Matthew 12
1 During that period of time, on a (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest), Jesus [and we] disciples were walking through some grain fields. And because we were hungry, we began to pick some of the heads of grain and eat them. [The laws of Moses permitted people to do that if they were hungry].
Nʼoge ahụ, Jisọs sitere nʼubi a kụrụ ọka na-agafe nʼụbọchị izuike. Ma ebe agụụ na-agụ ndị na-eso ụzọ ya, ha malitere ịghọ ogbe ọka, na ịta mkpụrụ ya.
2 Some Pharisees saw us [do what they considered to be work]. So they said to Jesus, [accusing him], “Look! Your disciples are doing [work] that is not permitted [in our] laws [PRS] [for us] to do on our day of rest!”
Mgbe ndị Farisii hụrụ nke a, ha sịrị ya, “Lee, ndị na-eso ụzọ gị na-eme ihe na-ezighị ezi ime nʼụbọchị izuike!”
3 [Jesus wanted to show them that the record in the Scriptures indicated that God permitted people to disobey certain religious laws when they needed food]. [So] he said to them, “[It is written] {[Someone wrote]} [in the Scriptures] [RHQ] what [our revered ancestor King] David did when he and the men with him were hungry. You have read about that, ([but you do not think about what it implies!/so why do you not think about what it implies]?) [RHQ]
Ma ọ zara ha sị, “Ọ bụ na unu agụtaghị ihe Devid na ndị ya na ha soo mere mgbe agụụ na-agụ ha?
4 David entered the big tent [where they worshipped] God [and asked for some food. The high priest gave him] the bread that had been {they had} presented [to God]. According to the laws [of Moses], only priests were permitted to eat that bread, but David and the men who were with him ate it. And [God did not consider that what they did was wrong]
Otu o si banye nʼụlọ Chineke, ya na ndị so ya, rie achịcha a na-eche nʼihu Chineke, nke na-ezighị ezi nʼiwu ka ha rie, kama ọ dịịrị naanị ndị nchụaja iri ya.
5 Also, think about the laws that [Moses wrote] [RHQ]. He said that [even though] the priests, [by working] in the Temple on our Jewish day of rest, are not obeying the Jewish day of rest [laws], they are not guilty. You have surely read that, [but you do not understand what it means].
Ka ọ bụ na unu agụtabeghị ebe e dere ya nʼime akwụkwọ iwu Mosis na ndị nchụaja na-emerụ ụbọchị izuike nʼụlọnsọ ukwu ahụ, ma ọ dịghị onye na-ata ha ụta?
6 Note this: [God allows men to work in] the Temple [on our rest day because that work must be done. But in addition, I] tell you that [I have] more [authority than the authority of] the Temple. So, it is more important for you to obey my teachings than to obey your traditions about our rest day.
Ma ana m agwa unu na onye dị ukwuu karịa ụlọnsọ ukwu nọ nʼebe a.
7 [You should think about] these words [of God in the Scriptures]: ‘I want you to [act] mercifully toward people, and not [just] offer sacrifices.’ If you understood what that means, you would not condemn [my disciples], who have done no wrong.
Ọ bụrụ na unu ghọtara ihe akwụkwọ nsọ na-ekwu mgbe ọ na-asị, ‘Ana m achọ ebere, ọ bụghị aja.’Unu agaraghị ama ndị ikpe na-amaghị ikpe.
8 [And I want you to know that] I, the one who came from heaven, have [the] authority [to determine what is right for my disciples to do on] the days of rest.”
Nʼihi na Nwa nke Mmadụ bụ Onyenwe ụbọchị izuike.”
9 After Jesus left there [that day], he went into a building where we Jews worship God.
O sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ banye nʼụlọ nzukọ ha.
10 [He saw] a man with a shriveled hand there. [The Pharisees thought that Jesus would be disobeying the tradition about not working on the day of rest if he healed the man, so one of] them asked him, “Does [God] permit [us] to heal [people] on our day of rest?” [They asked that question] so that they might accuse him [if he healed someone] (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day).
Nʼebe a ka ọ hụrụ otu nwoke aka ya kpọnwụrụ akpọnwụ. Ndị nọ nʼebe ahụ jụrụ ya ajụjụ sị, “O ziri ezi nʼiwu ịgwọ mmadụ nʼụbọchị izuike?”
