Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowd and to us his disciples,
Cekcoengawh Jesu ing thlang kqeng ingkaw a hubatkhqi venawh awi kqawn pehy.
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].
“Vemyihna tina hy, “Anaa awi cawngpyikungkhqi ingkaw Farasikhqi ing Mosi a ngawihdoelh awh ngawi uhy.
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].
Cedawngawh a mingmih ing amik kqawn saqui ce ngai pe kawm utik saw sai pe kawm uk ti. Cehlai a mingmih amyihna ik-oeih koeh sai law uh, a mingmih ingtaw a mimah ing amik kqawn ce am sai uhy.
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]
A mimah a phyihqih ak qih soeih ce thlang ak phleng awh tloeng pe uhy, cehlai a mimah ingtaw ami kutply kangnaa ingawm cawhkaw ik-oeihkhqi ce thoeih aham am ngaih uhy.
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].
Ik-oeih soepkep ami sai ce thlang a huh aham doeng ni ami sai hy: Ami talqi ingkaw ami baan awhkaw a bawm taw ak tla soeih na sai unawh ami hibai ce a vawkthawk na tlaak sak uhy;
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.
poei buhkungkhqi awh thlang a zoeksang ngaih unawh Sinakawk khqang awh ngawihnaak ak nep nep ingkaw;
7 Also, [they want people to] greet them [respectfully] in the marketplaces and to honor them by calling them ‘Teacher’.
ik-oeih zawihnaak hyn awh thlang ing kqihchahnaak a peek khqi, 'Cawngpyikung' tinawh amik khykhqi ce lungna uhy.
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].
Nangmih taw Boei pynoet doeng ni nami taak hy, nangmih taw cingnahqui na awm u hyk ti, cedawngawh nangmih ce, 'Cawngpyikung' tinawh am nik khy khqi tikaw.
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.
Cekcoengawh khawmdek awh 'ka pa' tinawh koeh khy law uh, kawtih nangmih taw khawk khan na ak awm Pa pynoet doeng ni nami taak.
10 Do not [allow people to] call you ‘Instructors’, because I, the Messiah, am the one instructor who [teaches all of] you.
'Cawngpyikung' am ti kawm uk ti, cawngpyikung pynoet doeng ni nami taak, anih taw Khrih ni.
11 In contrast, everyone among you who wants [God to consider them] to be important must serve others as servants do.
Nangmih ak khuiawh ak bau soeih taw nangmih a tyihzawih na awm seh.
12 [God] will humble those who exalt themselves. And [he] will exalt those who humble themselves.”
U awm amah ingkaw amah ak zoeksang qu taw ak kaina thlaak na awm kawmsaw, u awm ak kaina ak awm taw zoeksang na awm kaw.
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].”
Nangmih qaai kqawn Farasikhqi ingkaw anaa awi cawngpyikung khqi, khaw map uhyk ti! Nangmih ing thlang a haiawh khan qam ce khaih pe uhyk ti. Na mimah awm am kun uhyk ti.
Nangmih qaai kqawn anaa awi cawngpyikungkhqi ingkaw Farasikhqi khaw map uhyk ti! Nuhai cakhqi imkhqi ce qawt pe unawh, thlang a huh awh ak dung soeih na cykcah uhyk ti. Cedawngawh nangmih ve khawzah khqoet thawlh kawm uk ti.
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)
Nangmih qaai kqawn anaa awi cawngpyikungkhqi ingkaw Farasikhqi khaw map uhyk ti! Thlang pynoet qung nami huhnaak thai aham tuicunli ingkaw khawmdekkhqi leh plep unawh cet uhyk ti, thlang ce nami huh awhtaw na mimah let hih hell aca na sai uhyk ti. (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.’
Nangmih sawikung mikhyp tloek, khaw map uhyk ti! U ingawm bawkim ang ming phoei nawh awi a kam awhtaw ikawna awm am coeng lawk hy; cehlai u ingawm bawkim awhkaw sui ang ming phoei nawh awi a kam awhtaw, ak awi ngaan hy, ti uhyk ti.
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.
Nangmih mikhyp thlakhqawkhqi! Hannu ak bau khqoet: sui nu, am awhtaw sui ak ciimcaih sak bawkim nu?
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].’
Bawkthang ang ming phoei nawh awi a kam awhtaw kawna am coeng hy; cehlai ce bawkthang ak khan awhkaw zoepeek ik-oeih ang ming phoei ing awi a kam awhtaw, ak awi ce ngaan hy ti bai uhyk ti.
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.
Nangmih mikhypkhqi! Hannu ak bau khqoet: Ak khan awhkaw zoepeek ik-oeih nu, am awhtaw ak khan awhkaw ak ciimcaih sak bawkthang ce nu?
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].
Cedawngawh, u ingawm bawkthang ang ming phoei nawh awi a kam awhtaw bawkthang ingkaw ak khan awhkaw ak awm them pek ang ming phoei ing awi kam haih hawh hy.
