Luke 3
1 When the Emperor Tiberius had been ruling [the Roman Empire] for 15 years, and while Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea [district], and Herod [Antipas] was ruling Galilee [district], and his brother Philip was ruling Iturea and Trachonitis [districts], and Lysanius was ruling Abilene [district],
Le Kaisaro Tibero ƒe fiaɖuɖu ƒe ƒe wuiatɔ̃lia me, esi Pontio Pilato nye mɔmefia le Yudea eye Herod nye dziɖula le Galilea, eye nɔvia Filipo hã nye dziɖula le Iturea kple Trakonitis, eye Lisania hã nɔ Abilene dzi ɖum,
2 and while Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests [in Jerusalem], God gave messages to Zechariah’s son John while he was living in the desolate region.
esime Anas kple Kayafa wonye nunɔlagãwo la, Mawu ƒe nya va na Yohanes, ame si nye Zekaria ƒe vi la le gbedzi.
3 [So] John went all over the area close to the Jordan [River]. He kept telling people, “If you want [God] to forgive you for your sins, you must (repent/turn away from your sinful behavior) [before you ask me] to baptize [you]!”
Yohanes nɔ tsatsam tso teƒe yi teƒe le Yɔdan tɔsisi la ƒe go eveawo dzi, nɔ mawunya gblɔm be amewo nede tsi ta; ne wòafia be wotrɔ dzi me, ale be wòatsɔ woƒe nu vɔ̃wo ake wo.
4 John was the one who [fulfilled] these words that had [been written] by the prophet Isaiah {that the prophet Isaiah had written} on a scroll [long ago]: In a desolate area, someone [SYN] will be heard shouting [to the people who pass by], “Prepare yourselves [to receive] the Lord when he comes! [Make yourselves ready so that you will be prepared when he comes], [just like people] straighten out the road [MET] [for an important official] [MET, DOU]!
Abe ale si woŋlɔe le Nyagblɔɖila Yesaya ƒe nyagblɔɖigbalẽ me ene be, “Ame si le ɣli dom tso gbea dzi ƒe gbee nye esi, ‘Miɖe mɔ na Yehowa be wòazɔ edzi! Miwɔ eƒe mɔwo dzɔdzɔe.
5 [Just like people] level off all the places where the land rises and [just like they] fill all the ravines, and [just like people] make the road straight wherever it is crooked, and [just like people] make smooth the bumps in the road, [similarly you need to remove all the obstacles which prevent God from blessing you]!
Balimewo katã akɔ kpo, eye woabɔbɔ to kple togbɛ ɖe sia ɖe ɖe anyi. Mixe ʋe siwo le baliwo me! Miwɔ mɔ gɔglɔ̃wo woadzɔ! Miwɔ mɔ tsakliwo zɔzrɔ̃e.
6 Then people [SYN] everywhere will understand how God can save [MTY] [people].”
Ekema amegbetɔƒomea katã akpɔ ɖeɖe si Mawu ɖo ɖa la.’”
7 Although large groups of people came to John to be baptized {in order that he would baptize them}, [he knew that many of them were not sincere]. So he kept saying to them, “You [people are evil] [MET] [like] poisonous snakes! [I] warn you that [God] will some day punish [MTY] [everyone] who sins. And (do not think that you can escape [from his punishing] [MTY] [you if you do not turn from your sinful behavior!/did someone tell you] that you can escape [from his punishing] [MTY] [you if you do not turn from your sinful behavior]?) [RHQ] (OR, Who told you that you could escape [God’s punishment?])
Yohanes gblɔ mawunya na ame siwo vaa egbɔ be wòade mawutsi ta na yewo be, “Ame kae xlɔ̃ nu mi dawo ƒe dzidzimeviwo be miasi le Mawu ƒe dɔmedzoe si gbɔna la nu?
8 Do what is appropriate for people who have truly turned from their sinful behavior! [God promised to give Abraham many] descendants. In order to fulfill that promise, God does not need you! I tell you that he can change these stones to make them descendants of Abraham! So do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We [(exc)] are descendants of Abraham, [so God will not punish us, even though we have] sinned!’
