Revelation 18
1 After this, [in the vision] I saw another angel, who had great authority, coming down from heaven. The earth became bright [because] he was shining so intensely/brightly.
Le esia megbe la, mekpɔ mawudɔla bubu wòɖi tso dziƒo gbɔna. Ŋusẽ gã aɖe nɔ esi, eye eƒe ŋutikɔkɔe na anyigba dzi klẽ.
2 He shouted with a very loud voice, “[God is about to] completely destroy [DOU] all the very [evil] cities (OR, the very evil [city]) [that] Babylon [represents]. As a result, all [kinds of] evil spirits [DOU] will live there, and all [kinds of] foul and detestable [DOU] birds will live there.
Edo ɣli kple gbe gã aɖe be, “‘Womui! Womu Babilonia Gã la!’ Eva zu aƒe na gbɔgbɔ vɔ̃wo kple mɔ sesẽ na gbɔgbɔ makɔmakɔwo kple xadza na xevi makɔmakɔwo kple lã siwo womeɖuna o la,
3 [God will destroy those cities] because [their rulers have persuaded] the people of [MTY] all nations to act very immorally [and idolatrously with the people of] [MET] [those cities, just like] a prostitute persuades men to drink [strong] wine and then commit fornication with her. The rulers of the earth have also acted immorally [and idolatrously] with the people of [MTY] those cities. The merchants of the earth have become rich [because the people of those cities] strongly desired [and bought from the merchants] many (luxuries/expensive things).”
elabena dukɔwo katã no eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe wain si nye eƒe gbolowɔwɔ la. Anyigbadzifiawo wɔ ahasi kplii, eye anyigbadzisitsala gãwo zu hotsuitɔ gãwo to eƒe kesinɔnu gbogboawo me.”
4 I heard [Jesus] speak from heaven. He said, “My people, flee from [those cities], in order that you do not sin as the people [of those cities do. If you sin as they do], I will punish you as I will punish them.
Tete mese gbe bubu tso dziƒo le gbɔgblɔm be, “‘Nye amewo, mido go le wo dome,’ be miagakpɔ gome le woƒe nu vɔ̃wo me o, be woƒe dɔvɔ̃wo dometɔ aɖeke nagava mia dzi o,
5 [It is as though] their sins have been piled {have piled} up to heaven, and God remembers them [DOU], [so now he will punish them] [MTY].”
elabena woƒe nu vɔ̃wo li kɔ yi ɖe dziƒo ke, eye Mawu ɖo ŋku woƒe nu tovowo wɔwɔ dzi.
6 [To the angels whom God assigned to punish those cities, Jesus said], “Pay back/Punish the people of those cities to the same extent that they harmed [other people]. Cause them to suffer twice as much [as they caused other people to suffer] [DOU, MET].
Wɔe nɛ abe ale si wòwɔ ene. Ɖo eteƒe nɛ zi eve ɖe nu si wòwɔ la ta. Tɔtɔ eya ŋutɔ ƒe kplu eve ne nàtsɔ nɛ.
7 To the same extent that they have boasted about themselves and done the things that they wanted to do, to that extent torment them and cause them to grieve. [Do that because] in their minds they think, ‘We rule as queens! We are not widows, and we will never mourn [as widows do]’!
Egblɔ le eƒe dzi me dadatɔe be, ‘Menɔ anyi abe nyɔnufia ene, nyemenye ahosi o, eye nyemafa konyi akpɔ o.’ Eya ta tsɔ fuwɔame kple vevesese nɛ wòasɔ gbɔ abe ale si wòtsɔ ŋutikɔkɔe kple kesinɔnuwo na eɖokui ene.
8 So in one day terrible calamities/troubles will come upon them. [The people in those cities] will die, others will mourn for them, people will be hungry [because there will be no food], and [their cities] will be burned up. The Lord God is able to punish those cities [like that], because he is very powerful.”
Eya ta le ŋkeke ɖeka me la, eƒe dɔvɔ̃wo ava ƒo ɖe edzi, esiwo nye ku, konyifafa kple dɔwuame. Dzo ava fiae keŋkeŋ, elabena ŋusẽtɔe nye Aƒetɔ Mawu, ame si drɔ̃ ʋɔnui.
