Kolosetɔwo 4

1 Mi aƒetɔwo la, ele be miawɔ nu si nyo, eye wòdze la ɖe miaƒe kluviwo ŋu. Miɖo ŋku edzi ɣe sia ɣi be miawo hã la, Aƒetɔ le mia si le dziƒo.

Masters, do what is right and fair by your slaves, for you know that you also have a Master – in heaven.

2 Mido vevi gbedodoɖa, minɔ ŋudzɔ, eye mida akpe na Mawu.

Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving;

3 Mido gbe ɖa ɖe míawo hã ta be Mawu naʋu agbo na míaƒe mawunyagbɔgblɔ be míaɖe gbeƒã Kristo ƒe nu ɣaɣlawo, esi ta mele ga me le afi sia ɖo.

and at the same time pray for us, so that God may give us an opening for our message, so that we may speak of the truths hidden in the Christ – the truths for which I am in chains!

4 Mido gbe ɖa be magblɔe eme nakɔ abe ale si mate ŋui ene.

Then I will make them known, as I ought to do.

5 Miwɔ mɔnukpɔkpɔ suetɔ kekeake ŋu dɔ ne miatsɔ aɖe gbeƒã nyanyui lae na ame bubuwo. Mizɔ le nunya me le miaƒe nuwɔnawo me.

Show tact in your behaviour to the outside world, making the most of every opportunity.

6 Mina amenuveve kple dze nanɔ miaƒe nuƒoƒo me, elabena to esia me ko miate ŋu akpɔ ŋuɖoɖo nyuitɔ na ame sia ame.

Let your conversation always be kindly, but not bland, season it, as it were, with salt; be aware in each case of the answer you should be giving.

7 Tikiko, mía nɔvi lɔlɔ̃ la agblɔ ale si mele edzii la na mi. Enye nuteƒewɔla si subɔa Aƒetɔ la kplim.

Our dear friend, Tychicus, will tell you all about me. He is a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Master’s cause.

8 Medɔ dɔ tɔxɛ siae be wòava kpɔ ale si miele ɖa, eye be wòafa akɔ na mi, ade dzi ƒo hã na mi.

I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement.

9 Mele Onesimo, nɔvi lɔlɔ̃a kple nuteƒewɔla si nye mia detɔ la hã ɖom ɖe mi. Eya kple Tikiko woagblɔ nu siwo le dzɔdzɔm le afi sia fifia la na mi.

With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful friend, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.

10 Aristako, ame si le ga me kplim la do gbe na mi kple lɔlɔ̃; nenema kee nye Marko, Barnabas nɔvi. (Abe ale si megblɔ na mi kpɔ ene la, ne Marko va mia gbɔ la, mixɔe dzidzɔtɔe.)

My fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you his greeting, and Barnabas’s cousin, Mark, sends his. (You have received directions about him. If he comes to you, make him welcome.)

11 Yesu, si wogayɔna hã be Yusto la hã do gbe na mi nyuie. Ame siawo nye Yudatɔwo le nye dɔwɔhatiwo dome hele dɔ wɔm na mawufiaɖuƒe la, eye wònye akɔfafa gã aɖe nam.

Joshua, who is called Justus, also sends his greeting. These are the only converts from Judaism who have worked with me for the kingdom of God; I have found them a great comfort.

12 Epafra, mia dometɔ ɖeka, ame si nye Yesu Kristo ƒe dɔla hã do gbe na mi nyuie. Ele ʋiʋlim ɖe mia ta le gbedodoɖa me ɣe sia ɣi be mianɔ te sesĩe le Mawu ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu blibo la me, atsi, eye miakpɔ kakaɖedzi blibo.

Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, sends you his greeting. He is a servant of Christ Jesus, and is always most earnest in your behalf in his prayers, praying that you may stand firm, with a matured faith and with a sure conviction of all that is in accordance with God’s will.

13 Mate ŋu aka ɖe edzi na mi be ewɔ dɔ sesĩe ɖe mi kple kristotɔ bubu siwo le Laodikea kple Hierapoli la nu.

I can bear testimony to the deep interest he takes in you, as well as in the followers at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.

14 Luka, Atikewɔla lɔlɔ̃ la kple Dema hã do gbe na mi nyuie.

Luke, our dear doctor, sends you his greeting, and Demas sends his.

15 Mido gbe na nɔvi kristotɔ siwo le Laodikea nam. Mido gbe na Nimfa kple hame si kpea ta le eƒe aƒe me la nam.

Give my greeting to the followers at Laodicea, and to Nymphe, and to the church that meets at her house.

16 Nenye be miexlẽ agbalẽ sia vɔ la, mitsɔe ɖo ɖe Laodikea hame la hã woaxlẽ, eye miawo hã mixɔ agbalẽ si meŋlɔ ɖo ɖe wo la hã miaxlẽ.

And when this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read before the church at Laodicea, and that you yourselves read the letter which will be forwarded from there.

17 Migblɔ na Arkipo be, “Kpɔ egbɔ be nèwɔ subɔsubɔdɔ siwo katã Aƒetɔ la be nàwɔ.”

Give this message to Archippus – “Take care to discharge to the best of your ability the office to which you were appointed in the Master’s cause.”

18 Esia nye nye Paulo ŋutɔ ƒe gbedoname si meŋlɔ kple nye ŋutɔ nye asi. Miɖo ŋku dzinye le nye gaxɔmenɔnɔ me le afi sia. Mawu ƒe amenuveve nanɔ anyi kpli mi.

I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. Remember these chains of mine. God’s blessing be with you.