Matthew 18
1 About that time we disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who [among us will be] the most important when God [MTY/EUP] [makes you] king?”
Nʼoge ahụ kwa, ndị na-eso ụzọ Jisọs bịakwutere ya jụọ ajụjụ sị, “Olee onye dị ukwuu karịa ibe ya nʼalaeze eluigwe?”
2 Jesus called a child to come, and he placed that child in our midst.
Ọ kpọrọ otu nwantakịrị, onye o mere ka o guzoro nʼetiti ha,
3 He said, “Think about this: If you [(pl)] do not change [the way you(pl) think] and become [as humble] as little children, you [(pl)] will surely not go to the place where God [MTY/EUP] rules.
ọ sịrị, “Nʼezie, agwa m unu, ọ bụrụ na unu agbanweghị ma dịrị ka ụmụntakịrị, unu agaghị aba nʼalaeze eluigwe.
4 The people who become as humble as this child [or any child] is, will be the most important people among those over whom God rules.
Onye ọbụla wedara onwe ya ala dị ka nwantakịrị a bụ onye dịkarịsịrị ukwuu nʼalaeze eluigwe.
5 Also, when those who, [because they love] me, welcome [a] child like this one, [God considers] that they are welcoming me.”
Onye ọbụla nabatara nwantakịrị dị otu a nʼihi m, bụ onye nabatara m.
6 “If you cause someone who believes in me to sin, [even if it is someone who is socially unimportant like] this little child, [God will severely punish you]. If a heavy stone were fastened around your neck and you were thrown into the deep waters of the sea, [people would consider that you had been severely punished. But God will punish] you more severely [than that if you cause someone to sin]
“Ma ọ bụrụ na onye ọbụla nʼime unu emee ka otu nʼime ndị a dị nta, bụ ndị tụkwasịrị m obi, jehie nʼokwukwe ya, ọ kaara onye ahụ mma na e kedoro ya nkume igwe nri nʼolu, tụnye ya nʼoke osimiri ka mmiri rie ya.
7 It will be terrible for those [MTY] who cause others to stop believing in me. [God will punish them eternally]. It is inevitable that there will be [those who] cause others to stop believing in me. But it will be horrible for everyone who does that.
Ahụhụ ga-adịrị ụwa nʼihi ihe ndị na-eme ka mmadụ jehie. Ihe ndị na-eme ka mmadụ daba nʼọnwụnwa aghaghị ịbịa, ma ahụhụ ga-adịrị onye ahụ nke ọ ga-esite nʼaka ya bịa.
8 So, if you [are wanting to use] one of your hands or feet to sin, [stop using that hand or foot! Even if you have to] cut it off [to avoid sinning, do it] [MET]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you are maimed or lame and do not have a hand or a foot. But it is not good that you continue to have your two hands and two feet [and do] [MTY] [the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown into [hell], where there is eternal fire burning. (aiōnios g166, questioned)
Nʼihi nke a, ọ bụrụ na aka gị maọbụ ụkwụ gị na-eme ka i jehie, gbupụ ya tufukwaa ya. Ọ kaara gị mma inwe ọrụsị maọbụ daa ngwụrọ baa na ndụ, karịa na ị ga-enwe aka abụọ maọbụ ụkwụ abụọ, a tụnye gị nʼọkụ ebighị ebi. (aiōnios g166)
9 If what you see you [makes you want] to sin, [stop looking at those things! Even if you have to] gouge out one of your eyes and throw it away [to avoid sinning, do it] [HYP]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you have only one eye. But it is not good that you continue to have your two eyes [and do the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown {God throws you} into hell where there is eternal fire burning.” (Geenna g1067)
Ọzọ, ọ bụrụ na anya gị na-eme ka i jehie, ghụpụ ya tufuo. Ọ ga-akara gị mma na i nwere otu anya baa na ndụ, karịa inwe anya abụọ, a tụnye gị nʼọkụ ala mmụọ. (Geenna g1067)
10 “Make an effort that you [(pl)] do not despise [even] one of these children. I tell you [(pl)] truly that [since] the angels [live] in heaven [in the presence of] my Father, [they will report to him if you mistreat the children].
“Lezienụ anya ka unu ghara ileda otu nʼime ụmụntakịrị ndị a anya. Nʼihi na nʼeluigwe, ndị mmụọ ozi ha na-anọ nʼihu Nna m mgbe niile.
Nʼihi na Nwa nke mmadụ bịara ịzọpụta ndị furu efu.
12 What do you [(pl)] think [you would do in the following situation]? If you had 100 sheep and one of them got lost, you would surely leave the 99 sheep [that are] on the hill and go and search for the lost one [RHQ], would you not?
