Yohanes 4
1 Farisitɔwo se be Yesu le nusrɔ̃lawo kpɔm fũu, eye wòle mawutsi dem ta na amewo tsɔ wu Yohanes,
[At that time, many people were asking] Jesus to baptize them. He did not baptize people; it was [we] his disciples who were doing the baptizing. But when some of the Pharisee [religious group] heard [people say that] Jesus was making more disciples than John [the Baptizer] and was baptizing them, [they became very jealous].
2 togbɔ be menye Yesu ŋutɔe le mawutsi dem ta na amewo o, ke boŋ eƒe nusrɔ̃lawoe.
3 Esi Yesu se nya sia la, edzo le Yudea, hetrɔ yi Galilea.
When the Lord [Jesus] heard about that, [so that the Pharisees would not cause trouble for him], he left Judea [district], and went again [with us disciples] to Galilee district.
4 Enɔ na Yesu be wòato Samaria hafi ayi Galilea.
[He] knew that God wanted him to travel through Samaria [district].
5 Le ŋdɔ ga wuieve me lɔƒo la, eva ɖo Samariatɔwo ƒe du aɖe si woyɔna be Sikar la me, si te ɖe anyigba si Yakob na via Yosef la ŋu.
So we arrived at a town named Sychar in Samaria [district]. That was near the plot of ground that [our ancestor] Jacob had given to his son Joseph [long ago].
6 Yakob ƒe vudo la le afi sia. Vudo sia le anyigba si Yakob tsɔ na via Yosef la dzi. Le mɔ legbe si wòzɔ kple ɖeɖiteameŋu ta la, Yesu nɔ anyi ɖe vudoa gbɔ be yeadzudzɔ. Anɔ gaƒoƒo adelia me.
The well that [used to] belong to Jacob was on that plot of ground. Jesus was tired from walking. So while [we] disciples went into the town to buy some food, he sat down alongside the well. It was about noontime. A woman who [lived there] in Samaria came to get some water [from the well]. Jesus said to her, “Will you give me [from the well] some water [to drink]?” The [woman knew that] Jews did not like ([to touch things that belong to] Samaritans/[to] come near Samaritans), (OR, Jews did not like to associate with Samaritans, )
7 Eteƒe medidi o la, Samaria nyɔnu aɖe va be yeadu tsi. Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Àte ŋu ana tsi aɖem manoa?”
8 (Eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo yi kɔƒea me yi nuɖuɖu ƒle ge.)
9 Samaria nyɔnu la gblɔ nɛ be, “Yudatɔ nènye, eye menye Samariatɔ. Aleke wò Yudatɔ, nèle tsi biam nye Samaria nyɔnu be yeano?” (Elabena Yudatɔwo kple Samariatɔwo menyina o.)
so the woman said to him, “You are a Jew, and I am from Samaria. Furthermore, I am a woman. So ([I am surprised] that you are asking me for a drink [of water]!/how is it that you are asking me for a drink [of water]?) [RHQ]”
10 Yesu ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Ne ɖe nènya Mawu ƒe nunana kple ame si ƒomevi le tsi biam wò la, anye ne èbiae, eye wòana agbetsi wò.”
Jesus replied to her, “If you [(sg)] knew what God [wanted to] give you, and if you knew who I am, the one who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked me, and I would have given you water that gives life.”
11 Nyɔnu la ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Aƒetɔ, vudo sia goglo, eye tsikunu mele asiwò be nàtsɔ aku tsii le eme o. Afi ka nèle agbetsi la kpɔ ge le?
She [thought he was talking about] ordinary [water. So she] said to him, “Sir, you do not have a bucket [or a rope with which to get water from the well], and the well is deep. So [since you cannot get water from this well], where can you get that life-giving water?
12 Gawu la, ɖe nède ŋgɔ wu mía fofo Yakob, ame si ɖe vudo la na mí, eye eya ŋutɔ, viawo kple eƒe lãwo no tsi le emea?”
Our ancestor Jacob left us this well. He drank water from it, and there was [enough good water] so that his sons and his flocks [of sheep] and goats drank from it also. [Do you claim that] you are greater than Jacob, [and because of that you can give us life-giving water]?”
