Luke 11
1 One day Jesus was somewhere praying. When he finished [praying], one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us [what to say when] we [(exc)] pray, as John [the Baptizer] taught his disciples!”
Ọ nọ nʼotu ebe na-ekpe ekpere, mgbe o kpesịrị ekpere, otu nʼime ndị na-eso ụzọ ya sịrị ya, “Onyenwe anyị, kuziere anyị ikpe ekpere, dị ka Jọn kuziri ndị na-eso ụzọ ya.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say [things like this]: ‘Father, we want you [(sg)] [MTY] to be honored/revered. [We want people to let you(sg)] [MTY, MET] rule over their lives.
Ọ sịrị ha, “Mgbe unu na-ekpe ekpere, sịnụ: “‘Nna, ka e doo aha gị nsọ ka alaeze gị bịa.
3 Give us [(exc)] each day the food [SYN] that we need.
Nye anyị taa nri nke ụbọchị anyị.
4 Forgive us [for] the wrong things that we have done, because we forgive people for the wrong things that they do to us. Do not let us do wrong things when we are tempted {[someone or something] tempts us}.’”
Gbaghara anyị mmehie anyị, nʼihi na anyị na-agbaghara onye ọbụla mehiere megide anyị. Ekwela ka anyị daba nʼime ọnwụnwa.’”
5 Then he said to them, “Suppose that one of you goes to the house of a friend at midnight. Suppose that you [(sg) stand outside and] call out to him, ‘My friend, please lend me three buns!
Ọ sịrị ha, “Onye nʼime unu nwere enyi, ga-agakwuru ya nʼetiti abalị sị ya, ‘Enyi m, biko gbazinye m ogbe achịcha atọ,
6 Another friend of mine who is traveling has just arrived [at my house], but I have no food [ready] to give to him!’
nʼihi na otu enyi m bịara nʼụlọ m, ma enweghị m nri ọbụla nʼụlọ m nke m ga-enye ya.’
7 Suppose that he answers you from inside [his house], ‘Do not bother me! The door has been locked {[We(exc)] have locked the door} and all my family are in bed. [So] I cannot get up and give you [(sg)] anything!’
Ma ọ ga-esi nʼime ụlọ zaghachi sị, ‘Enyela m nsogbu, emechiela m ụzọ, mụ na ụmụ m alakpuola, enweghị m ike ibili ugbu a inye gị ihe ọbụla.’
8 I will tell you that even if he does not [want to] get up and give you [any food], to avoid being ashamed [for not helping you] because you are his friend (OR, if without being ashamed you continue asking him to do that), he certainly will get up and give you whatever you need.
Agwa m unu, ọ bụ ezie na ọ gaghị ebili nye ya ihe ọbụla nʼihi na ọ bụ enyi ya, kama nʼihi nsogbu ya, ọ ga-ebili nye ya ihe ọbụla dị ya mkpa.
9 So I tell you this: Keep asking [God for what you need]. If you do that, [he] will give it to you [(pl)]. Confidently keep expecting [God to give you the things that you need], and [he] will give them to you [MET]. [It will be like] looking for what you need and finding it. Keep on [praying urgently to God. Then God will answer you. It will be like] knocking [on a door] so that [God] will open [the way] for you [to get what you pray for].
“Ya mere, agwa m unu, rịọọnụ, unu ga-arịọta, chọọnụ, unu ga-achọta, kụọkwanụ aka, a ga-emeghekwara unu ụzọ.
10 Remember that [God] will give things to everyone who continues to ask [him for them]. [He] will give things to whoever confidently keeps asking. [He] will open [the way] for people [to get the things that they keep urgently praying for].
Nʼihi na onye na-arịọ na-arịọta, onye na-achọ na-achọta, onye na-akụ aka nʼụzọ ka a ga-emeghekwara ụzọ.
11 If one of you had a son who asked you [(sg)] for a fish [to eat], (you [(sg)] certainly would not give him a [poisonous] snake instead!/would you give him a [poisonous] snake instead?) [RHQ]
“Onye nʼime unu bụ nna, ka nwa ya ga-arịọ ya azụ, o nye ya agwọ?
12 If he asked you for an egg, (you [(sg)] certainly would not give him a scorpion!/would you give him a scorpion?) [RHQ]
Maọbụ rịọọ ya akwa, ọ ga-enye ya akpị?
13 Even though you people are evil, you know how to give good things to your children. So your Father in heaven will certainly [give good things] to those who ask him, [including] giving the Holy Spirit, [who is the best gift].”