11 He replied to them, “Would anyone among you who has [only] one sheep that falls into a hole (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day) [just leave it there] [RHQ]? [Certainly not]! You would take hold of it and lift it out right away, [and that would be acceptable work on our day of rest, too]
Ma ọ zara ha sị, “Ọ bụrụ na otu onye nʼime unu nwere otu atụrụ danyere nʼime olulu nʼụbọchị izuike gịnị ka ọ ga-eme? Ọ ga-ahapụ ya nʼebe ahụ? Ọ gaghị ejide ya dọpụta ya?
12 [Because] sheep are valuable, [their owners may work on our day of rest in order to rescue them. So, because] people are more valuable than sheep, it is certainly right for us to do something good [by healing another person any day, including] our day of rest!”
Mmadụ ọ dịghị mkpa karịa atụrụ? Ya mere, o ziri ezi nʼiwu bụ ịrụ ọrụ ọma nʼụbọchị izuike.”
13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your [withered] hand!” The man stretched it out, and it became normal like the other hand!
Mgbe ahụ ọ sịrị nwoke ahụ, “Setịpụ aka gị.” Nwoke ahụ setịpụrụ aka ya. Aka ahụ dịkwara ya mma dị ka aka nke ọzọ.
14 Then the Pharisees left [the meeting house. They were worried that the people would reject their traditions and would accept Jesus’ teaching instead. So] they met together to plan how they could kill him.
Nʼihi nke a ndị Farisii sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ, ga gbaa izu otu ha ga-esi gbuo ya.
15 Because Jesus knew [that the Pharisees were plotting to kill him], he [took us disciples and] went away from there. Crowds, [including many sick people], followed him, [wanting him to heal them], and he healed them all.
Ma ebe Jisọs maara ihe ha na-ezube ime, o sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ. Ma ọtụtụ ndị mmadụ sooro ya. Ọ gwọkwara ha nrịa nrịa ha niile.
16 But he told them firmly that they should not tell [other people yet] who he was.
Ma o nyere ha iwu ka ha hapụ ịgwa ndị ọzọ onye ọ bụ.
17 [By acting humbly like that] he fulfilled what was written by Isaiah the prophet {what Isaiah the prophet wrote} [long ago about the Messiah]. [Isaiah wrote] that God said:
Nke a bụ ka emezuo okwu ahụ Aịzaya onye amụma kwuru,
18 Take note of my servant whom I have chosen, the one whom I love and with whom I am pleased. I will put my Spirit in him, and he will proclaim that [God] will judge the non-Jews justly.
“Onye a bụ onye na-ejere m ozi, onye m họpụtara. Onye m hụkwara nʼanya. O bụkwa onye ihe ya na-atọ m ụtọ. Aga m etinye Mmụọ m nʼime ya. Ọ ga-eme ka ikpe ziri ezi rute mba niile aka.
19 He will not quarrel [with people], neither will he shout. He will not [teach with] a loud voice in the [main] streets.
Ọ gaghị ese okwu, ọ gaghị etisikwa mkpu ike. O nweghị onye ga-anụ olu okwu ya nʼezi.
20 Until he has justly judged [the people who trust in him and] has declared them not guilty, he will not destroy [anyone who is weak like] a smashed stalk [MET], nor will he silence [anyone who is as helpless as] a smoldering [linen] wick [MET, DOU].
Ọ gaghị agbaji ahịhịa riidi azọpịara nʼala, maọbụ menyụọ ogho oriọna na-enwu ntakịrị ntakịrị, tutu ruo mgbe ọ ga-eme ka ikpe ziri ezi merie.
21 As a result, the non-Jews will confidently expect [that he will do great things for them].
Ọ bụkwa nʼaha ya ka mba niile dị nʼụwa ga-atụkwasị olileanya ha.”
22 One day when Jesus was at home, [some men] brought to [Jesus] a man [who, because of being] controlled by a demon {a demon controlled him}, was blind and unable to speak. [Jesus] healed him [by expelling the demon]. As a result, the man [began to] talk and [was able to] see.
