Matthew 19
1 After Jesus had said that, he [took us] and left Galilee [district] and went to the part of Judea [district that is located] on the [east] side of the Jordan [River].
Yesu wiee nʼasɛnka no, ɔkɔɔ Galilea. Ofi Galilea no, otwaa Asubɔnten Yordan baa Yudea.
2 Large crowds followed him there, and he healed [the sick among] them.
Nnipadɔm tu dii nʼakyi, ma ɔsaa wɔn yare.
3 [Some] Pharisees approached Jesus and said to him, “Does [our Jewish] law permit [a man] to divorce his wife for any reason whatever?” [They asked that] in order to be able to criticize Jesus, [whether he answered “Yes” or “No].”
Farisifo bi ba bebisaa no nsɛm bi pɛɛ sɛ wɔnam wɔn nsɛmmisa no so ma ɔka asɛm bi a ɛde no bɛkɔ sɔhwɛ mu. Wobisaa no se, “Wopene awaregyae so ana?”
4 Jesus said [to them], “[Because] you have read [RHQ] [the Scriptures], [you should know] that at the time [God first] created [people], ‘he made [one] man, and he made [one] woman [to be that man’s wife].’
Yesu nso bisaa wɔn se, “Gyama monkenkan Kyerɛw Kronkron no? Wɔakyerɛw wɔ mu se, ‘Mfiase no, Onyankopɔn bɔɔ ɔbarima ne ɔbea.
5 That explains why [God said], ‘[When] a man [and woman marry], they should no longer live with their fathers and mothers. [Instead], the two of them shall live together, and they shall become [so closely united that they are like] one person [MET].’
Eyi nti na ɔbarima begyaw nʼagya ne ne na hɔ de ne ho akɔbɔ ne yere ho daa nyinaa no.’
6 Consequently, [although they functioned as] two [separate people before], they now [become as if they were] one person [MET]. Since that is true, a man must not separate [from his wife] whom God has joined to him, [because it is God’s plan for them to remain together].”
Enti na wɔnyɛ baanu bio, na mmom wɔabɛyɛ ɔhonam koro. Enti nea Onyankopɔn aka abɔ mu no, ɛnsɛ sɛ obiara tetew mu.”
7 The Pharisees then said to him, “If that is true, why did Moses command that [a man who wanted to divorce] his wife should give her a paper [stating his reason for] divorcing her, and then send her away?”
Farisifo no kɔɔ so bisaa no se, “Adɛn nti na Mose kae se, sɛ ɔbarima bi pɛ sɛ ogyaa ne yere a otumi kyerɛw no krataa kɛkɛ, de gyaa no?”
8 He said to them, “It was because [your ancestors] stubbornly [wanted their own way] that Moses allowed them to divorce their wives, [and you are no different from them]. But when God first [MTY] created a man and a woman, [he did not intend for them to separate].
Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Esiane sɛ na mo koma apirim no nti na Mose maa awaregyae ho kwan, na ɛnyɛ ade a Onyankopɔn hyehyɛe.
9 I am telling you emphatically that [because God considers that a marriage lasts until either the husband or the wife dies, he considers that] any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery, unless [his first wife] has committed adultery.”
Na mereka akyerɛ mo se, obiara a obegyaa ne yere, a ɛnyɛ sɛ ɔbea no abɔ aguaman, na ɔbɛsan aware ɔbea foforo no asɛe aware.”
10 We disciples said to him, “If that is true, it is better for men never to marry!”
Yesu asuafo no kae se, “Sɛ saa na ɛte de a, na ɛnsɛ sɛ obiara ware.”
11 Then he said to us, “Not every man is able to accept this teaching. Only the men whom [God] enables [to accept it are able to do so].
Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Ɛnyɛ obiara na obetumi agye asɛm yi ato mu, gye wɔn a Onyankopɔn hyɛ wɔn den no nko ara.
12 There are men who [do not marry because they are not able to have sexual relations because they] have been sexually defective ever since they were born. There are other men [who do not marry because they are unable to have sexual relations] because they have been castrated {other men have made them that way}. There are other [men who decide not to marry] [MET] in order that they can serve God better [and spend more time telling people about how] God [MTY/EUP] wants to rule people’s lives. You who are able to understand [what I have said about marriage] should accept it [and obey it].”
Nnipa bi wɔ hɔ a wonni mmarimayɛ mu ahoɔden fi awo mu, ebinom nso wɔ hɔ a nnipa na wɔyɛɛ wɔn saa; ebinom nso ɔsoro Ahenni no nti, wɔpo aware. Obiara a obetumi no, nni mʼasɛm a maka yi so.”
13 Then [some] children were brought {[some people] brought their children} to Jesus in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray [for them]. But we disciples scolded the people [for bringing their children to Jesus because we thought that Jesus did not want to take the time to be with children].
Wɔde mmofra nkumaa brɛɛ Yesu sɛ ɔmfa ne nsa ngu wɔn so, na ɔmmɔ mpae mma wɔn. Nanso asuafo no kaa wɔn anim.
14 But [when Jesus saw us scolding them], he said to us, “Let the children come to me! Do not stop them! It is people who are [humble and trusting] like they are, who can experience God’s rule [in their lives].”
Yesu kae se, “Momma mmofra no kwan na wɔmmra me nkyɛn, na munnsiw wɔn kwan, na eyinom sɛɛ na Ɔsoro Ahenni no yɛ wɔn dea.”
15 Jesus then laid his hands on the children [and asked God to bless them]. Then he left there.
Na ɔde ne nsa guu wɔn so, hyiraa wɔn ansa na ɔrefi hɔ akɔ.