Ọ bụrụ na unu bụ ndị ọjọọ, maara otu esi enye ụmụ unu onyinye dị mma, karịa nke a, Nna unu nke bi nʼeluigwe aghaghị inye ha Mmụọ Nsọ bụ ndị niile na-arịọ ya.”
14 [One day there was a man there who, because a demon controlled him] [MTY], was unable to speak. After [Jesus expelled] the demon, the man [began to] talk. [Most of] the people [there] were amazed.
Otu mgbe, ọ na-achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ nke dara ogbi, mgbe mmụọ ọjọọ ahụ pụrụ, onye ogbi ahụ kwuru okwu. Nke a juru igwe mmadụ ahụ anya.
15 But some of them said, “It is Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons, who enables [this man] to expel demons!”
Ma ụfọdụ nʼime ha sịrị, “Ọ bụ site nʼike Belzebub eze ndị mmụọ ọjọọ ka o ji achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ.”
16 Other [people there] asked Jesus to perform a miracle [to prove (he was the Messiah/that he had come] from God) [MTY/EUP]. They wanted to trap him [into not being able to perform a miracle or into doing something ridiculous].
Ndị ọzọ, iji nwalee ya, sị ya gosi ha ihe ịrịbama nke si nʼeluigwe.
17 But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “If [the people in] one nation fight against each other, their nation will be destroyed {[they] will destroy their nation}. If [the people in] [MTY] one house are divided, they will cease to remain as one [family].
Ma ebe ọ bụ na ọ maara ihe ha na-eche, ọ sịrị ha, “Alaeze ọbụla kewaranụ megide ibe ya, ga-atọgbọrọ nʼefu, ezinaụlọ ọbụla nke kewakwara megide ibe ya ga-adakpọ.
18 [Similarly], if Satan [and his demons] were fighting against each other, (his rule over them would [certainly] not last!/how would his rule over them last?) [RHQ] [I say this] because you are saying that I am expelling demons by [the power of] the ruler of [his own demons]
Ọ bụrụ na ekwensu ekewa megide onwe ya, alaeze ya ọ ga-esi aṅaa guzosie ike? Unu na-asị na m na-achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ site nʼike Belzebub.
19 Furthermore, if [it is true that] Satan enables me to expel demons, [is it also true that] your disciples [who] expel demons [do so] by [Satan’s] power [RHQ]? [No, that is not true]. So they will show that you [are not thinking logically].
Ugbu a, ọ bụrụ na m sitere nʼike Belzebub na-achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ, ọ bụ site nʼike onye ka ụmụ unu ji na-achụpụ ha? Ya mere, ha ga-abụ ndị ikpe unu.
20 But because it is by the power [MTY] of God [that I expel demons], I am showing you [that the power of] God to [MET] rule [people’s lives] has come to you.”
Ma ọ bụrụ na m ji ike mkpịsịaka Chineke na-achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ, mgbe ahụ alaeze Chineke abịarutela nʼebe unu nọ.
21 Then, [to show that by expelling evil spirits he was making it clear that he was much more powerful than Satan, Jesus said] [MET], “When a strong man who has many weapons guards his own house, no one can steal the things in his house.
“Mgbe nwoke siri ike ji ngwa agha chekwa obi ya, ihe o nwere ga-adịgidere ya nʼudo.
22 But when someone else who is stronger attacks that man and subdues him, he is able to take away the weapons in which the man trusted. Then he can take from that man’s house anything he [wants to].
Ma ọ bụrụ na onye ọzọ ka ya ike alụso ya ọgụ merie ya, ọ ga-anara ya ngwa agha niile bụ ihe ntụkwasị obi ya, kesakwaa ihe ọ kwatara nʼụlọ dike ahụ.
23 [No one can be neutral]. Those who do not help me [are opposing] me, and those who do not gather [people to become] my [disciples] are causing [those people] to go away [from me].”
“Onye ọbụla na-adịnyeghịrị m na-emegide m. Onye ọ bụlakwa na-adịghị eso m ekpokọta, na-ekposa ekposa.
24 [Then Jesus said this]: “[Sometimes when] an evil spirit leaves someone, it wanders around in desolate areas seeking [someone in whom it can] rest. If it does not find anyone, it says [to itself], ‘I will return to the person in whom I used to live!’