9 “The kings of the earth who have acted immorally [with people of those cities] and have lived with the people of those cities, doing just what they wanted to do, will weep and mourn [DOU] for them when they see the smoke of the fire that is burning those cities.
“Ne anyigbadzifia siwo wɔ ahasi kplii, eye wokpɔ gome le eƒe kesinɔnuwo me kpɔ dzo si wotɔe ƒe dzudzɔ la, woafa avi, eye woafa nɛ.
10 They will stand far away [from those cities], because they will be afraid [that they will suffer just like the people of those cities] are suffering. They will say, ‘Terrible things will happen to the awesome and mighty cities [represented by] Babylon! [God] will punish them suddenly and swiftly [MTY]!’
Eƒe fuwɔame ado ŋɔdzi na wo ale gbegbe be woanɔ adzɔge ke anɔ avi fam kple ɣli be, “‘Baba! O du gã, baba na wò. O Babilonia, du si ŋu ŋusẽ le! Le gaƒoƒo ɖeka me, wò tsɔtsrɔ̃ va ɖo!’
11 The merchants of the earth will weep and will mourn [DOU] [for those cities], because no one will ever again buy the things that they have [to sell to the people in those cities].
“Anyigbadzisitsalawo afa avi, eye woafa nɛ, elabena ame aɖeke megale woƒe adzɔnuwo ƒlem o.
12 [They sell ornaments made] of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls. They sell [expensive cloth made of] fine linen and silk, [expensive cloth that is dyed] purple and crimson. They sell all kinds of [rare] wood, all kinds of items [made of] ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble. They sell cinnamon, spice, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, and grain. They sell cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots. They even sell human beings [SYN, DOU] to become slaves.
Adzɔnu siawoe nye sika, klosalo, kpe xɔasiwo, dzonuwo, aklala biɖibiɖiwo, ago, sedavɔ, avɔ dzĩwo, ati ʋeʋĩ vovovowo kple nu vovovo siwo wowɔ kple nyiɖu, ati xɔasiwo, akɔbli, gayibɔ kple kpe xɔasiwo.
Bubuawoe nye atike ʋeʋĩ, sinamɔn, detsiƒonu ʋeʋĩwo, dzudzɔʋeʋĩdonuwo, kotoklobo, lifi, wain, amitimi, wɔ memi, lu, nyiwo, alẽwo, sɔwo kple woƒe tasiaɖamwo, kluviwo kple amewo ƒe luʋɔwo.
14 [The merchants will say], ‘The good things you people longed to have are gone! All your luxurious and splendid [DOU] [possessions have vanished!]! They will be gone forever/You will never have them again [LIT]!’
“Wo katã woagblɔ be, ‘Kutsetse si nèdi vevie la do le asiwò me. Wò kesinɔnuwo kple wò atsyɔ̃ hã tsrɔ̃; womagatrɔ agbɔ gbeɖe o.’
15 The merchants [who sold] these things and who had become rich by [supplying them] for those [cities] will stand far away, because they will be afraid [that they will suffer just like] the people [of those cities] are suffering. They will weep and mourn [DOU],
Asitsala siwo dzra nu siawo, eye wokpɔ woƒe kesinɔnuwo tso egbɔ la atsi tsitre ɖe adzɔge ke le ŋɔdzi si lé wo ɖe eƒe fuwɔame ta la ta. Woafa avi, afa konyi,
16 and they will say, ‘Terrible things [DOU] have happened to the awesome/great [MET] cities! [They were like queens] who dressed themselves in [clothes made of] [MTY] fine linen [cloth] and expensive cloth dyed purple and crimson, and who were adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls.
eye woado ɣli be, “‘Baba! O du gã si do aklala biɖibiɖi kple avɔ dzĩ kple avɔ blɔtɔ ƒe awu legbe, eye nède sikakɔga si le dzo dam, kpe xɔasiwo kple dzonu ƒuƒuiwo, baba na wò!
17 But suddenly and swiftly [MTY] [God] has destroyed these expensive things.’ Every ship captain, all people who travel by ship, all (sailors/those who work on ships), and all others who earn their living [by traveling on] the ocean will stand far away [from those cities].