16 [As Jesus was walking along, a young] man approached him and said [to him], “Teacher, what good [deeds] must I do in order to live [with God] eternally?” (aiōnios g166)
Ɛno mu na ɔbarima bi baa Yesu nkyɛn bebisaa no se, “Ɔkyerɛkyerɛfo, ade pa bɛn na menyɛ na manya nkwa a enni awiei?” (aiōnios g166)
17 Jesus said to him, “(Consider [what you are implying about who I am when] you ask me about what is good./Do you realize [what you are implying about who I am when] you ask me about that which is good?) [RHQ] Only one being is good and [really knows what is good. That being is God. But in order to answer your question] about [desiring to] live [with God eternally], I [will say to you], ‘Keep the commandments [that God gave Moses’].”
Yesu buaa no se, “Adɛn nti na wubisa me nea ɛyɛ papa ho asɛm? Ɔbaako pɛ na ɔyɛ papa. Sɛ wopɛ sɛ wokɔ nkwa mu de a, di mmara nsɛm no so.”
18 The man asked Jesus, “Which [commandments must I keep]?” Jesus answered [him], “Do not murder [anyone], do not commit adultery, do not steal things, do not testify falsely,
Aberante no nso bisaa no se, “Mmaransɛm no mu nea ɛwɔ he?” Yesu buaa no se, “Nni awu. Nsɛe aware. Mmɔ korɔn. Nni atoro.
19 honor your father and your mother, and love people you come in contact with as [much as you love] yourself.”
Di wʼagya ne wo na ni, na dɔ wo yɔnko sɛ wo ho!”
20 [Thinking that he might not be able to live with God eternally even though he had kept those commandments], the young man said to Jesus, “I have always obeyed all those commandments. What else must I do [in order to live with God eternally]?”
Aberante no nso kae se, “Midi eyinom nyinaa so pɛpɛɛpɛ. Afei menyɛ dɛn?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you desire to be all that God intends you to be, go [home], sell everything that you have and give [the money] to poor people. [The result will be that] you will have [spiritual] riches in heaven. Then come and be my disciple!”
Yesu ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛ wopɛ sɛ woyɛ pɛ a kɔ na kɔtɔn biribiara a wowɔ, na fa sika a wubenya afi mu no ma ahiafo. Ɛno ansa na wubenya ademude wɔ ɔsoro. Afei bedi mʼakyi.”
22 When the young man heard those words, he went away feeling sad, because he was very rich [and did not want to give away everything he owned].
Esiane sɛ na saa aberante yi wɔ ahonyade bebree nti, ɔtee saa nsɛm no, anyɛ no dɛ maa ɔde awerɛhow fii hɔ kɔe.
23 Then Jesus said to [us] disciples, “Keep this in mind: It is very difficult for rich people [to decide] to let God [MTY/EUP] rule their [lives].
Afei Yesu ka kyerɛɛ nʼasuafo no se, “Meka mo nokware se ɛyɛ den ma osikani sɛ ɔbɛkɔ Ɔsoro Ahenni no mu.
24 Note this also: It is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is [almost] as difficult [HYP] for rich people [to decide] to let God rule their [lives].”
Meka ti mu se, ɛyɛ mmerɛw sɛ yoma bewura pane aniwa mu sen sɛ osikani bɛkɔ Onyankopɔn Ahenni mu!”
25 When [we] disciples heard this, we were astounded. [We thought that rich people were the ones whom God blesses the most. So we said to him], “(If that is so, it does not seem likely that anyone will be saved!/Who then will God will save?)” [RHQ]
Asuafo no tee saa asɛm no, wɔn adwene mu yɛɛ wɔn naa. Wobisae se, “Na ɛno de, hena na wiase mu ha wobegye no nkwa?”
26 [When Jesus heard us say that], he looked intently at us, and [then] he said to us, “[Yes], it is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God is able to do [anything]!”
Yesu hwɛɛ wɔn buae se, “Onipa fam de, ɛyɛ den, na Onyankopɔn fam de, biribiara betumi aba mu.”
27 Then Peter said to him, “You know that we [(exc)] have left everything behind and we have become your disciples. So what benefit will we get [for doing that]?”
Petro nso kae se, “Yagyaw biribiara hɔ abedi wʼakyi; na mfaso bɛn na yebenya afi wʼakyidi no mu?”
28 Jesus said to us, “Keep this in mind: [You will get many benefits]. When [God] makes [the] new [earth] and when [I], the one who came from heaven, sit on my magnificent throne, those of you who have accompanied me will each sit on a throne, and you will judge [the people of] the twelve tribes of Israel.
Yesu buae se, “Me, Agyenkwa no, sɛ metena mʼanuonyam ahengua no so a, nokware, mo mʼasuafo yi nso bɛtena ahengua dumien no so na moabu Israel mmusuakuw dumien no atɛn.
29 [God will reward] those who, because of being my [disciples], have left [behind] a house or plot of ground, [their] brothers, [their] sisters, their father, their mother, their children, [or any other family] [MTY] [members]. [God] will give them 100 times [as many benefits as they have given up]. And they will live [with God] eternally. (aiōnios g166)
Na obiara a obegyaw ne fi, ne nuabarimanom, ne nuabeanom, nʼagya, ne na, ne yere, ne mma anaa nʼagyapade abedi mʼakyi no, obenya no ho mmɔho ɔha, na wanya nkwa a enni awiei nso. (aiōnios g166)
30 But many [people who consider themselves to] be important [now] will be unimportant [at that future time], and many [people who consider themselves to be] unimportant [now will be] important [at that future time].”
Na wɔn a wɔadi kan no mu pii bedi akyi, na wɔn a wodi akyi no nso mu bi abedi kan.”