Gbã la, miyi ne miaɖee fia be yewotrɔ dzi me to agbe nyui nɔnɔ me. Migabu be nya vɔ̃ aɖeke madzɔ ɖe mia dzi, elabena mienye Abraham ƒe dzidzimeviwo ta o. Esia ɖeɖe menye naneke o, elabena Mawu ate ŋu ana kpe siawo natrɔ zu viwo na Abraham.
9 [God is ready to punish you if you do not turn away from your sinful behavior, just like a man] [MET] lays his axe at the roots [of a fruit] tree [to chop it down and throw it into the fire if it does not produce good fruit] [MET].”
Woɖo ʋɔnudɔdrɔ̃ ƒe fiá atiwo ƒe kewo dzi. Ɛ̃, le nyateƒe me la, ati sia ati si metse ku nyui o la, woalãe ƒu anyi, eye woatsɔe ade dzo me.”
10 [Then] various ones in the crowd asked John, “What shall we [(exc)] do [to escape God punishing us] (OR), [to show that we have repented]?”
Ameha la ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Nu ka nèdi tso mía si be míawɔ?”
11 He answered them, “If any of you has two shirts, you should give one of them to someone who has no shirt. If any of you has [plenty of] food, you should give some to those who have no food.”
Yohanes ɖo eŋu na wo be, “Ne awu eve le ame aɖe si la, nena ame si ɖeke mele esi o, eye ame si si nuɖuɖu le la newɔ nenema ke.”
12 [Some] tax collectors came [and asked] to be baptized ([asked him] to baptize them}. They asked him, “Teacher, what shall we [(exc)] do [to please God]?”
Dugadzɔla siwo nye amebala vɔ̃ɖiwo la gɔ̃ hã va do ɖe egbɔ be wòade mawutsi ta na yewo. Wobiae be, “Nufiala nu ka míawɔ?”
13 He said to them, “Do not take from the people any more money than [the Roman government] tells you to take!”
Yohanes ɖo eŋu na wo be, “Mito nyateƒe le miaƒe dugadzɔdzɔ me. Mikpɔ nyuie be miagadzɔ ga le ame aɖeke si wu ale si woɖo na mi la o.”
14 Some soldiers asked him, “What about us? What should we [(exc)] do [to please God]?” He said to them, “Do not [say to anyone], ‘[If you(sg) do not give me] some money, I will hurt you,’ and do not take [people to court and] falsely accuse them of doing something wrong! And be content with your wages.”
Asrafo aɖewo siwo le afi ma la biae be, “Míawo ya ɖe aleke míawɔ?” Yohanes ɖo eŋu na wo be, “Migaxɔ ga le amewo si akpasesẽtɔe o. Ne mienya be ame aɖe mewɔ nane o la, migahe nya ɖe eŋu alakpatɔe o. Fetu si miexɔna la hã nedze mia ŋu!”
15 People were expecting [that the Messiah would come soon]. Because of that, many of them wondered about John. [Some of them asked him] if he was the Messiah.
Ame sia ame kloe nɔ mɔ kpɔm be ava kpuie le ŋkeke mawo me, ale be wotsi dzi vevie be yewoanya nenye be Yohanes ye nye Kristo loo alo menye eyae o?
16 John replied to them all, “No, [I am not]. I used [only] water when I baptized you. But [the Messiah] will soon come! He is far greater than I am. [He is so great that] I am not worthy to [be like his slave and] untie his sandals [MET] [like] a slave would do! He will put [his] Holy Spirit within [MTY] you [to truly change your lives], and [he will judge others of you and punish you in] the fire [MET] [in hell]. (questioned)
Yohanes ɖo woƒe biabia la ŋu hegblɔ na wo be, “Nye la, tsi metsɔ le tsi dem ta na amewoe, gake ame aɖe gbɔna kpuie, ame si si ŋusẽ le wum boo, ame si nyemedze ŋutɔ gɔ̃ hã be matu eƒe atokotawo nu ka o. Eya ade mawutsi ta na mi kple dzo kple Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe.