“Gịnị ka unu chere? Ọ bụrụ na ọ dị onye nwere narị atụrụ, ma otu nʼime ha akpafuo, gịnị ka ọ ga-eme? Ọ gaghị ahapụ iri atụrụ itoolu na itoolu fọdụrụ pụọ jegharịa nʼugwu na ndịda niile, ịchọ atụrụ ahụ kpafuru akpafu?
13 If you found it, I affirm to you [(pl)] that you would rejoice very much. You would be happy that 99 sheep did not stray away, but you would rejoice even more [because you had found] the sheep that had strayed away.
Ọ bụrụkwa na ọ chọta ya, gịnị ka ọ ga-eme? Nʼezie, agwa m unu, ọ ga-aṅụrị oke ọnụ nʼihi otu atụrụ a karịa iri atụrụ itoolu na itoolu ndị ọzọ ahụ na-agahieghị ụzọ.
14 In the same way [that shepherds do not want one of] their [sheep to stray away], so [God], your Father in heaven, does not want [even] one of these children to go to hell.” (questioned)
Ya mere, ọ bụghị nzube Nna m nke bi nʼeluigwe ka otu nʼime ụmụnta ndị a ala nʼiyi.
15 “If a fellow believer sins [against you], go [to him], and when you two are alone, reprove him [for sinning against you]. If that person listens to you [and feels sorry that he has sinned against you], you will have restored [your friendship with] that person.
“Ọ bụrụ na nwanna gị emehie megide gị, jekwuru ya ebe naanị gị na ya nọ, tụọ ya mmehie nʼanya. Ọ bụrụ na o gee gị ntị, i ritela nwanna gị nʼuru.
16 If that person will not listen to you [nor feel sorry that he has sinned against you], go get one or two other people [who will listen to what you both have to say]. Have them go with you so that [what is written] {[Moses wrote]} [in the Scriptures might happen: ] ‘[When one person accuses another in some matter], it should be confirmed by [at least] two or three people {[at least] two or three people should confirm it} [before that person can be declared] guilty {[before they declare that person guilty]}.’
Ma ọ bụrụ na o geghị gị ntị, kpọrọ otu onye maọbụ mmadụ abụọ ọzọ laghachi azụ nʼebe ọ nọ, ‘ka okwu ọbụla ekwuru bụrụ nke mmadụ abụọ maọbụ atọ ga-agba akaebe banyere ya.’
17 If the one who has sinned against you will not listen to them [or does not feel sorry that he has sinned against you], tell that to the congregation [so that they can rebuke him]. If that person will not listen to the congregation [or feel sorry that he has sinned against you, exclude him from being a member of your congregation, just like] you [would exclude] pagans, tax collectors, [and others who do not believe in God and sin greatly].
Ọ bụrụ na o geghị ha ntị, gwa ndị chọọchị, ma ọ bụrụ na o geghịkwa ọ bụladị ndị chọọchị ntị, were ya dị ka onye mba ọzọ maọbụ onye ọna ụtụ.
18 Keep this in mind: Whatever you decide on earth [about punishing] or [not punishing a member of your congregation] is what has also been decided by [God] in heaven {what [God] in heaven has also decided}.
“Nʼezie, asị m unu, na ihe ọbụla unu kere agbụ nʼụwa a, e keela ya rịị agbụ nʼeluigwe. Ihe ọbụla kwa unu tọpụrụ nʼụwa, a tọpụkwala ya rịị nʼeluigwe.
19 Also note this: If [at least] two of you [who live] here on earth agree together about something you ask [God] for [DOU], [God], my Father [who is] in heaven, will give you what you ask for.
“Ọzọ, ana m agwa unu nʼezie a sị, ọ bụrụ na mmadụ abụọ nʼetiti unu ekwekọrịta nʼụwa banyere ihe ọbụla unu na-arịọ nʼekpere Nna m bi nʼeluigwe ga-emezuru unu ihe ahụ.
20 [This is true], because wherever [at least] two or three of you assemble because you believe in me [MTY], I am [spiritually] present with you. I [will hear what you ask for and I will ask God to do it for you].”
Nʼihi na ebe ọbụla mmadụ abụọ maọbụ atọ zukọtara nʼaha m, mụ onwe m nọ nʼetiti ha.”
21 Then Peter approached [Jesus] and said to him, “How many times must I forgive a fellow believer who [keeps on] sinning against me? [If he keeps asking me to forgive him, must I forgive him] as many as seven times?”
Mgbe ahụ Pita bịakwutere ya jụọ ya ajụjụ sị, “Onyenwe anyị, ọ bụ ugboro ole ka m ga-agbaghara nwanne m nke mehiere megide m? Ọ bụ ugboro asaa?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I tell you [that the number of] times [you must forgive someone is] not just up to seven, but [you must] ([forgive him] 77 times/never stop forgiving him).
