Kolosetɔwo 3
1 Azɔ esi mietsi tsitre kple Kristo tso ku me ta la, midi nu siwo le dziƒo, afi si Kristo bɔbɔ nɔ anyi ɖo le Mawu ƒe ɖusime.
You now are alive [spiritually], and [it is as though you were given new life] {[God caused you to become alive]} when he caused Christ to become alive again. So be constantly wanting what is associated with heaven [MTY], where Christ is. There God has given him supreme authority and the highest honor.
2 Mina dziƒonuwo ŋuti bubu naxɔ miaƒe susuwo me; migagblẽ miaƒe ɣeyiɣiwo anɔ anyigbadzinuwo ŋuti bum o.
Be constantly wanting the blessings that God has prepared for you in heaven [MTY]. Do not be constantly wanting [to do the evil deeds that people on] earth do [MTY],
3 Elabena mieku, eye wotsɔ mi kpakple Kristo ƒe agbe ɣla ɖe Mawu me.
because you have [ceased to behave as you formerly did. You are like people who have] died. You now live [spiritually] together with Christ in [the presence of] God; and [people] cannot see that [you have a new life].
4 Ne Kristo si nye miaƒe agbe va do la, ekema miawo hã miado kpakplii le ŋutikɔkɔe me.
When Christ, who causes you to live [spiritually], is publicly revealed, then God will also reveal you publicly together with Christ, [and you together with Christ will be] glorious.
5 Eya ta migbe nu le anyigbadzinu siwo yɔ fũu kple nu vɔ̃ la gbɔ; miwu didi vɔ̃ siwo le fiefiem le mia me. Migawɔ naneke si ku ɖe ahasiwɔwɔ, makɔmakɔnyenye, fieŋuifieŋui, nudzodzro vɔ̃ kple ŋukeklẽ si nye trɔ̃subɔsubɔ o.
[Get rid of your evil practices/deeds] [MET, MTY] [as though they were enemies whom] you were killing (OR, [Stop doing evil things] [MET, MTY], just as dead people do not do what is evil). Specifically, do not practice sexual immorality. Do not commit unnatural sexual acts. Do not desire to act like that, and do not desire [to do anything that is] evil. Do not desire to have more things than you need, because, if you do that, you are (worshipping material things instead of worshipping God/making material things to become your god).
6 Mawu ƒe dziku helĩhelĩ ava ame siwo wɔa nu siawo la dzi.
[Do not behave like that] since God will punish [MTY] those who disobey him, because of their sins.
7 Miewɔa nu siawo tsã esi mienɔ agbe abe xexemetɔ bubuwo ko ene,
You also formerly did those things when you were disobeying God.
8 gake azɔ la, ɣeyiɣi la de na mi be miaɖe asi le nu siawo katã, siwo nye: dziku, dɔmedzoe, nu to vo wɔwɔ, busunya kple nya vlowo gbɔgblɔ ŋu.
Now, however, as for you, do not do any of these evil deeds: Do not get angry in any way [DOU]. Do not act maliciously. Do not (slander/talk evil about) people. Do not talk abusively to people.
9 Migaka aʋatso na mia nɔewo o; elabena mieɖe agbe xoxo la kple eƒe nuwɔnawo ɖa.
Do not lie to one another. Do not do those things, because you have (disposed of/stopped obeying) your former evil nature and stopped doing what you did when you had that former [evil] nature,
10 Azɔ la, miele agbe yeye nɔm, eye agbe yeye nɔnɔ sia na miele nu nyui wɔwɔ srɔ̃m gbe sia gbe le sidzedze me, be mianɔ ame si nye Wɔla la ƒe nɔnɔme me.
and because you have received a new nature. God is causing your new nature to become more and more like his own nature. He created your new nature in order that [you might get to] know [God] truly.
11 Le agbe yeye sia nɔnɔ me la, Grikitɔ, Yudatɔ, aʋatsotsotɔ alo aʋamatsomatsotɔ, ŋkumaʋamaʋutɔ alo Skitiatɔ, kluvi alo ablɔɖevi megali o, ke boŋ wo katã nye kristotɔ, eye Kristo le wo katã me.
As a result of that, it is not [important whether anyone is a] non-Jew or a Jew, or [whether anyone is] circumcised or not, or [whether anyone is] a foreigner, or even uncivilized, or [whether anyone is] a slave or not a slave. But [what is important is] Christ, who is supremely important in every way.
12 Eya ta esi mienye Mawu ƒe ame tiatiawo kple ame kɔkɔewo kpakple lɔlɔ̃viwo ŋuti la, mido dɔmetɔtrɔ, nublanuikpɔkpɔ, ɖokuibɔbɔ, tufafa kple dzigbɔɖi ƒe awuwo na mia ɖokuiwo.