“Mgbe ọbụla mmụọ na-adịghị ọcha sị nʼime mmadụ pụọ, ọ na-ejegharị nʼala kpọrọ nkụ na-achọgharị ebe izuike. Ọ bụrụ na ọ chọtaghị ya, mgbe ahụ, ọ ga-asị, ‘Aga m alaghachi nʼụlọ m hapụrụ.’
25 So it goes back and finds that [the Spirit of God is not in control of that person’s life. The person’s life is like] a house that has been {that someone has} swept clean and everything put {put everything} in order, [but a house that is empty].
Mgbe ọ lọghachiri, ọ ga-achọpụta na a zachaala ya dozie ya nke ọma.
26 Then [this evil spirit] goes and gets seven other spirits that are [even] more evil than it is. They [all] enter [that person] and [begin] living there. [So], [although] that person’s condition [was bad] before, it became much worse.”
Mgbe ahụ, ọ ga-apụ ga chọta mmụọ ọjọọ asaa ọzọ ndị dị njọ karịa ya. Ha niile na-abata biri nʼime onye ahụ, mee ka ọnọdụ ya dị njọ karịa ka ọ dị na mbụ.”
27 When Jesus said that, a woman who was listening called out [to him], “[God is] pleased with the woman who gave birth to you [(sg)] and let you nurse [at her breasts]!”
Mgbe ọ kpụ okwu a nʼọnụ, otu nwanyị sitere nʼime igwe mmadụ ahụ tie mkpu sị, “Ngọzị na-adịrị afọ mụrụ gị na ara nke e jiri zụọ gị.”
28 But he replied, “God [is] much more pleased with those who hear his message and obey it!”
Ma ọ sịrị, kama, “Ngọzị na-adịrị ndị na-anụ okwu Chineke, na-emekwa ha.”
29 When the group of people around [Jesus] got larger, he said, “[Many of] you people who have been observing my ministry are evil. You want [me to perform] a miracle [to prove that I have come from God], but the only miracle that [I] will perform for you is one [like happened to] Jonah.
Dị ka igwe mmadụ ahụ na-amụba, o bidoro na-ekwu sị, “Ọgbọ a bụ ọgbọ ọjọọ. Ọ na-achọ ihe ịrịbama ma ọ dịghị ihe ịrịbama a ga-ezi ya karịa ihe ịrịbama Jona.
30 [After Jonah was inside a huge fish for three days, God performed] a miracle [to restore] Jonah. [Jonah then went and testified about that] to the people in Nineveh [city. God will perform] a similar miracle [for me], the one who came from heaven. [When you people have seen that miracle, you will believe my message].
Nʼihi na dị ka Jona si bụrụ ihe ịrịbama nye ndị Ninive, otu a ka Nwa nke Mmadụ ga-esi bụrụkwa ihe ama nye ọgbọ a.
31 [Long ago the] queen from [Sheba], [far] south [of Israel, traveled a long distance to hear Solomon speak many] wise things. But now [I, a man] who [is much] greater [and wiser] than Solomon, am here, [but you have not listened to what I have told you]. Therefore, at the time when [God] judges [all people], the queen from [Sheba] will stand there, [along] with you people, and will condemn you.
Nʼụbọchị ahụ, eze nwanyị ndị ndịda ga-ebili soro ndị ọgbọ a guzo nʼikpe, maa ha ikpe, nʼihi na o sitere na nsọtụ nke ụwa bịa nụrụ okwu amamihe Solomọn, ma lee, onye karịrị Solomọn nọ nʼebe a.
32 The people who lived in Nineveh [city] turned from their sinful ways when Jonah preached to them. But now I, who am greater than Jonah, have come [and preached to you], [but you have not turned from your sinful ways]. Therefore, at the time when God judges [all people], the people who lived in Nineveh will stand there with you and condemn you.”
Ndị ikom Ninive ga-eso ọgbọ a bilie nʼụbọchị ikpe maa ya ikpe, nʼihi na ha chegharịrị mgbe ha nụrụ nkwusa Jona, ma lee, onye karịrị Jona ukwuu nọ nʼebe a.”
33 [Then, to show them that they did not need more miracles, but that they needed only to understand better what he had already told them, he said to them] [MET], “People who light a lamp do not then hide it, or put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so that those who enter [their house] can see [things from] its light. [Similarly, I have not concealed God’s truth. I have revealed it to you].
“Ọ dịghị onye na-amụnye oriọna dọnye ya nʼebe zoro ezo maọbụ nʼokpuru efere, kama, ọ na-adọkwasị ya nʼelu ihe ịdọba ọkụ ka ndị na-abata nʼụlọ ahụ jiri ya hụ ụzọ.