Jisọs zara sị ya, “Ọ bụghị ugboro asaa. Kama ị ga-agbaghara ya ruo iri ugboro asaa ụzọ asaa.
23 [In order to illustrate] why [you should do this], I [will tell you a story in which] God [MTY/EUP], [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over, is compared {I compare God, [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over} to a king [and his officials]. That king told [some of his servants that he wanted] his officials to pay what they owed him.
“A ga-eji alaeze eluigwe tụnyere eze ahụ kpebiri ka ya na ndị ọrụ ya gụzie ego ya ha ji.
24 [So those officials were brought to the king to] settle [their accounts with him]. [One of the officials who were brought] owed the king several million dollars.
Mgbe ha malitere na-apịazi, a kpọtaara eze ahụ otu onye nke ji ya ụgwọ ruru puku talenti iri.
25 But because he did not have [enough money] to pay [what he owed], the king demanded that he, his wife, his children and all he possessed be sold [to someone else, and that the king] be repaid [with] {receive} [the money that was paid for them].
Nwoke ahụ enweghị ihe ọ ga-eji kwụọ ụgwọ o ji. Nna ya ukwu nyere iwu ka e refuo ya na nwunye ya na ụmụ ya, na ihe niile o nwere, ka akwụghachi ụgwọ o ji.
26 Then that official, [knowing that he did not have the money to pay that huge debt], fell on his knees [in front of the king] and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’
“Ma ohu ahụ dara nʼala, gbukwaa ikpere ya nʼala, rịọ ya arịrịọ sị, ‘Onyenwe m, biko, nwee ntachiobi nʼebe m nọ. Aga m akwụghachikwa gị ụgwọ niile m ji gị.’
27 The king, [knowing that the official could never pay all that huge debt], felt sorry for him. So he canceled his debt and released him.
Nna ukwu onye ọrụ ahụ nwere ọmịiko nʼebe ọ nọ, meere ya ebere. Ọ sịrị ya akwụghachila ụgwọ o ji ọzọ.
28 Then this official went to another one of the king’s officials who owed him a bit less than a year’s wages. He grabbed him [by the throat], started choking him, and said to him, ‘Pay back what you owe [me]!’
“Ma mgbe ohu ahụ sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ, ọ hụrụ otu ohu ibe ya ji ya ụgwọ otu narị denarị. O jidere ya nʼaka ike, machie ya aka nʼakpịrị, sị ya, ‘Kwụghachi m ụgwọ i ji m ugbu a.’
29 That official fell on his knees and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’
“Ya mere, ohu ibe ya ahụ dara nʼala nʼihu ya rịọọ ya ka o nye ya nwantịntị oge. Ọ rịọkwara ya sị, ‘Enyi m, biko nwee ntachiobi, aga m akwụghachi gị ụgwọ m ji gị.’
30 But this official kept refusing [to cancel that small debt that the man owed him]. Instead, he [caused that official to be] put in prison [and to stay there] until he could pay back all the money that he owed him.
“Ma o kwenyeghị, kama ọ gara tụba ya nʼụlọ mkpọrọ, ebe ọ ga-anọ ruo mgbe ọ kwụsịrị ụgwọ niile o ji ya.
31 When the other officials [of the king] learned that this had happened, they felt very distressed. So they went to the king and reported in detail what had happened.
Mgbe ndị ohu ibe ya hụrụ ihe mere, o wutere ha nke ukwuu. Ha jekwuru Nna ha ukwu kọọrọ ya ihe niile ndị a.
32 Then the king summoned the official [who had owed him several million dollars]. He said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I canceled that huge debt [that you owed me] because you begged me [to do so]
“Nʼihi nke a Nna ya ukwu kpọrọ ohu ahụ sị ya, ‘Ohu obi ọjọọ! Agbaghara m gị ụgwọ ahụ niile i ji, nʼihi na ị rịọrọ m arịrịọ.
33 You should have been merciful [and canceled your fellow official’s debt], just like I was merciful to you [and canceled your debt] [RHQ]!’
Ọ bụ na ị kwesighị inwe obi ebere nʼebe ohu ibe gị nọ, dị ka m si mere gị ebere?’
34 The king was very angry. He handed this official over to some jailers who would torture him severely until he paid all of the debt that he owed.”
Nʼihi iwe, Nna ya ukwuu nyefere ya nʼaka ndị nche na-eche ndị nọ nʼụlọ mkpọrọ ka ha taa ya ahụhụ, ruo mgbe ọ kwụchara ụgwọ niile o ji.
35 [Then Jesus continued by saying], “That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if you do not [feel merciful and] sincerely forgive a fellow believer [who sins against you].”
“Otu a ka Nna m bi nʼeluigwe ga-emekwa unu, ma ọ bụrụ na unu ejighị obi unu niile gbaghara ụmụnna unu.”
