Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowd and to us his disciples,
Pamenepo Yesu anati kwa magulu a anthu ndi ophunzira ake:
2 “Moses was the [renowned] teacher who taught [the people the laws that God gave him] [MTY]. Now, the Pharisees and the men who teach our [Jewish] laws have made themselves the ones who interpret those laws [IDM].
“Aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi amakhala pa mpando wa Mose.
3 Consequently, you should do whatever they tell you that you must do. But do not do what they do, because they themselves do not do what they tell [you that you must do].
Choncho muziwamvera ndi kuchita chilichonse chimene akuwuzani. Koma musachite zimene amachita, popeza sachita zimene amaphunzitsa.
4 They [require you to obey many rules that are difficult to obey]. But they themselves [do not help anyone obey those rules. It is] as if they are tying up loads that are hard to carry and putting them on your shoulders [MET] [for you to carry. But they] themselves [do not desire to help anyone obey those laws. They are like] people who do not want to lift [even the slightest load] that they [could lift] [MET]
Amamanga akatundu olemera nawayika pa mapewa a anthu, koma iwo eni safuna kuwanyamula.
5 [with] one finger. Whatever they do, they do it to be seen by other people {so that other people will see them doing that}. [For example], they make extra wide the tiny boxes containing portions of Scripture that they wear on their arms. They enlarge the tassels on their robes, [to make others think that they are pious].
“Ntchito zawo amachita ndi cholinga chakuti anthu awaone. Amadzimangirira timaphukusi tikulutikulu ta Mawu a Mulungu pa mphumi ndi pa mkono komanso amatalikitsa mphonje za mikanjo yawo.
6 [They want people to honor them. For example], at dinner parties they sit in the seats where the most important people sit. In the places of worship [they want to sit] in the seats where the most honored people sit.
Amakonda malo aulemu pa maphwando ndi malo ofunika kwambiri mʼmasunagoge.
7 Also, [they want people to] greet them [respectfully] in the marketplaces and to honor them by calling them ‘Teacher’.
Amakondwera ndi kupatsidwa moni mʼmisika ndi kutchulidwa kuti ‘Aphunzitsi.’
8 But you [who are my disciples] should not allow people to address you [honorably] as ‘Rabbi’, [which means ‘teacher]’. I [am the] only one who is [really] your teacher, which means that you are all [equal, like] brothers and sisters, [and none of you should act superior to another, as the Pharisees do].
“Koma inu simuyenera kutchulidwa ‘Aphunzitsi,’ popeza muli naye Mbuye mmodzi ndipo inu nonse ndinu abale.
9 Do not [honor anyone] on earth [by] addressing him as ‘Father’, because God, your Father in heaven, is the only [spiritual] father of all of you.
Ndipo musamatchule wina aliyense pansi pano kuti ‘Atate,’ pakuti muli ndi Atate mmodzi, ndipo ali kumwamba.
10 Do not [allow people to] call you ‘Instructors’, because I, the Messiah, am the one instructor who [teaches all of] you.
Komanso musamatchedwenso ‘Mtsogoleri,’ pakuti muli naye Mtsogoleri mmodzi amene ndi Khristu.
11 In contrast, everyone among you who wants [God to consider them] to be important must serve others as servants do.
Wamkulu pakati panu adzakhala wokutumikirani.
12 [God] will humble those who exalt themselves. And [he] will exalt those who humble themselves.”
Pakuti aliyense amene adzikuza adzachepetsedwa, ndipo aliyense amene adzichepetsa adzakuzidwa.
13 [Then Jesus said to the religious leaders], “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! There will be terrible punishment for [you, because by teaching what is false], you [prevent people] [MTY/HYP] [who are thinking about letting] God rule their lives [from doing that] [MET]. [What you are doing is like] closing a gate [MET] [so that people who] are wanting to enter [a city cannot go in]. As for you, [you do not let] God [rule your lives. Neither do you allow] other people [to let God rule their lives. What you do is like] not going into a [house] yourselves, and not allowing others to enter it [either] [MET].”
“Tsoka kwa inu aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi achiphamaso! Mumatseka pa khomo la kumwamba kuti anthu asalowemo. Eni akenu simulowamo komanso simulola kuti ena amene akufuna kulowa kuti alowe.
Muli ndi tsoka, inu aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi, anthu achiphamaso! Mumawadyera akazi amasiye chuma chawo, kwinaku nʼkumanamizira kunena mapemphero ataliatali. Chifukwa cha zimenezi Mulungu adzakulangani koposa.