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].
U ingawm bawkim ang ming phoei nawh awi a kam awhtaw bawkim ingkaw ak khuiawh ak awm ingqawi ang ming phoei nawh awi kam haih hawh hy.
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].”
U awm khan ang ming phoei nawh awi a kam awhtaw Khawsa a ngawihdoelh ingkaw ak khan awhkaw ak ngawi ang ming phoei ing awi kam haih hawh hy.
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].
Nangmih qaai kqawnkhqi ingkaw anaa awi cawngpyikungkhqi ingkaw Farasikhqi, khaw map uhyk ti! Nangmih ing sawngsingkhqi, cynqykkhqi ingkaw paipoengkhqi dyna pahqa awh pynoet ce pe uhyk ti. Cehlai anaa awi awhkaw awihtung na ak awm - thymnaak, qeennaak ingkaw ypawmnaakkhqi ce kawna am ngai uhyk ti. Lamma awhkawk khqi ce dalqa naak kaana ahu awhkawk khqi ve awm nami sai aham awm hy.
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]!”
Nangmih sawikung mikhypkhqi! Pica taw ciit hlai uhyk ti kalauk ce daih lat hawh uhyk ti.
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].
Nangmih anaa awi cawngpyikungkhqi ingkaw Farasi thlak qaai kqawnkhqi khaw map uhyk ti! Caboei ingkaw beei ce ak khan ben taw sil hawh hlai uhyk ti, ak khui ben taw qaai kqawnnaak ingkaw a pyh ngaihnaak ing be uhyk ti.
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].”
Farasi mikhypkhqi! Caboei ingkaw beei ak khui ben ce sil ma cang uh, cawhtaw ak khan ben ce awm ciimcaih kaw.
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.
Nangmih anaa awi cawngpyikungkhqi ingkaw Farasi thlak qaai kqawnkhqi khaw map uhyk ti! Phyi, ak khan awh a baawk ing thuut nawh ak khan awh ni toek awhtaw nep soeih hlai hy, ak khui awhtaw thlak thi a quh ingkaw amak caih a soep a hoei ing ak be ing myih uhyk ti.
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.”
Cemyih lawtna nangmih ve ak khan ben awhtaw thlak dyng amyihna awm hlai uhyk ti, ak khui ben awhtaw qaai kqawnnaak, thawlhnaak ing be uhyk ti.
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].
Nangmih anaa awi cawngpyikungkhqi ingkaw Farasi thlak qaai kqawnkhqi khaw map uhyk ti! Tawngha khqik phyi ce sa u tiksaw thlak dyngkhqik phyi taw thawi a cam uhyk ti.
30 You say, ‘If we had [lived] when our ancestors [MET] [lived], we would not have helped [MET] those who killed [MTY] the prophets.’
Nukdam pakdamkhqi khuk awh ana awm mai nyng seiawm, tawnghakhqi thisen lawng saknaak awh amna paa ti kawng, ti uhyk ti.
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.
Tawnghakhqi ak himkung a cadil na nami awmnaak ce na mimah ing dyih pyi nawn hawh uhyk ti.
32 You are as ready to murder people as [MET] your ancestors were!
Nami pakdamkhqi thawlh ang lawngnaak ce be sak ngala hlah uh.
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)
Nangmih khquikhqi! Kqui a cadilkhqi! Ikawmyihna hell khui awhkawng nami loet pai kaw? (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.
Cedawngawh tawnghakhqi, thlak cyikhqi ingkaw cawngpyikungkhqi ce tyi law kawng. A vang ce him kawm u tiksaw thinglam awh taai kawm uk ti.
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].
Cedawngawh nangmih ak khan awh thlak dyng Abel awhkawng bawkim ingkaw bawkthang anglakawh nami him Berekiah a capa Zekariah dyna khawmdek awh ak lawng thlak dyngkhqi boeih a thi ce nangmih ak khan awh awm kaw.
36 Think about this: You people who have observed my ministry, it is you whom [God] will punish [for killing all] those [prophets]!”
Awitak ka nik kqawn peek khqi, vemyihkhqi boeih ve vawhkaw cadilkhqik khan awh law kaw.
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].
Aw Jerusalem, Jerusalem, nang tawnghakhqi ak himkung ingkaw na venawh tyih na ak awmkhqi lung ing ak deepkung, aainu ing a cakhqi ang hlak khuiawh a khawl a cui amyihna, na cadil izah nu khawl a cui aham ang hlah ce, cehlai nang ingtaw am ngaih hyk ti.
38 So listen to this: Your city [SYN] will [soon] become an uninhabited place.
Toek lah na im ve a hqawng nani cehtaak hyt na a awm hawh hy.
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].’”
Ikawtih ka nik kqawn peek khqi, ‘Bawipa ming ing ak law taw a zoseen hy,’ tinawh nak kqawn hlan dy taw kai ve amni hu voel kawm uk ti,” tina hy.
