ, meyɛ deɛ ɛsɔ nʼani.”
30 As Jesus was saying these things, many people believed that he [was] ([from God/the Messiah]).
Nnipa a wɔtee deɛ Yesu kaeɛ no mu dodoɔ no ara gyee no diiɛ.
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who now said they believed in him, “If you continue to [live in accordance with] my message, you will truly be my disciples.
Yesu ka kyerɛɛ Yudafoɔ a wɔgyee no diiɛ no sɛ, “Sɛ modi me nsɛm so a, moyɛ mʼasuafoɔ.
32 Then you will know [God’s] truth, and as a result of [your believing his] truth, he [PRS] will free you [from being controlled by the one who has made you his slaves].”
Ɛno ansa na mobɛhunu nokorɛ no na nokorɛ no bɛma mo ade mo ho.”
33 They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham. We have never been anyone’s slaves. So why do you say [we will] be freed [from being someone’s slaves]?”
Nnipa no buaa no sɛ, “Yɛn deɛ yɛyɛ Abraham asefoɔ. Yɛnkɔɔ nkoasom mu da, na ɛyɛ dɛn na woka sɛ wobɛma yɛade yɛn ho?”
34 Jesus replied, “Listen carefully to what I am going to tell you. All those who continue to sin are [forced to obey] their sinful desires [MET], [just like] a slave [is forced to obey his master].
Yesu buaa wɔn sɛ, “Mereka nokorɛ akyerɛ mo sɛ obiara a ɔyɛ bɔne no yɛ bɔne akoa.
35 A slave is not a permanent member of a family. But a son is a member of a family forever. [Similarly, you say you are members of God’s family because you are descendants of Abraham, but really, because you are like slaves of your sinful desires, you are no longer permanent members of God’s family]. (aiōn )
Akoa biara nni kyɛfa wɔ abusua mu nanso ɔba deɛ, daa ɔwɔ kyɛfa wɔ abusua mu. (aiōn )
36 So if you allow me to free you, you will truly be free.
Ɛno enti, sɛ ɔba no ma mode mo ho a, mobɛde mo ho ampa.
37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. But you are trying to kill me because [you are not] allowing [PRS] my message to continue [to change] your inner being.
Megye tom sɛ moyɛ Abraham asefoɔ nanso morehwehwɛ me akum me, ɛfiri sɛ, monni ne nkyerɛkyerɛ so.
38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with [my] Father. But you do the things that you have heard from your father.”
Deɛ mʼAgya ayi akyerɛ me no na meka ho asɛm, na mo deɛ, deɛ mo agya aka akyerɛ mo no na modi so.”
39 They replied to him, “Abraham is our ancestor.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s descendants, [your character would be like Abraham’s character, and] you would do [good] things like Abraham did.
Nnipa no kaa sɛ, “Yɛn agya ne Abraham.” Yesu nso ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Moyɛ Abraham asefoɔ ampa a, anka ne nnwuma a ɔyɛeɛ no bi pɛpɛɛpɛ na mobɛyɛ.
40 I have been telling you the truth that I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham did not do things like that.
Deɛ mayɛ ne sɛ maka nokorɛ a mote firii Agya no nkyɛn akyerɛ mo, nanso mohwehwɛ me akum me. Abraham anyɛ biribi a ɛte sɛ yei.
41 No! You are doing the things that your [real] father does.” They said to him, “[We do not know about you, but] we are not illegitimate children. And [spiritually], we have only one Father. That is God, and you do not know who your father is!”
Moreyɛ deɛ mo agya yɛeɛ.” Nnipa no sane kaa sɛ, “Onyankopɔn nko ara ne Agya a yɛwɔ na yɛyɛ ne mma ankasa.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, because I came from God, and now I have come here [to this world]. My coming was not (because I [appointed] myself/with my own [authority]). He sent me.
Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Sɛ Onyankopɔn yɛ mo Agya ampa ara a anka mobɛdɔ me, ɛfiri sɛ, ne nkyɛn na mefiri baeɛ na mewɔ ha. Mamfiri me pɛ mu na mebaeɛ; ɔno na ɔsomaa me.
43 (And I will tell you why you do not understand what I say./Do you know why you do not understand what I say?) [RHQ] It is because you do not want to accept my message.
Adɛn enti na monte nsɛm a mereka yi ase? Ɛfiri sɛ, mompɛ sɛ mote aseɛ.
44 You belong to your father, (the devil/Satan), and you desire to do what he wants. He has [caused people to become] murderers from the time when [people] first [sinned]. He has abandoned [God’s] truth because he is a liar by his nature. Whenever he lies, he is speaking according to his [nature], because he is a liar and is the one who originates [MET] all lies.
Mo deɛ, ɔbonsam ne mo agya, na mopɛ sɛ moyɛ nneɛma a ɔyɛ no nso bi. Ɔyɛ owudifoɔ firi ahyɛaseɛ. Ɔnni nokorɛ da, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔnyɛ ɔnokwafoɔ. Sɛ ɔdi atorɔ a, ɛnyɛ nwanwa ɛfiri sɛ, ɔyɛ ɔtorofoɔ ne atorɔ agya.