15 “You are hypocrites, you men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees! Your punishment will be terrible, because you exert yourselves very much to get [even] one person to believe what you teach. For instance, you travel across seas and lands [to distant places] in order to do that. And [as a result], when one person [believes what you teach], you make that person much more deserving to go to hell than you yourselves [deserve to].” (Geenna g1067)
“Tsoka kwa inu, aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi, achiphamaso! Mumayenda maulendo ambiri pa mtunda ndi pa nyanja kuti mutembenuze munthu mmodzi, ndipo akatembenuka, mumamusandutsa kukhala mwana wa gehena kawiri kuposa inu. (Geenna g1067)
16 “You [Jewish leaders], your punishment will be terrible! You are [like people who are] blind [MET] who are trying to lead others. You say, ‘[In the case of] those who promise to [do] something and then ask the Temple [to affirm what they have promised], it means nothing [if they do not do what] they have promised. But if they ask the gold that is in the Temple [to affirm what they have promised], they must do what they promised.’
“Tsoka kwa inu, atsogoleri akhungu! Mumati, ‘Ngati wina alumbira kutchula Nyumba ya Mulungu, zilibe kanthu; koma ngati wina alumbira kutchula ndalama zagolide za mʼNyumbayo, wotere ayenera kusunga lumbiro lake.’
17 You are fools, and you are [like people who are] blind [MET]! The gold [that is in the Temple] is important, but [the Temple] is even more important [RHQ], because it is the Temple that the gold is in that sets the gold apart for a special use for God.
Inu akhungu opusa! Chopambana nʼchiyani: ndalama zagolide, kapena Nyumba imene imayeretsa golideyo?
18 Also [you say], ‘In the case of those who promise to [do] something and then ask [the altar to affirm what they have promised], it means nothing [if they do not do what they have promised]. But if they ask the gift [that] they have put on the altar [to support what they have promised], they must do [what they promised].’
Ndiponso mumati, ‘Ngati wina alumbira kutchula guwa lansembe, sizitanthauza kanthu; koma ngati wina alumbira kutchula mphatso ya paguwa lansembe, wotere ayenera kusunga lumbiro lake.’
19 [You are like people who are] blind [MET]. The gift [that is offered] on the altar is important, but the altar is even more important [RHQ] because it is the altar on which the offering is offered that sets it apart for a special use for God.
Inu anthu akhungu! Chopambana nʼchiyani: mphatso, kapena guwa limene limayeretsa mphatsoyo?
20 So, those who promise to do something, and then ask the altar [to affirm what they have promised] are asking everything on the altar [to support what they promised].
Chifukwa chake, iye amene alumbira kutchula guwa alumbira pa ilo ndi pa chilichonse chili pamenepo.
21 Those who promise to do something, and then ask the Temple [to affirm what they promised], are asking that [God], to whom the Temple belongs, [will affirm what they have promised].
Ndipo iye wolumbira potchula Nyumba ya Mulungu alumbira pa Nyumbayo ndi pa Iye amene amakhala mʼmenemo.
22 Those who promise to do something and then ask heaven [to affirm what they promised] are asking the throne of God and [God], who sits on that throne, [to affirm what they promised].”
Ndipo iye wolumbira kutchula kumwamba alumbira kutchula mpando waufumu wa Mulungu ndi pa Iye wokhalapo.
23 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites because, [even though] you give [to God] a tenth of [the herbs you produce, such as] mint, dill, and cummin, you do not [obey God’s] laws that are more important. [For example, you do not act] justly toward others, you do not act mercifully toward people, and you are not trustworthy. It is good to [give a tenth of your herbs] to God, but you should also [obey] these other [more important laws].
“Tsoka kwa inu, aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi, achiphamaso! Mumapereka chakhumi cha timbewu tonunkhira ndi cha timbewu tokometsera chakudya. Koma mwasiya zofunikira kwambiri za mʼmalamulo monga chilungamo, chifundo ndi kukhulupirika. Muyenera kuchita zomalizirazi komanso osasiya zoyambazo.
24 You [leaders are like] blind people [who are trying to lead others. According to your laws you say that touching gnats and camels makes you unacceptable to God. What you are doing is like] straining a gnat [out of a jar of water so that you do not swallow it and thereby become unacceptable to God], and [at the same time] swallowing a camel [with the water] [MET]!”
Atsogoleri akhungu inu! Mumachotsa kantchentche mu chakumwa chanu koma mumameza ngamira.
25 “You men who teach people the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites! You are greedy and selfish, but you [make yourselves appear holy. You are like] cups and plates that have been cleaned on the outside, but on the inside [they are very filthy].
“Tsoka kwa inu, aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi achiphamaso! Mumayeretsa kunja kwa chikho ndi mbale, koma mʼkatimo mwadzaza ndi dyera ndi kusadziretsa.
26 You blind Pharisees! First you must [stop being greedy and selfish]. [Then you will be able to do what] is [righteous. That will be like] cleaning the inside of a cup first. Then when you clean [MET] the outside [of the cup], [the cup will truly be clean].”
