Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowd and to us his disciples,
Panyuma pakendi, Yesu walamba ku likoto lyabantu bangi, kayi ne kuli beshikwiya bakendi.
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].
Walabambileti, “Beshikwiyisha Milawo ya Mose ne Bafalisi bakute ncito ya kusansulula Milawo ya 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].
Ecebo cakendi mwelela kukonka byonse mbyobala mwiyishinga. kamutensanga mbyobalenshinga, pakwinga nkabakute kwinsa mbyobakute kwiyisha sobwe.
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]
Balo bakute kunyamwisha bantu mitolo yalema, njobatakumyuko ne kambombo kabo kunyamfwilisha kumanta mitolo.
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].
Bakute kwinsa bintu byonse kwambeti bantu bababone. Bakute kusungilila tukwisa tunene pankumo ne pamakasa twalembwapo maswi a Lesa! Bonani kutalimpisha mayombo kuminganjo yabo!
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.
Kayi bakute kuyanda kwikala pa bipuna byabulemu pa misena yalemekeshewa ya malyalya, ne mu manda akupaililamo.
7 Also, [they want people to] greet them [respectfully] in the marketplaces and to honor them by calling them ‘Teacher’.
Bakute kuyandeti bantu babapenga mitende yabulemu mu misena ya makwebo, ne kubakuweti, bashikwiyisha.
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].
Nomba amwe bantu kabata mukuwangeti, bashikwiyisha sobwe, pakwinga mukute shikwiyisha umowa, mwense ni pabukwenu.
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.
Kamutakuwanga muntu naba umo panshi pano eti, Ta, pakwinga amwe mukute ba Meshenu bamowa, Ba meshenu bakwilu.
10 Do not [allow people to] call you ‘Instructors’, because I, the Messiah, am the one instructor who [teaches all of] you.
Nabo bantu kabata mukuwangeti, batangunishi sobwe, pakwinga mutangunishi wenu ni Klistu umowa.
11 In contrast, everyone among you who wants [God to consider them] to be important must serve others as servants do.
Pakati penu mukulene abe musebenshi wenu.
12 [God] will humble those who exalt themselves. And [he] will exalt those who humble themselves.”
Ee, uyo lalisumpulunga mwine, nakacepeshewe, uyo lalicepeshenga nakasumpulwe.
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].”
“Malele kulinjamwe beshikwiyisha Milawo ya Mose, ne njamwe Bafalisi, bantu bandemi shibili! Mulacalanga cishinga pa menso abantu caku Bwami bwakwilu. Pakwinga mucinsheti nteti mukenglemo, neco mulashinkilishinga bantu balayandanga kwingilamo.”
“Malele kulinjamwe beshikwiyisha Milawo ya Mose, ne njamwe Bafalisi, bantu bandemishibili! Mukute kubebila bamukalubingi, kubalyela buboni bwabo, pakubanyengelela ne mipailo yenu itali itali. Pacebo ico Lesa nakamomboloshe mwangofu.”
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)
“Malele kulinjamwe beshikwiyisha Milawo ya Mose, ne njamwe Bafalisi, bantu bandemishibili! Mukute kwenda nyendo shingi pa lwenje ne pamutunta, kulangaula muntu umo kwambeti mu musandule abe shikwiya wenu. Nomba kayi mwa mucana, mukute kumusandula tunkanda tubili kuba welela Gehena, kupita amwe mobene.” (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.’
Malele kulinjamwe, batangunishi bashipilwa! Amwe mukute kwiyisheti, muntu alumbileti, pa Ng'anda ya Lesa, ciliya mulandu, nsombi na ulumbileti, pamali ali mu ng'anda ya Lesa, uyo welela kusunga kulumbila kwakendi.
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.
Amwe bantu bapusa, kayi bashipilwa! Cinene nicipeyo, mali nambi Ng'anda ya Lesa iyo ikute kusandula mali kuba aswepa?
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].’
Kayi mukute kwambeti, Muntu alumbileti, panteme ya milumbo, ciliya mulandu, Nsombi na ulumbileti, pa cishikubengwa panteme, uyo welela kusunga kulumbila kwakendi.
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.
Amwe bantu bashipilwa! Cinene nicipeyo, cisa cishikubengwa nambi nteme ya milumbo iyo ikute kusandula cishikubengwa kuba caswepa?
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].
Neco, muntu alumbileti, panteme ya milumbo, ekwambeti lalumbilili kumo ne byonse bili panteme.
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].
