Dɔwɔwɔwo 17
1 Azɔ ame eveawo zɔ mɔ to Amfipolis kple Apolonia nutowo me va ɖo Tesalonika, afi si Yudatɔwo ƒe ƒuƒoƒe aɖe le.
And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Paulo yi ƒuƒoƒe sia abe ale si wòwɔna ɖaa ene, eye Dzudzɔgbe etɔ̃ katã wòyi ɖaɖe mawunya me na ameawo.
And Paul, according to his custom, went in unto them; and for three sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the scriptures:
3 Paolo ɖe eme, eye wòɖo kpe edzi na wo be ele na Kristo la be wòakpe fu, eye wòatsi tsitre tso ame kukuwo dome. Eyi edzi be, “Yesu si ƒe nya gblɔm mele na mi lae nye Kristo la.”
Declaring and insinuating that the Christ was to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach to you.
4 Yudatɔ geɖewo xɔ se, eye wowɔ ɖeka kple Paulo kple Silas, hekpe ɖe Helatɔ siwo vɔ̃a Mawu la ƒe ha gã aɖe kpakple nyɔnu ŋkuta aɖewo ŋu.
And some of them believed, and were associated to Paul and Silas; and of those that served God, and of the Gentiles a great multitude, and of noble women not a few.
5 Yudatɔwo ƒe amegã siwo nɔ dua me la ʋã ŋu Paulo kple Silas, eya ta woƒo gbevu aɖewo nu ƒu tso ablɔwo dzi siwo wɔ ameha gã aɖe, eye wowɔ ʋunyaʋunya le dua me. Wosi du yi Yason ƒe aƒe me le Paulo kple Silas dim ne woakplɔ wo va ameha la ŋkumee.
But the Jews, moved with envy, and taking unto them some wicked men of the vulgar sort, and making a tumult, set the city in an uproar; and besetting Jason’s house, sought to bring them out unto the people.
6 Ke womekpɔ Paulo kple Silas le aƒea me o, eya ta wolé Yason kple xɔsetɔ aɖewo, kplɔ wo yi dumegãwo gbɔe, eye wonɔ ɣli dom be, “Ame siwo de zi amewo me le xexea me katã la va afi sia hã azɔ,
And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying: They that set the city in an uproar, are come hither also;
7 woawoe Yason na sitsoƒee ɖe eƒe aƒe me. Wo katã da le Kaisaro ƒe se dzi le gbɔgblɔm be fia bubu aɖe li si ŋkɔe nye Yesu.”
Whom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
8 Esi wose esia la, ameawo kple dumegãwo de asi hoowɔwɔ me.
And they stirred up the people, and the rulers of the city hearing these things,
9 Ke esi woxɔ asiƒuakɔnu le Yason kple etɔwo si la woɖe asi le wo ŋu be woadzo.
And having taken satisfaction of Jason and of the rest, they let them go.
10 Le zã ma me la, xɔsetɔ siwo le dua me la kplɔ Paulo kple Silas do goe le dua me alɔtsɔtsɔe, eye woyi Berea. Paulo kple Silas gayi woƒe dɔ dzi le afi sia hã hegblɔ mawunya le Yudatɔwo ƒe ƒuƒoƒe si le dua me la me.
But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea. Who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 Bereatɔwo ɖɔ ʋu wu Tesalonikatɔwo, elabena woɖo to Paulo ƒe nyagbɔgblɔ kple dzidzɔ. Woawo ŋutɔwo hã nɔa mawunya la me dzrom ɣe sia ɣi be yewoakpɔe ɖa be nyateƒenya gblɔm Paulo nɔ mahã.
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness, daily searching the scriptures, whether these things were so.
12 To esia me la, wo dometɔ geɖewo zu xɔsetɔwo eye Helatɔ ŋkuta siwo nye nyɔnuwo kple ŋutsuwo siaa xɔ nya la dzi se.
And many indeed of them believed, and of honourable women that were Gentiles, and of men not a few.
13 Esi Yudatɔ siwo tso Tesalonika la gase be Paulo nɔ mawunya gblɔm le Berea la, wogati wo yome yi afi ma hã, eye wògade zi ameawo me ɖe wo ŋu.
And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the multitude.
14 Ke xɔsetɔwo wɔ kaba ɖo Paulo ɖe ƒuta gome lɔƒo, gake Silas kple Timoteo ya tsi anyi.
And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go unto the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 Ame siwo kplɔ Paulo yii la ɖoe ɖa va se ɖe Atene hafi trɔ yi Berea. Paulo de gbe asi na wo be woagblɔ na Silas kple Timoteo be woawɔ kaba ava tu ye le Atene.
And they that conducted Paul, brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a commandment from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.
16 Esi Paulo nɔ Sila kple Timoteo lalam le Atene la, eɖi tsa le dua me, eye wòɖe fu na eƒe susu ŋutɔ be dua me yɔ fũu kple legbawo.
Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 Eyi Yudatɔwo ƒe ƒuƒoƒe be yeadzro nya me kple Yudatɔwo kple Helatɔ mawuvɔ̃lawo. Eƒo nu na ameha si le dua ƒe takpeƒe la hã gbe sia gbe.
He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews, and with them that served God, and in the marketplace, every day with them that were there.