45 But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!
Nanso me deɛ, ɛsiane sɛ meka nokorɛ enti na monnye me nni no.
46 [Since I have never sinned], (none of you can show that I have sinned./can anyone among you show that I have sinned?) [RHQ] So, since I tell you the truth, (there is no good reason for your not believing me!/why is it that you do not believe me?) [RHQ]
Mo mu hwan na ɔbɛtumi aka sɛ medi bɔne bi ho fɔ? Sɛ meka nokorɛ a, adɛn enti na monnye me nni?
47 Those who belong to God habitually obey God’s message. You do not belong to God, so you do not obey his message.”
Obiara a ɔfiri Onyankopɔn mu no tie Onyankopɔn asɛm. Na mo deɛ, ɛsiane sɛ momfiri Onyankopɔn mu no enti na montie nʼasɛm no.”
48 The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] replied to him, “(We are certainly right by saying that you [believe what is false as] the Samaritans [do]!/Are we not right by saying that you [believe what is false as] the Samaritans [do]?) [RHQ] And that (a demon/an evil spirit) [controls] you!”
Yudafoɔ no bisaa Yesu sɛ, “Sɛ yɛka sɛ woyɛ Samariani a honhommɔne ahyɛ wo ma a, na yɛboa anaa?”
49 Jesus replied, “A demon does not [control] me! I honor my Father, and you do not honor me!
Yesu buaa sɛ, “Menni honhommɔne. Medi mʼAgya ni na mo deɛ monni no ni.
50 I am not trying to honor myself. There is someone else who desires [to honor me], and he is the one who will judge [whether it is I who am telling the truth or whether it is you who are telling the truth].
Memmpere nhwehwɛ animuonyam mma mʼankasa me ho. Obi wɔ hɔ a ɔhwehwɛ ma me na ɔno nso na ɔdi ma me.
51 But the truth is that anyone who obeys what I say will never die!” (aiōn )
Meka nokorɛ pefee kyerɛ mo sɛ, obiara a ɔdi mʼasɛm so no renwu da.” (aiōn )
52 Then the Jewish [leaders] [SYN], [thinking that he was talking about ordinary death and not about spiritual death], said to him, “Now we are sure that a demon [controls] you! Abraham and the prophets died [long ago]! But you say that anyone who obeys what you teach will never die! (aiōn )
Yudafoɔ no nso ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Afei na yɛahunu ampa ara sɛ wowɔ honhommɔne! Abraham wuiɛ. Adiyifoɔ no nso wuwuiɛ. Nanso, wo deɛ woka sɛ, ‘Obiara a ɔdi mʼasɛm so no renwu da.’ (aiōn )
53 (You are certainly not greater than our ancestor Abraham!/Do you think you are greater than our ancestor Abraham?) [RHQ] He died, and all the prophets died, so who do you think you are [by saying something like that]?”
Woyɛ kɛse sene yɛn agya Abraham anaa? Ɔwuiɛ; saa ara nso na adiyifoɔ no wuwuiɛ. Wosusu sɛ woyɛ hwan?”
54 Jesus replied, “If I were honoring myself, that would be worthless. My Father is the one who you say is your God. He is the one who honors me.
Yesu buaa wɔn sɛ, “Sɛ mʼankasa mehyɛ me ho animuonyam a, mʼanimuonyam no nka hwee. MʼAgya a mo nso moka sɛ ɔyɛ mo Onyankopɔn no, ɔno na ɔhyɛ me animuonyam.
55 Although you do not know him, I know him [and have a close relationship with him]. If I said that I did not know him, I would be a liar like you are. But I know him, and I obey what he says.
Mo deɛ, monnim no, nanso me deɛ, menim no. Sɛ meka sɛ mennim no a na meyɛ ɔtorofoɔ sɛ mo ara. Menim no na madi nʼasɛm nso so.
56 Your ancestor Abraham was happy when he thought about what I would [do during] my life [MTY]. [It was as though] he saw that, and was happy.”
Mo agya Abraham ani gyee sɛ ɔbɛhunu me ba a mɛba no. Ɔhunuiɛ na nʼani gyeeɛ.”
57 Then the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] said to him, “You are not 50 years old yet! So (you certainly did not see him!/how could you have seen him?) [RHQ] [Because he died long ago]!”
Yudafoɔ no nso bisaa no sɛ, “Wonnii mfeɛ aduonum koraa na ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wohunuu Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “The truth is that I existed before Abraham was born!”
Yesu buaa sɛ, “Mereka nokorɛ pefee akyerɛ mo sɛ, ansa na wɔrebɛwo Abraham no, na mete ase.”
59 So, [because they were very angry about Jesus thus saying that he] ([had eternally existed/was equal with God]), they picked up stones to throw at him [to kill him]. But [Jesus] caused them not to be able to see him, and he left the Temple courtyard.
Yudafoɔ no tasee aboɔ sɛ anka wɔde rebɛsi no, nanso Yesu kɔhintaeɛ. Yei akyi no, ɔfirii asɔredan no mu hɔ kɔeɛ.