Alumbileti, pa Ng'anda ya Lesa, ekwambeti lalumbilili kumo ne Ng'andeyo pamo ne Lesa ukute kwikalamo.
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].”
Kayi Alumbileti, mbuli kwilu, lalumbili pa Cipuna ca Bwami bwa Lesa, kubikapo ne uyo wekala pa Cipuna.
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].
“Malele kulinjamwe beshikwiyisha Milawo ya Mose, ne njamwe Bafalisi, bantu bandemi shibili! Mukute kubenga ca likumi ca tumbuto twanunkila, twakubika mucakulya, nsombi mukute kusula Milawo ya Lesa yancine ncine, mbuli kombolosha kwalulama ne nkumbo kayi ne kushomeka. Mwanga mwelela kwinseco, kutashiyapo nabimbi sobwe.
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]!”
Amwe batangunishi bashipilwa, mukute kufunya shikanshi lawili momulanunga, nsombi mukute kumina munyama munene ukute kukwiweti ngamila.”
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].
“Malele amwe beshikwiyisha Milawo ya Mose, ne njamwe Bafalisi, bantu bandemi shibili! Mukute kusuka kunsa kwa nkomeshi ne mbale, kakuli mukati mwesula bukuma ne kuliyanda.
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].”
Amwe Ba falisi bashipilwa, tangunani nanshi kusuka mukati munkomeshi ne mbale, mpweshi musuke kunsa.”
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.
“Malele kulinjamwe beshikwiyisha Milawo ya Mose, ne njamwe Bafalisi, bantu bandemi shibili! Mulyeti manda ashibululwa ne laimu akute kuboneka cena kunsa, kakuli mukati mwesula mafupa abantu bafwa ne bintu bingi byabola.
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.”
Ne njamwe ncomubele pamenso abantu mukute kuboneketi mwalulama, kakuli mukati mwenu mwesula bundenga mano ne bintu byaipa.”
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].
“Malele kuli njamwe beshikwiyisha Milawo ya Mose, ne njamwe Bafalisi, bantu bandemi shibili! Mukute kubamba cena manda abashinshimi bakulu kulu, ne kushibulula bibumbwanya bya bantu balulama.
30 You say, ‘If we had [lived] when our ancestors [MET] [lived], we would not have helped [MET] those who killed [MTY] the prophets.’
Mukute kwambeti, ne twalikubako pacindi ncobalikubako bamashali betu bakulu kulu, nshinga ne twalabula kumantako lubasu pakushina basa bashinshimi.
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.
Nomba mulalisungunga mobene, pakwinga mulasuminingeti, mobashikulu ba bantu abo balashina bashinshimi.
32 You are as ready to murder people as [MET] your ancestors were!
Ee, lino kamupwishani ncito njobalatatika bamashali benu bakulukulu.”
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)
“Mwenjoka amwe, bana bampili, ni mukayubeconi lombolosho lwa 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.
Lino kamunyumfwani! Ni nkamutumine bashinshimi, ne bantu bamano, ne beshikwiyisha. Nabambi ni mukabashine ne kubapopa pa nsanda, nabambi ni mukabakwapule bikoti mu manda enu akupaililamo, kayi ni mukabapenshe ne kubatandanya kufuma pamunshi umo ne umo.
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].
Neco nimukacanike ne mulandu wabantu bonse balulama balashinwa pacishi capanshi, kufumina pakushinwa kwa Abele, muntu walulama, mpaka pa kushinwa kwa Sakaliya mwanendi Balakiya, uyo ngomwalashinina mu Ng'anda ya Lesa pakati pa nteme ya milumbo, ne Musena wa Swepeshesha.
36 Think about this: You people who have observed my ministry, it is you whom [God] will punish [for killing all] those [prophets]!”
Cakubinga ndamwambilingeti, lombolosho lulico nebintu byonse nibikenshike mu musemano uwu.”
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].
Ha! Obe Yelusalemu, Yelusalemu! Weshikushina bashinshimi, ne kupwaya mabwe bantu Lesa mbwalakutumininga. Ndayandanga kufukatila pamo banabobe tunkanda tungaye, mbuli nkuku ncekute kufukatila twana twayo mu mapepe akendi, nsombi obe ulakana!
38 So listen to this: Your city [SYN] will [soon] become an uninhabited place.
Cakubinga kamubonani nomba, ng'anda yenu ineneyi nibe matongo.
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].’”
Kayi ndamwambilishingeti, kufuma cindi cino nteti mukambonepo sobwe, mpaka cindi ncoti mukambeti, “Walelekwa uyo lesanga mu Lina lya enka bulyo walibela.”