34 Your eyes [MET] are like a lamp for your body, because they enable you to see things. If your eyes are healthy, you are able to see everything well [MET]. [Similarly, if you(sg) accept my teaching, you will be able to know all that God wants you to know]. But if your eyes are bad, you are not able to see anything. It is like being in darkness [MET]. [And similarly, if you(pl) do not accept what I teach, you will not be able to know all the things that God wants you to know].
Anya bụ oriọna nke anụ ahụ. Ọ bụrụ na anya gị dị mma, ahụ gị niile ga-ejupụta nʼìhè. Ọ bụrụkwanụ na anya gị dị njọ, ị ga-anọ nʼọchịchịrị.
35 Therefore, [you(pl) do not need to see more miracles. You need to think carefully about what I have already] told you, so that the things that you have heard from others do not cause you to remain in spiritual darkness [MET].
Ya mere, lezie anya ka ị mara ka ìhè dị nʼime gị, ọ bụghị ọchịchịrị.
36 If you [live completely according to God’s truth, you will be able to know everything that God wants you to know. It will be like] being in a room with a lamp shining brightly, enabling you to see everything clearly.”
Nʼihi nke a, ọ bụrụ na ahụ gị niile ejupụta nʼìhè, ọ bụrụkwa na akụkụ ọbụla agbaghị ọchịchịrị, mgbe ahụ, ahụ gị niile ga-ejupụta nʼìhè dị ka mgbe ìhè oriọna na-achakwasị gị nʼahụ.”
37 While Jesus finished saying those things, a Pharisee invited him to eat a meal with him. So Jesus went to [his house] and ate with him.
Mgbe ọ na-ekwu okwu, otu onye Farisii kpọrọ ya ka ọ bịa soro ya rie nri. Ọ banyere nọrọ nʼoche nri.
38 The Pharisee was surprised when he saw that Jesus did not follow the Pharisees’ ritual by washing his hands before eating. [The Pharisees washed their hands in a certain way to be cleansed from anything that might have contaminated them. They were afraid that God might reject them if they] had [touched something unacceptable to God].
O juru onye Farisii ahụ anya na mgbe ọ bidoro iri nri ọ kwọghị aka ya tupu ya ebido.
39 The Lord [Jesus] said to him, “You Pharisees are [concerned about things that are outside your bodies, not with what is in your] ([inner beings/hearts]) [MET]. You wash the outside of cups and dishes [before you eat because you think that doing that will make you acceptable to God], but within yourselves you are very greedy and wicked.
Ma Onyenwe anyị sịrị ya, “Unu ndị Farisii na-asacha azụ iko mmiri na efere, mee ka ọ dị ọcha, ma ime unu jupụtara nʼanya ukwu na nʼihe ọjọọ dị iche iche.
40 You foolish people! [God] is concerned about things that are outside [our bodies], but (he is certainly also concerned about our inner [beings]!/isn’t he also concerned about our hearts?) [RHQ]
Ndị nzuzu! Ọ bụ na ọ bụghị onye ahụ mere azụ iko mekwara ime ya?
41 Give [money] to those who are poor. [Give according to what you know within] your (inner [/heart]) [that you should give]. Then you [will be surprised to realize that] you will be acceptable [to God without having to perform all those rituals about washing].
Kama werenụ ihe ndị ahụ dị nʼime rụọ ọrụ ebere, ihe niile ga-adịkwara unu ọcha.
42 But there will be terrible punishment for you Pharisees! You give to God a tenth of [all you produce, even] the various herbs that you grow, but you do not [remember that you must act] justly [toward others] and love God! It is good to [give a tenth of your income to God], but you ought to do these other things also!
“Ahụhụ ga-adịrị unu ndị Farisii, nʼihi na unu na-enye otu ụzọ nʼụzọ iri nʼihi mint, na mkpa akwụkwọ na-esi isi ụtọna mkpa akwụkwọ niile dị iche iche nke ubi, ma leghara ikpe ziri ezi na ịhụnanya nke Chineke anya. Ihe niile ndị a ka unu kwesiri ime nʼelegharaghị ihe ndị ọzọ anya.
43 There will be terrible punishment for you Pharisees, because you like [to sit in] the best seats in our worship places [so that people will think highly of you], and you like people to greet you [respectfully] in the marketplaces.