Because God has chosen you to be his people; and because he loves you, be compassionate to one another. Be kind to one another. Be humble. Be meek (OR, be considerate toward one another), be patient with one another,
13 Mihe adodo kple mia nɔewo, eye mitsɔ mia nɔewo ƒe vodadawo ke wo. Miɖo ŋku ale si Aƒetɔ la tsɔ miaƒe nu vɔ̃wo ke mii la dzi, eye miawo hã miatsɔ ake mia nɔewo nenema ke.
and tolerate one another’s flaws. Forgive one another, if one of you has a grudge/complaint against another. Just like the Lord [Jesus freely/willingly] forgave you, you too [must freely/willingly forgive one another].
14 Ƒo esiawo katã ta la, mina lɔlɔ̃ nafia ale si mianɔ agbee la mi, elabena esia ana be mianɔ anyi le ɖekawɔwɔ blibo me.
And what is more important than all of these is that you love one another, because by doing that you will be perfectly united together.
15 Mina ŋutifafa si tso Kristo gbɔ la naɖu dzi le miaƒe dziwo kple agbenɔnɔ blibo katã me ɣe sia ɣi, elabena esia nye miaƒe dɔdeasi kple mɔnukpɔkpɔ abe ame siwo nye ŋutilã ɖeka ƒe ŋutinuwo ene. Eye mida akpe ɣe sia ɣi.
Because God chose you to live peacefully [with one another] in your local congregations, let that peace which Christ gives control your (inner beings/hearts), and be constantly thanking God.
16 Mina be Kristo ƒe nya la natso aƒe ɖe mia me le agbɔsɔsɔ me, esi miele nu fiam, le nu xlɔ̃m mia nɔewo kple Mawu me nunya. Midzi Psalmowo, hadzidziwo kple gbɔgbɔmehawo kple akpedada le miaƒe dziwo me na Mawu.
And continue to let the message about Christ govern/direct all you think and do, as you very wisely teach and warn one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (OR, songs that God’s Spirit [gives you]), while you sincerely and thankfully sing to God.
17 Eye nu sia nu si miawɔ la, eɖanye le nya me alo nuwɔwɔ me o, miwɔ wo katã le Aƒetɔ Yesu ƒe ŋkɔ me, eye miada akpe na Mawu Fofo la, to eya amea me.
Whatever you say, and whatever you do, do all of this in the manner that those who are representatives [MTY] of the Lord Jesus [should do], while you constantly thank God, our Father, as you ask the Lord Jesus to take your prayers to God.
18 Mi srɔ̃nyɔnuwo la, mibɔbɔ mia ɖokuiwo na mia srɔ̃wo, elabena esia nye Aƒetɔ la ƒe ɖoɖo na mi.
You women, be subject to your husbands, since that is what you should do because you have a close relationship with the Lord [Jesus].
19 Eye mi srɔ̃ŋutsuwo hã la, milɔ̃ mia srɔ̃wo, eye mialé be na wo, eye migado dziku ɖe wo ŋuti alo ablu ɖe wo ta o.
You men, love your wives; and, do not be harsh with them.
20 Mi ɖeviwo la, ele be miabu mia fofowo kple mia dadawo ɣe sia ɣi, elabena esiae dze Aƒetɔ la ŋu.
You children, obey your parents in every circumstance, because the Lord [God] is pleased when you do that.
21 Mi fofowo la, miganɔ nya hem ɖe mia viwo ŋuti ale gbegbe be dzi naɖe le wo ƒo be woadzudzɔ agbagbadzedze o.
You parents (OR, you fathers), do not correct your children more than you need to, in order that they do not become discouraged.
22 Mi kluviwo la, miɖo to miaƒe anyigbadziƒetɔwo ɣe sia ɣi; menye to ameŋkumenuwɔwɔ me o, ke boŋ miawɔe ɣe sia ɣi, ne miaƒe aƒetɔwo meli o hã. Miɖo to wo le dzimekɔkɔ kple Aƒetɔ la vɔvɔ̃ me.
You slaves, obey your earthly masters in every circumstance. Do not obey your masters only when they are watching [MTY] you, like those who [merely] want to impress their masters favorably. Instead, obey your masters sincerely. Do this because you reverence the Lord [Jesus] (OR, [God]).
23 Mitsɔ kutrikuku kple dzidzɔ wɔ nu sia nu si wòle be miawɔ la, abe Aƒetɔ lae miele ewɔm na ene, eye menye abe miaƒe anyigbadziƒetɔwo miele ewɔm na ene o,
Whatever [work] you do, work wholeheartedly. Work wholeheartedly, like those who are working for the Lord [Jesus]. Do not work like those who are working [merely] for [their] masters,
24 esi mienya be miaxɔ domenyinyi tso Aƒetɔ la gbɔ abe fetu ene. Elabena Aƒetɔ Kristo ŋutɔe miele dɔ wɔm na.
because you know that it is the Lord who will [properly/justly] repay you. That is, you will receive what God has promised. [Remember that] it is Christ who is the real master whom you are serving.
25 Ame sia ame si wɔ nu vɔ̃ la, axɔ eƒe nu vɔ̃ ƒe fetu, eye ameŋkumekpɔkpɔ aɖeke manɔ eme o.
But [God] will judge everyone impartially. He will punish you according to what you have done that is wrong.