17 He [is like a man] [MET] [who wants to] clear away the grain on the ground where it has been threshed {they have threshed it}. That man [uses] a huge fork [to throw the grain into the air] to separate the wheat from the chaff [MET], and then he cleans up the threshing area. [Similarly, God] will [separate righteous people from the evil people, like a man who] gathers the wheat into his storage area, and then he will burn [those who are like] chaff with a fire (that will never be put out/that will burn forever).”
Ame si si lugbɔnu le, be wòatsɔ akplɔ eƒe lugbɔƒe ƒiaƒiaƒia, alɔ lu la ɖe eƒe ava me. Ke atɔ dzo tsroa kple dzo matsimatsi.”
18 John kept telling people many things to urge them [to turn to God], as he told them the good message [from God].
Yohanes xlɔ̃ nu amewo vevie kple nya siawo esime wònɔ nyanyui la gblɔm na wo.
19 He also rebuked [the ruler of the district], Herod [Antipas. He rebuked him] for [marrying] Herodias, his brother’s wife, [while his brother was still alive], and for doing many other evil things.
Yohanes he nya ɖe Herod si nye dziɖula nɔ Galilea ŋu le dutoƒe, elabena exɔ nɔvia srɔ̃ Herodia ɖe. Hekpe ɖe nu vɔ̃ bubu geɖe siwo hã wòwɔ ŋu la,
20 But Herod [had his soldiers] put John in prison. That was another evil thing he did.
Herod lé Yohanes hã de gaxɔ me.
21 [But before John was put in prison], when many people were being baptized {when he was baptizing many people}, after Jesus was baptized {he baptized Jesus} and Jesus was praying, the sky opened.
Gbe ɖeka la, Yesu ŋutɔ hã va ge ɖe ame siwo Yohanes nɔ mawutsi dem ta na la dome. Yohanes de mawutsi ta nɛ, eye esi Yesu nɔ gbe dom ɖa la, dziƒowo nu ʋu,
22 Then the Holy Spirit, resembling a dove, descended upon [Jesus]. And [God] [SYN/EUP] spoke to Jesus from heaven, saying, “You [(sg)] are my Son, whom I love dearly. I am very pleased with you!”
eye Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ɖiɖi ɖe edzi le akpakpa ƒe nɔnɔme me, eye gbe aɖe ɖi tso dziƒo be, “Wòe nye vinye si gbɔ nyemelɔ̃a nu le o, wò me mekpɔa ŋudzedze le.”
23 When Jesus began [his work for God], he was about 30 years old. It was {[People]} thought that he was [the son of] Joseph. [Joseph was the son] of Heli.
Yesu xɔ abe ƒe blaetɔ̃ ene hafi dze mawunyagbɔgblɔ gɔme le dutoƒo. Amewo nya Yesu abe Yosef ƒe vi ene. Yosef fofoe nye Heli,
24 [Heli was the son] of Matthat. [Matthat was the son] of Levi. [Levi was the son] of Melchi. [Melchi was the son] of Jannai. [Jannai was the son] of Joseph.
Heli fofoe nye Matat, Matat fofoe nye Levi, Levi fofoe nye Melki, Melki fofoe nye Yanai, Yanai fofoe nye Yosef,
25 [Joseph was the son] of Mattathias. [Mattathias was the son] of Amos. [Amos was the son] of Nahum. [Nahum was the son] of Esli. [Esli was the son] of Naggai.
Yosef fofoe nye Matatias, Matatias fofoe nye Amos, Amos fofoe nye Nahum, Nahum fofoe nye Esli, Esli fofoe nye Nagai,
26 [Naggai was the son] of Maath. [Maath was the son] of Mattathias. [Mattathias was the son] of Semein. [Semein was the son] of Josech. [Josech was the son] of Joda.
Nagai fofoe nye Mat, Mat fofoe nye Matatias, Matatias fofoe nye Semein, Semein fofoe nye Yosek, Yosek fofoe nye Yoda, Yoda fofoe nye Yoana.
27 [Joda was the son] of Joanan. [Joanan was the son] of Rhesa. [Rhesa was the son] of Zerubbabel. [Zerubbabel was the son] of Shealtiel. [Shealtiel was the son] of Neri.
Yoana fofoe nye Resa, Resa fofoe nye Zerubabel, Zerubabel fofoe nye Sealtiel, Sealtiel fofoe nye Neri.