Emesịa, ha kpọtaara ya otu nwoke kpuru ìsì ma daakwa ogbi. Ọ bụkwa onye mmụọ ọjọọ na-esogbu. Ọ gwọrọ ya, mee ka nwoke ahụ hụ ụzọ, bidokwa ikwu okwu.
23 All the crowd [who saw it] marveled. They began asking [each other], “Could this man be the [Messiah, the] descendant of [King] David, [whom we have been expecting]?”
Ihe a juru igwe mmadụ nọ nʼebe ahụ anya. Nʼihi ya, ha kwuru sị, “Nwoke a, ọ ga-abụ Nwa Devid?”
24 Because the Pharisees [and the men who taught the Jewish laws] heard [that the people thought that Jesus might be the Messiah because he had expelled the demon], they said, “[It is not God, but] Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons, who enables [this man] to expel demons [from people!]”
Mgbe ndị Farisii nụrụ nke a, ha sịrị, “Nwoke a chụpụrụ mmụọ ọjọọ a nʼihi na Belzebub, eze ndị mmụọ ọjọọ, nyere ya ike ịchụpụ ya.”
25 But Jesus knew what [the Pharisees] were thinking [and saying]. So, [in order to show them that what they said did not make sense], he said to them, “If [the people in] [MTY] one nation fight against each other, [they] will destroy their nation {their nation will be destroyed}. If [people who live in] the same city or house fight each other, they will certainly not remain [as one group or family].
Ma ebe ọ matara ihe ha na-eche nʼobi ha. Ọ gwara ha okwu sị, “Alaeze ọbụla kewara megide onwe ya ga-ada. Obodo o bụla maọbụ ezinaụlọ ọbụla kewara megide onwe ya agaghị eguzo.
26 [Similarly], if Satan were expelling his own [demons] [MTY], [it would be as though] he was fighting against himself. (His kingdom would not continue!/How could his kingdom continue?) [RHQ] His rule over them would [certainly] not last!
Ọ bụrụ na ekwensu achụpụ ekwensu, o kewala megide onwe ya. Oleekwanụ otu alaeze ya ga-esi guzo.
27 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] So they will show you that you [are not thinking logically].
Dị ka unu kwuru, ọ bụrụ na m na-achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ site nʼike Belzebub, ọ bụ nʼike onye ka ụmụ unu ndị ikom na-achụpụ ha? Ya mere, ọ bụ ụmụ unu ga-ekpe unu ikpe nʼihi okwu a unu kwuru.
28 But because it is God’s Spirit who [enables] me to expel demons, [that proves that the power of] God to rule [people’s lives] has come to you.
Ma ọ bụrụ na m na-esite nʼike Mmụọ nke Chineke na-achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ, matakwanụ na alaeze Chineke abịala nʼetiti unu.
29 [I will illustrate why I am able to expel demons]. (A person cannot go into the house of a strong man) [RHQ] [But if he ties up the strong man], then he will be able to steal [the things in that man’s] house.
“Ọ dịghị mmadụ ọbụla pụrụ ịbanye nʼụlọ nwoke dị ike kwakọrọ ngwongwo niile dị nʼụlọ ahụ. Ma o nwere ike ime nke a ma ọ bụrụ na ọ ga-eburu ụzọ kee nwoke ahụ agbụ? Mgbe o kesịrị ya agbụ, o nwere ike ịbanye kwakọtaa ngwongwo niile dị nʼụlọ nwoke ahụ.
30 [No one can be neutral]. Those who do not acknowledge [that the Holy Spirit enables] me [to expel demons] are opposing me, and those who do not gather [people to become] my [disciples] are causing [those people] to [DOU] go away [from me].
“Onye ọbụla na-adịnyeghịrị m na-emegide m. Onye ọ bụlakwa na-adịghị eso m ekpokọta, na-ekposa ekposa.
31 You [are saying that it is not the Holy Spirit who is enabling me to expel demons]. So I will say this to you: [If] those who offend and slander other people in any way are [then sorry and ask God to forgive them, God] will forgive them. But people who discredit what the Holy Spirit does will not be forgiven {[God] will not forgive [people] who discredit what the Holy Spirit does}.
Ya mere, ana m agwa unu sị, na a ga-agbaghara mmehie na nkwulu niile. Ma agaghị agbaghara nkwulu ekwuluru Mmụọ Nsọ.