“Ahụhụ ga-adịrị unu ndị Farisii! Nʼihi na unu na-ahụ ịnọ nʼisi oche niile nʼụlọ ekpere na ekele pụrụ iche a na-ekele unu nʼọma ahịa nʼanya.
44 There will be terrible punishment for you, because you are like ground where there is no marker [to indicate that there is a] grave [underneath]. People walk there, but they cannot see [what is rotten down below] [MET]! [Similarly, people who see you do not realize how polluted you are within yourselves].”
“Ahụhụ ga-adịrị unu, nʼihi na unu dị ka ili na-apụtaghị ihe, nke ndị mmadụ na-agafe nʼelu ha nʼihi na ha amaghị na ọ bụ ili.”
45 One of those who taught the [Jewish] laws replied, “Teacher, by saying this you [(sg)] are criticizing us [also]!”
Nʼotu oge, otu onye ozizi iwu sịrị ya, “Onye ozizi, mgbe ị na-ekwu ihe ndị a, anyị sokwa na ndị ị na-akọcha.”
46 Jesus said, “It will be terrible also for you who teach the [Jewish] laws! You require people [to obey many rules that are difficult to obey] [MET]. [That is like making them] carry heavy burdens on their backs. But you yourselves do not obey the laws [that you require others to obey]. (OR, you do not do anything to help [others to obey the laws].)
Ma ọ sịrị, “Ahụhụ ga-adịrị unu bụ ndị ozizi iwu. Nʼihi na unu na-ebo ndị mmadụ ibu ha na-enweghị ike ibuli, ma unu onwe unu adịghị eweli ọ bụladị otu mkpịsịaka unu, ịmetụ ibu ahụ aka.
47 There will be terrible punishment for you! You decorate the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed, [but you do not live according to what the prophets taught].
“Ahụhụ ga-adịrị unu nʼihi na unu na-ewu ili ndị amụma bụ ndị nna nna unu ha gburu.
48 So you are declaring that you approve of what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you [are not honoring the prophets! You just] decorate their tombs!
Ya mere, unu bụ ndị akaebe ma kwenyekwa nʼihe ndị nna nna unu ha mere, nʼihi ha gburu ha, ma unu e wuo ili ha.
49 So God, who is very wise [PRS], said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles [to you Jews]. [You] will kill some of them and cause some of them to suffer greatly.
Ọ bụ nʼihi nke a ka Chineke nʼamamihe ya ji kwuo sị, Aga m ezigara ha ndị amụma na ndị ozi, ụfọdụ ka ha ga-egbu ma ndị ọzọkwa ka ha ga-akpagbu.
50 [As a result, I] will consider that many of you people [who have observed my Son’s ministry] will be guilty [MTY] [of murder, as if you had] killed all the prophets that other people have killed, from the time I created the world,
Nʼihi nke a, ọgbọ a ga-aza ajụjụ banyere ọbara ndị amụma niile a wufuru, site na mmalite nke ụwa,
51 starting from [Adam’s son Cain] killing [his brother] Abel and continuing until they killed the prophet Zechariah [in the holy place] between the altar and the temple.’ Yes, what I am saying [is true] [MTY]. [God] will punish you people who have observed my ministry, you people whom [he] considers to be guilty [MTY] for [killing] all those prophets!
site nʼọbara Ebel ruo na nke Zekaraya, onye e gburu nʼetiti ebe ịchụ aja na ebe nsọ. E, agwa m unu, a ga-ajụ ihe banyere ha nʼaka ọgbọ a.
52 There will be terrible punishment for you men who teach the [Jewish] laws, because you have [not let people] know [God’s truth] [MET]! [It is as though you are] taking away a key [to a house]. You are not going into [the house] yourselves, and you are not letting other people enter it, either.”
“Ahụhụ ga-adịrị unu bụ ndị ozizi iwu, nʼihi na unu wepụrụ ọtụghe igodo nke amamihe. Unu onwe unu abanyeghị, ma unu gbochikwara ndị na-abata ịbata.”
53 After Jesus finished saying those things, he left there. Then the men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the Pharisees began to act in a very hostile way toward him. They tried to make him say what he thought about many things.
Mgbe o si nʼebe ahụ pụọ, ndị ode akwụkwọ na ndị Farisii bidoro isogbu ya, na ịkpasu ya ikwu ọtụtụ okwu,
54 They kept waiting for him to say something [wrong] for which they could accuse him.
na-esiri ya ọnya, ka ha mara ma ọ ga-ekwuhie ọnụ, ka ha hụ ihe ha ga-eji jide ya.