28 [Neri was the son] of Melchi. [Melchi was the son] of Addi. [Addi was the son] of Cosam. [Cosam was the son] of Elmadam. [Elmadam was the son] of Er.
Neri fofoe nye Melki, Melki fofoe nye Adi, Adi fofoe nye Kosam, Kosam fofoe nye Elmadam, Elmadam fofoe nye Er,
29 [Er was the son] of Joshua. [Joshua was the son] of Eliezer. [Eliezer was the son] of Jorim. [Jorim was the son] of Matthat. [Matthat was the son] of Levi.
Er fofoe nye Yosua, Yosua fofoe nye Elieza, Elieza fofoe nye Yorim, Yorim fofoe nye Matat, Matat fofoe nye Levi,
30 [Levi was the son] of Simeon. [Simeon was the son] of Judah. [Judah was the son] of Joseph. [Joseph was the son] of Jonam. [Jonam was the son] of Eliakim.
Levi fofoe nye Simeon, Simeon fofoe nye Yuda, Yuda fofoe nye Yosef, Yosef fofoe nye Yonam, Yonam fofoe nye Eliakim,
31 [Eliakim was the son] of Melea. [Melea was the son] of Menna. [Menna was the son] of Mattatha. [Mattatha was the son] of Nathan. [Nathan was the son] of David.
Eliakim fofoe nye Melea, Melea fofoe nye Mena, Mena fofoe nye Matata, Matata fofoe nye Natan, Natan fofoe nye David,
32 [David was the son] of Jesse. [Jesse was the son] of Obed. [Obed was the son] of Boaz. [Boaz was the son] of Sala. [Sala was the son] of Nahshon.
David fofoe nye Yese, Yese fofoe nye Obed, Obed fofoe nye Boaz, Boaz fofoe nye Salmon, Salmon fofoe nye Naheson,
33 [Nahshon was the son] of Amminadab. [Amminadab was the son] of Admin. [Admin was the son] of Arni. [Arni was the son] of Hezron. [Hezron was the son] of Perez. [Perez was the son] of Judah.
Naheson fofoe nye Aminadab, Aminadab fofoe nye Ram, Ram fofoe nye Arni, Arni fofoe nye Hezron, Hezron fofoe nye Perez. Perez fofoe nye Yuda,
34 [Judah was the son] of Jacob. [Jacob was the son] of Isaac. [Isaac was the son] of Abraham. [Abraham was the son] of Terah. [Terah was the son] of Nahor.
Yuda fofoe nye Yakob, Yakob fofoe nye Isak, Isak fofoe nye Abraham, Abraham fofoe Tera, Tera fofoe nye Nahɔ,
35 [Nahor was the son] of Serug. [Serug was the son] of Reu. [Reu was the son] of Peleg. [Peleg was the son] of Eber. [Eber was the son] of Shelah.
Nahɔ fofoe nye Serug, Serug fofoe nye Reu, Reu fofoe nye Peleg, Peleg fofoe nye Eber, Eber fofoe nye Sela,
36 [Shelah was the son] of Cainan. [Cainan was the son] of Arphaxad. [Arphaxad was the son] of Shem. [Shem was the son] of Noah. [Noah was the son] of Lamech.
Sela fofoe nye Kainan, Kainan fofoe nye Arfaxad, Arfaxad fofoe nye Sem, Sem fofoe nye Noa, Noa fofoe nye Lamek,
37 [Lamech was the son] of Methuselah. [Methuselah was the son] of Enoch. [Enoch was the son] of Jared. [Jared was the son] of Mahalalel. [Mahalalel was the son] of Cainan.
Lamek fofoe nye Metusela, Metusela fofoe nye Enɔk, Enɔk fofoe nye Yared, Yared fofoe nye Mahalalel, Mahalalel fofoe nye Kenan,
38 [Cainan was the son] of Enos. [Enos was the son] of Seth. [Seth was the son] of Adam. [Adam was the man] God created.
Kenan fofoe nye Enos, Enos fofoe nye Set, Set fofoe nye Adam, Adam fofoe nye Mawu.