32 [God is willing to] forgive people who criticize [me], the One who came from heaven. But I [warn you that] those who say evil things about what the Holy Spirit [does] will not be forgiven {[God] will not forgive people who speak evil words about what the Holy Spirit [does]}. They will not be forgiven {[He] will not forgive them} now, and they will never be forgiven {[he] will never forgive them}.” (aiōn g165)
Onye ọbụla nke ga-ekwu okwu megide Nwa nke Mmadụ, a ga-agbaghara ya, ma onye ọbụla na-ekwu megide Mmụọ Nsọ, agaghị agbaghara ya, nʼọgbọ a maọbụ nʼọgbọ nke na-abịa. (aiōn g165)
33 “Think about this: You can know whether [a person is good and what that person says is good, in the same way that you] can know whether a tree [MET] and the fruit it produces [MET] are good. [You can also know whether a person and what that person says is evil in the same way that you can know] whether a tree [MET] and its fruit [MET] are blighted. You can know whether a tree is good by [seeing] its fruit, and similarly [people can know the evil character of you Pharisees by listening to your accusations against me].
“Ọ bụrụ na e mee ka osisi too nke ọma, ọ ga-amịta mkpụrụ ọma, ma ọ bụrụ na o toghị nke ọma, ọ ga-amịta mkpụrụ ọjọọ. Nʼihi na a na-amata osisi ọbụla site na mkpụrụ ya.
34 [What] you [teach harms people spiritually like poisonous] snakes [harm them physically] [MET]! You are not able to speak good things because you are evil [RHQ]. Evil people [SYN] [like you] speak what comes from all that is in their (inner beings/hearts).
Ụmụ ajụala, olee otu unu ga-esi kwuo okwu dị mma, ebe obi unu dị njọ? Nʼihi na ihe mmadụ kwuru bụ ihe si ya nʼobi pụta.
35 Good people [speak good things. That is like] taking good things out of buildings where they are stored. But evil people [speak evil things. That is like] taking evil things out of buildings where they are stored.
Ezi mmadụ na-esi nʼezi akụ ya wepụta ihe dị mma, ma ajọ mmadụ na-esitekwa nʼajọ akụ ya wepụta ajọọ ihe.
36 I tell you that on the day when God judges [MTY], he will make people recall every useless word they have spoken, [and he will judge them accordingly].
Ma ana m agwa unu sị, nʼụbọchị ikpe ahụ, onye ọbụla ga-aza ajụjụ, banyere okwu niile na-enweghị isi o kwuru.
37 Based on the words that you have spoken, [God] will [either] declare that you are righteous based on the words that you have spoken, or [else] he will condemn you.”
Nʼihi na ọ bụ site nʼokwu ọnụ gị ka ị ga-abụ onye ikpe mara, sitekwa nʼokwu ọnụ gị ka ị ga-abụ onye ikpe na-amaghị.”
38 Then some of the Pharisees and men who taught the [Jewish] laws responded [to what Jesus was teaching] by saying to him, “Teacher, we want to see you [perform] a miracle [that would prove to us that God sent you].”
Mgbe ahụ, ụfọdụ ndị ozizi iwu na ndị Farisii gwara Jisọs sị ya, “Onye nkuzi, anyị chọrọ ka i gosi anyị ihe ịrịbama.”
39 Then Jesus said to them, “[You] people [have already seen me perform miracles], but you are evil, and you do not faithfully worship God [MET]! You want [me to perform] a miracle [that would prove to you that God sent me], but [God will enable] you to see only one miracle. It will be [like] what happened to Jonah the prophet [MET].
Ma ọ zara sị ha, “Ọ bụ naanị ajọ ọgbọ nke na-enweghị okwukwe ga-achọkwa ka e gosi ha ihe ịrịbama. Ma ọ dịkwaghị ihe ịrịbama ọzọ a ga-egosi unu karịa ihe ịrịbama Jona onye amụma.
40 Jonah was in the stomach of a huge fish for three days and nights [before God caused him to live again]. Similarly, for three days and nights I, the one who came from heaven, will be in a place [where dead people are, and then God will cause me to live again].
Nʼihi na dị ka Jona nọrọ ụbọchị atọ, ehihie na abalị nʼafọ azụ dị ukwuu, otu a ka Nwa nke Mmadụ ga-esi nọọkwa ụbọchị atọ, ehihie na abalị nʼobi nke ala.