13 Yesu ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Ame sia ame si no tsi sia la, tsikɔ agawui,
Jesus replied to her, “Everyone who drinks water from this [well] will later become thirsty again.
15 Nyɔnu la gblɔ na Yesu be, “Aƒetɔ, meɖe kuku, na tsi sia ƒe ɖem, be tsikɔ magawum ne mava nɔ tsi kum le afi sia gbe sia gbe o.”
The woman [did not understand that Jesus was speaking figuratively about something that would sustain her spiritually. So she] said to him, “Sir, give me that kind of water so that I will not get thirsty again, and so that I will not have to keep returning here to get water!”
16 Ke Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Yi nàyɔ srɔ̃wò vɛ.”
[Jesus knew that she did not understand, but he wanted to show her by his God-given knowledge of her personal life that because he was the Messiah he could supply her spiritual need. So] he said to her, “Woman, go and call your husband, and bring him here!”
17 Nyɔnu la ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Srɔ̃ mele asinye o.” Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Èto nyateƒe esi nègblɔ be srɔ̃ mele ye si o.
She replied, “I do not have a husband!” Jesus said to her, “You said that you do not have a husband, and that is true.
18 Elabena èɖe ŋutsu atɔ̃ kpɔ, eye ame si gbɔ nèle fifia hã la, menye srɔ̃wò wònye o.” Esia nye nyateƒe.
It is also true that you have had five husbands [one by one]. And the man you are living with now is not your husband! What you have said is very true.”
19 Nyɔnu la gblɔ be, “Aƒetɔ, mexɔe se be Nyagblɔɖilae nènye.
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive you must be a prophet [because you are] able [to know people’s secrets].
20 Nu ka ta mi Yudatɔwo miegblɔna be Yerusalem kokoko wòle be woasubɔ Mawu le, evɔ mí Samariatɔwo hã míebe ele be woasubɔ Mawu le to sia dzi, elabena afi siae mía tɔgbuiwo subɔ Mawu le?”
But [let me ask you a different question]: Our ancestors worshipped God here on [Gerizim Mountain], but you [Jews] say that Jerusalem is the place where we must worship [God. So who is right]?”
21 Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Nyɔnu, xɔ dzinye se be ɣeyiɣi aɖe gbɔna, esi womagasubɔ Fofo la le to sia dzi alo le Yerusalem o.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me [when I say that] there will be a time when it will not [matter whether] you worship [God our] Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem [or somewhere else].
22 Mi Samariatɔwo la, miesubɔa nu si mienya o, ke míawo la, míesubɔa nu si míenya, elabena xɔxɔ la tso Yudatɔwo gbɔ.
You [people from Samaria] do not know the one you are worshipping. But we [(exc) Jews] know whom we worship, because it is from [us] Jews that [God has sent the one who] will save people [from the guilt of their sins].
23 Gake ɣeyiɣi aɖe gbɔna, eye wòde azɔ be nyateƒe subɔsubɔwɔlawo woasubɔ Fofo la le gbɔgbɔ kple nyateƒe me, elabena Fofo la dia subɔla siawo tɔgbi.
However, there will be a time when those who genuinely worship God will worship him as [God’s] Spirit [directs] and according to [God’s] truth. In fact, that time is now. Those are the kind of worshipers my Father seeks.
24 Mawu nye Gbɔgbɔ, eye ame siwo le esubɔm la, ele be woasubɔe le gbɔgbɔ kple nyateƒe me.”
God is a spiritual being. So it is necessary that those who worship him must worship him as his Spirit [directs] and [according to God’s] truth.”
25 Nyɔnu la ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Menya be Mesia” (si woyɔna be Kristo la) “le vava ge. Ne eva la aɖe nu sia nu gɔme na mí.”
The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us everything [we need to know].” (‘Messiah’ and ‘Christ’ [both mean ‘God’s promised king]’.)
26 Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Nyee.”
Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to you, am [the Messiah]!”