Le gaƒoƒo ɖeka pɛ ko me la, wò kesinɔnu gbogbo siawo tsrɔ̃!’ “Azɔ la, kuɖɔɖola ɖe sia ɖe, ame siwo katã ɖoa tɔdziʋu, tɔdziʋukulawo kple ame siwo katã kpɔa woƒe abolo tso ƒudzidɔwɔwɔ me la katã anɔ adzɔge.
18 When they see the smoke of the fire that is burning those cities, they will shout, ‘No [other] cities have ever been so awesome!’ [RHQ]
Ne wokpɔ dzo si wotɔe ƒe dzudzɔ le tutum la, woado ɣli be, ‘Du aɖe nɔ anyi kpɔ abe du gã sia enea?’
19 They will throw dust on their heads [to show that they are sad], and they will shout, weep, and mourn [DOU]. They will say, ‘Terrible things have happened to the awesome/great cities, the cities that made all people who own ships [that sail] on the ocean become rich by [carrying] their costly (things for them to sell/merchandise)! [God] has suddenly and swiftly destroyed [MTY] those cities!’”
Woalɔ ke akɔ ɖe tame, woafa avi, eye woado konyifaɣli be, “‘Baba! O du gã, afi si ame siwo katã si tɔdziʋu si nɔa ƒu dzi le la kpɔ woƒe kesinɔnuwo le. Baba na wò! Le gaƒoƒo ɖeka pɛ ko me, wotsrɔ̃e keŋkeŋ.’
20 Then someone spoke from heaven saying, “All you who live in heaven, rejoice over what has happened to [the cities represented by] Babylon! You who are God’s people, including you apostles, you (prophets/who speak messages that come directly from God), rejoice, because God has justly punished the people of those cities because they acted in an evil way toward you!”
“O dziƒo, dzɔ dzi le eya amea ta! Mi Mawu ƒe amewo apostolowo kple nyagblɔɖilawo, mitso aseye! Elabena Mawu drɔ̃ ʋɔnui ɖe ale si wòwɔ fu mi la ta.”
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large stone for grinding grain, and threw it into the ocean. Then he said, “O you people in [APO] the awesome/great cities [represented by] Babylon, your cities will be destroyed so that they will disappear just like that stone disappeared in the ocean! Your cities will be gone forever [LIT]!
Tete mawudɔla triakɔ aɖe tsɔ kpe aɖe si ƒe lolome anɔ abe wɔtute ene la ƒu gbe ɖe atsiaƒu me, eye wògblɔ be, “Aleae woatsɔ dziku kple ŋusẽ aƒu Babilonia, du gã la anyii, eye magafɔ gbeɖe o.
22 In your cities there will never again be [anyone] playing harps, singing, playing flutes, and blowing trumpets. There will no longer be any (skilled workers/craftsmen) making things. There will never again be people grinding [grain at] [MTY] the mills.
Kasaŋkuƒolawo, hadzilawo, dzekulawo kple kpẽkulawo la, womagase woƒe ŋkɔ le mewò akpɔ gbeɖe o. Nenema ke womagakpɔ asinudɔwɔla aɖeke tɔgbi le mewò akpɔ gbeɖe o. Womagase wɔtutewo ƒe wɔtutu le mewò akpɔ gbeɖe o.
23 No lamplight will ever again shine. There will never again be the [happy] voices of a bridegroom and his bride. [God will destroy your cities] because your merchants were the most [deceitful] men in the world. You persuaded them to deceive [people of] [MTY] all nations.
Womagakpɔ akaɖi ƒe bibi le mewò akpɔ gbeɖe o. Nenema ke ŋugbetɔ kple ŋugbetɔsrɔ̃ ƒe gbe magaɖi le mewò akpɔ gbeɖe o. Wò asitsalawoe nye ame xɔŋkɔwo le xexea me; ètsɔ wò akunyawɔwɔ kplɔ dukɔwo katã trae.
24 You are also [responsible for killing] [MTY] [the] prophets and [others] of God’s people. Indeed, you are the ones who are guilty for the deaths of all those who have been {whom [others] have} killed on the earth!”
Wokpɔ nyagblɔɖilawo kple ame kɔkɔewo kpakple ame siwo katã wowu le anyigba dzi la ƒe ʋu le mewò.”