41 When [God] judges [all people], the people who lived in Nineveh will stand [in front of him] with [you] people who [have seen me perform miracles]. The [people of Nineveh turned from their sinful ways as a result of hearing what] Jonah preached. [Jonah was important, but I], who am more important than Jonah, [have come and preached to you, but you have not turned from your sinful ways. So] when [God] judges [all people, he] will 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.
42 The queen from [Sheba, South of Israel, who lived long ago, came from a distant region in order to listen to King Solomon teach] 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]. So at the time when [God] judges [all people], the queen from [Sheba will stand in front of him, along] with you people, and will condemn you.”
Nʼụbọchị ikpe ahụ kwa, eze nwanyị nke Ndịdaga-eso ọgbọ a bilie boo ya ebubo. Ọ ga-amakwa unu ikpe. Nʼihi na o siri nʼebe dị ụwa sọtụrụ bịa nụrụ okwu amamihe Solomọn. Ma ugbu a onye ahụ dị ukwuu karịa Solomọn nọ nʼebe a, ma unu jụrụ i kwere na ya.
43 “[Sometimes] when an evil spirit leaves a person, it wanders around in desolate areas, seeking [someone in whom it can] rest. If it does not find anyone,
“Mgbe mmụọ na-adịghị ọcha si nʼime mmadụ pụọ, ọ na-agabiga nʼọzara ebe mmiri na-adịghị ịchọ ebe izuike, ma ọ naghị achọta ya.
44 it says [to itself], ‘I will return to the person [MET] in whom I used to live.’ 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 swept clean and everything put in order [MET], [but it is] empty.
Mgbe ahụ, ọ na-asị, ‘Aga m alaghachi nʼụlọ m, ebe m si pụta.’ Mgbe ọ lọghachiri, ọ na-achọpụta na a zachara ụlọ ahụ dozie ya, ọ dịkwaghị onye bichiri nʼime ya.
45 Then [this evil spirit] goes and gets seven other spirits that are [even] more evil, and they [all] enter [that person] and [begin] living there. [So, although] that person’s condition [was bad] before, it becomes much worse. That is what [you] wicked people who [have heard me teach] will experience.”
Mgbe ahụ, ọ na-apụ gaa chọta mmụọ asaa ọzọ, ndị dị njọ karịa ya onwe ya. Ha niile na-abata bịa biri nʼime onye ahụ. Mee ka ọnọdụ ya dị njọ karịa ka ọ dị na mbụ. Otu a ka ọ ga-adịrị ndị bi nʼọgbọ a jọrọ njọ.”
46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his [younger] brothers [arrived]. They stood outside [the house], wanting to speak with him.
Mgbe ọ nọ na-agwa igwe mmadụ ahụ okwu, nne ya na ụmụnne ya bịara guzoro nʼezi na-eche ka ha gwa ya okwu.
47 Someone said to him, “Your mother and your [younger] brothers are standing outside [the house], wanting to talk to you.”
Otu onye nʼime igwe mmadụ ahụ gwara ya okwu sị, “Lee, nne gị na ụmụnne gị ndị nwoke na-achọ ịhụ gị nʼezi. Ha chọrọ ịgwa gị okwu.”
48 Then Jesus said to the person who told him [that], “([I will tell you something about] my mother and brothers [MET].[/Do you know] who I [consider to be like] my mother and my brothers?)” [MET, RHQ]
Ma ọ zara onye ahụ gwara ya okwu sị, “Onye bụ nne m? Olee ndị bụ ụmụnne m ndị nwoke?”
49 He then pointed toward [us] disciples and said, “These are ones [whom I love as much as I love] my mother and my brothers [MET].
Ọ tụrụ ndị na-eso ụzọ ya aka, sị, “Lee, ndị a bụ nne m na ụmụnne m ndị nwoke.
50 Those who do what [God] my Father [who is] in heaven wants, are [as dear to me] [MET] [as] my brother, my sister, or my mother.”
Nʼihi na onye ọbụla na-eme ihe Nna m bi nʼeluigwe chọrọ, bụ nwanne m nwoke, na nwanne m nwanyị, nakwa nne m.”