Afarisi akhungu! Poyamba tsukani mʼkati mwa chikho ndi mbale, ndipo kunja kwake kudzakhalanso koyera.
27 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites! You are like tombs [SIM] that are painted white [so that people can see them and avoid touching them]. The outside surfaces are beautiful, but inside they are full of dead people’s bones and filth.
“Tsoka kwa inu, aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi, achiphamaso! Muli ngati ziliza pa manda zowala kunja zimene zimaoneka zokongola koma mʼkatimo mwadzaza mafupa a anthu akufa ndi zonyansa zina zonse.
28 You are [like those tombs]. When people look at you, they think that you are righteous, but in your (inner beings/hearts) you are hypocrites and you disobey [God’s] commands.”
Chimodzimodzinso, kunja mumaoneka kwa anthu kuti ndinu olungama koma mʼkatimo ndinu odzaza ndi chinyengo ndi zoyipa zina.
29 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! Your punishment will be terrible! You rebuild the tombs of the [prophets whom others killed long ago]. You decorate the monuments [that honor] righteous [people].
“Tsoka kwa inu, aphunzitsi amalamulo ndi Afarisi, achiphamaso! Mumamanga ziliza za aneneri ndi kukongoletsa manda a olungama.
30 You say, ‘If we had [lived] when our ancestors [MET] [lived], we would not have helped [MET] those who killed [MTY] the prophets.’
Ndipo mumati, ‘Ngati tikanakhala mʼmasiku a makolo athu sitikanakhetsa nawo magazi a aneneri.’
31 Thus [you recognize that you should honor the prophets, but you disregard the word of God that other men whom God has sent teach you. In that way] you testify against yourselves that you are descendants and disciples [MET] of those who killed the prophets.
Potero mukutsimikiza kuti muli ana a iwo amene anapha aneneri.
32 You are as ready to murder people as [MET] your ancestors were!
Dzazani inu muyeso wa uchimo wa makolo anu!
33 [You people are so wicked] You are [as dangerous as poisonous] snakes [DOU, MET]! (You [foolishly] think that you will escape being punished in hell!/Do you [foolishly] think that you will escape when [God] punishes [wicked people] in hell?) [RHQ] (Geenna g1067)
“Njoka inu! Ana amamba! Mudzachithawa bwanji chilango cha gehena? (Geenna g1067)
34 Take note that this is why I will send prophets, wise men, and other men who will teach you [my message]. You will kill some of them by nailing them to crosses, and you will kill some in other ways. You will whip some of them in the places where you worship, and [you will] chase them from city to city.
Choncho ndi kutumizirani aneneri ndi anthu anzeru ndi aphunzitsi. Ena a iwo mudzawapha ndi kuwapachika; ena mudzawakwapula mʼmasunagoge anu ndi kuwafunafuna kuchokera mudzi wina kufikira wina.
35 As a result, God will consider that you are guilty for killing [SYN] all the righteous [people], including killing [MTY] [Adam’s son] Abel, who was a righteous man [SYN], and Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you [are guilty of] killing [in the holy place] between the Temple and the altar, and for killing [all the prophets] who lived between [the times that those two men lived].
Ndipo magazi onse a olungama amene anakhetsedwa pansi pano, kuyambira magazi a Abele, olungama kufikira Zakariya mwana wa Barakiya, amene munamupha pakati pa Nyumba ya Mulungu ndi guwa lansembe, adzakhala pa inu.
36 Think about this: You people who have observed my ministry, it is you whom [God] will punish [for killing all] those [prophets]!”
Zoonadi, ndikuwuzani kuti zonsezi zidzafika pa mʼbado uno.
37 “O [people of] Jerusalem [MTY, APO], you killed the prophets [who lived long ago], and you killed others whom [God] sent to you. You killed them by throwing stones at them [DOU]! Many times I wanted to gather you together [to protect you], like a hen gathers her young chicks under her wings [MET]. But you did not want [me to do that].
“Haa! Yerusalemu, Yerusalemu, iwe amene umapha aneneri ndi kugenda miyala amene atumidwa kwa iwe, kawirikawiri ndimafuna kusonkhanitsa ana ako, monga nkhuku imasonkhanitsira ana ake pansi pa mapiko ake, koma iwe sunafune.
38 So listen to this: Your city [SYN] will [soon] become an uninhabited place.
Taona, nyumba yako yasiyidwa ya bwinja.
39 Keep this in mind: You will see me again only when I [return], and you say [about me], ‘[God] is truly pleased with this man who comes with God’s authority [MTY].’”
Chifukwa chake ndikuwuza kuti simudzandionanso kufikira pamene mudzati, ‘Wodala Iye amene akudza mʼdzina la Ambuye.’”