18 Paulo dzro nya me kple xexemenunyala gã aɖewo siwo woyɔna be Epikurea kple Stoiktɔwo hã. Wo dometɔ aɖewo bia be, “Nu kae nukpoloeƒola sia le didim be yeagblɔ?” Ɖewo gblɔ be, “Ewɔ abe dutamawuwo ŋue wòle nu ƒom le ene.” Wogblɔ esia, elabena Paulo nɔ nyanyui la gblɔm ku ɖe Yesu ƒe ku kple tsitretsitsi ŋuti.
And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics disputed with him; and some said: What is it, that this word sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods; because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
19 Ale wolée hekplɔe yi takpeƒe si woyɔna be Areopago la, afi ma wogblɔ nɛ be, “Na míase nya tso nufiafia yeye si nèhe vɛ la ŋu.
And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of?
20 Èle nya masekpɔ aɖewo gblɔm ɖe míaƒe towo me, míedi be míase nya siawo gɔme kple nu si wonye.”
For thou bringest in certain new things to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (Atenetɔwo katã kple amedzroawo hã lɔ̃a anyinɔnɔ ɖe takpeƒe hewɔa woƒe ɣeyiɣiwo ŋuti dɔ to nyamedzodzro kple susu yeyewo xɔxɔ me.)
(Now all the Athenians, and strangers that were there, employed themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some new thing.)
22 Esi ŋkekea ɖo la, Paulo tsi tsitre ɖe ameha la titina le Areopago la dzi heƒo nu gblɔ na wo be, “Nɔvinye Atenetɔwo, edze nam ƒãa be mienye ame siwo kpɔa dzidzɔ le mawuvɔvɔ̃ ŋu ŋutɔ,
But Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.
23 elabena esi menɔ tsa ɖim le miaƒe dua me la, mekpɔ miaƒe nu subɔsubɔwo. Ke mekpɔ vɔsamlekpui aɖe si ŋuti woŋlɔ ɖo be, mawu si mienya o la tɔe. Mawu si miesubɔna le manyamanya me la ƒe nyae metsɔ vɛ na mi.
For passing by, and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was written: To the unknown God. What therefore you worship, without knowing it, that I preach to you:
24 “Mawu siae wɔ xexea me kple nu siwo katã le eme, eye wònye dziƒo kple anyigba ƒe aƒetɔ na nu sia nu. Esia ta menɔa gbedoxɔ si amewo tsɔ asi tui la me o,
God, who made the world, and all things therein; he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 eye le esime naneke mehiãnɛ o ta la, amegbetɔ mate ŋu awɔ naneke nɛ o. Ke eya boŋ naa agbe kple gbɔgbɔ amegbetɔ, eye wònaa nu ame sia ame ɖe eƒe hiahiã nu.
Neither is he served with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing; seeing it is he who giveth to all life, and breath, and all things:
26 Mawu siae wɔ amegbetɔ siwo katã tso dzɔtsoƒe ɖeka, eye wokaka ɖe xexea me ƒe akpa ɖe sia ɖe. Eɖo liƒo kple ɣeyiɣi na dukɔwo da ɖi xoxo.
And hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times, and the limits of their habitation.
27 Mawu ƒe didie nye be amegbetɔwo nadii, ake ɖe eŋu togbɔ be egbɔ medidi tso ame aɖeke gbɔ o hã.
That they should seek God, if happily they may feel after him or find him, although he be not far from every one of us:
28 ‘Eya mee míele agbe le, eye míeʋãna le, eye míele.’ Abe ale si miaƒe hɛnɔ aɖe gblɔe ene be, ‘Míawoe nye Mawu viwo.’
For in him we live, and move, and are; as some also of your own poets said: For we are also his offspring.
29 “Ne míenye Mawu viwo la, ekema menyo be míabu be Mawu nye legba si amegbetɔ awɔ kple sika alo klosalo alo kpe le ame ƒe aɖaŋuwɔwɔ kple tamesusu nu la o.
Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the divinity to be like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the graving of art, and device of man.
30 Tsã la, Mawu mia ŋku ɖe amegbetɔ ƒe numanyamanya dzi. Ke azɔ la, eɖe gbe be ame sia ame natrɔ dzi me asubɔ ye ɖeka ko,
And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men, that all should every where do penance.
31 elabena eɖo ŋkeke tɔxɛ aɖe da ɖi be yeava drɔ̃ ʋɔnu xexea me, eya ŋutɔ tia ame si le ʋɔnu la drɔ̃ ge la da ɖi, eye eyae nye ame si wòfɔ ɖe tsitre tso ame kukuwo dome.”
Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in equity, by the man whom he hath appointed; giving faith to all, by raising him up from the dead.
32 Esi wosee wògblɔ nya tso fɔfɔ tso ame kukuwo dome ŋu la, nyasela aɖewo koe ŋutɔ, ke ame bubuwo gblɔ be, “Míedi be míagase nya sia ɣe bubu ɣi”
And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked, but others said: We will hear thee again concerning this matter.
33 Ale Paulo dzo le takpeƒe la.
So Paul went out from among them.
34 Ame ʋɛ aɖewo ya dze eyome trɔ zu xɔsetɔwo. Ame siawo dometɔ aɖewoe nye Dionisio si nye dumegã ɖeka kple nyɔnu aɖe si ŋkɔe nye Damaris.
But certain men adhering to him, did believe; among whom was also Dionysius, the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