27 Esi wògblɔ nya sia vɔ teti ko la, eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo va do, eye wòwɔ nuku na wo be Yesu nɔ dze ɖom kple nyɔnu aɖe, gake wo dometɔ aɖeke mebia be, “Nu ka dim nèle?” alo “Nu ka ta nèle dze ɖom kple nyɔnu la ɖo?” o.
Just then [we] disciples returned [from town]. [Since it was contrary to our custom for Jewish religious teachers to converse with a woman they did not know], we were surprised that he was talking to a woman. However, none of us asked her, “What do you want?” and none of us asked him, “Why are you talking with her?”
28 Nyɔnu la gblẽ eƒe tsize la ɖe vudoa to, eye wòtrɔ yi dua me ɖagblɔ na amewo be,
The woman left her water jar there and went into the town. She said to the people there,
29 “Miva kpɔ ŋutsu aɖe si gblɔ nu siwo katã mewɔ kpɔ la nam ɖa. Ɖe manye eyae nye Kristo la oa?”
“Come and see a man who [was able to] tell me all about my past life [HYP], [even though I never met him before] Could this man be the Messiah?”
30 Ale amewo tso dua me va be yewoakpɔe.
So [many people] left the town and started going to where Jesus was.
31 Yesu ƒe nusrɔ̃lawo ɖe kuku nɛ bena, “Nufiala, va ɖu nu.”
Meanwhile, we disciples were urging him, “Teacher, eat [some of the food we brought]!”
32 Ke Yesu gblɔ na wo be, “Nuɖuɖu le asinye, esi ŋu miawo mienya nu le o.”
But he said to us, “I have food to eat that you do not know anything about!”
33 Ke nusrɔ̃lawo bia le wo nɔewo dome be, “Ɖe ame aɖe tsɔ nuɖuɖu vɛ nɛa?”
So we started saying to each other, “(Surely no one has brought him any food [when we] were not [here]!/Has anyone brought him any food [when we] were not [here]?) [RHQ]”
34 Yesu gblɔ na wo be, “Nye nuɖuɖue nye be mawɔ Mawu, ame si dɔm ɖa la ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu, eye mawu dɔ si wòdɔm la wɔwɔ nu.
Jesus said to us, “Doing what [my Father] who sent me wants [me to do] and finishing the work he [gave me to do] is ([what sustains me/like] my food) [MET].
35 Menye miawoe gblɔna be, ‘Esusɔ ɣleti ene ne nuŋeɣi naɖo oa’? Miwu mo dzi ne miakpɔ agblewo dzi ɖa! Nukuawo tsi na ŋeŋe.
[At this time of the year] you are saying (OR, your ancestors used to say), ‘There are four months left before we harvest [the crops].’ But I say to you, look carefully [at the non-Jewish people around here. God says, ‘They are ready to accept my message] [MET], [like crops in] fields that are ready for people to harvest.
36 Fifia gɔ̃ hã la, ame si ŋea nu la xɔa fetu, eye wòŋea nukuwo hena agbe mavɔ la, be nuƒãla kple nuŋela siaa nakpɔ dzidzɔ. (aiōnios g166)
[If you help them to accept my message], I will reward you [MET], [as an owner of a field] pays those who harvest the crops. Because of your work, people will gain eternal life.’ [I have been telling people God’s message. That is like] [MET] a man who plants seeds. [You will help people to accept my message. That will be like] [MET] harvesting crops. [When that happens], both you and I will rejoice. (aiōnios g166)
37 Esiae wɔe be nya si wogblɔ ɖi be, ‘Ame aɖe ƒãa nu, eye ame bubu va ŋena’ la nye nyateƒe.
As a result, this saying will become true: One person plants [seeds], but others harvest [the crops].
38 Nye la, medɔ mi be miayi aɖaŋe nu le afi si mieƒã nu ɖo o la; ame bubuwoe ƒã nua hafi miawo mieyi ɖaŋe.”
I am sending you [to enable people to accept my message, but you will not be the first ones who tell them God’s message]. Others [previously] worked hard [to tell people God’s message], and now you will be harvesting the results of their work.”
39 Samariatɔ geɖewo xɔ Yesu dzi se ɖe nya si nyɔnu la gblɔ na wo be, “Egblɔ nu sia nu si mewɔ kpɔ la nam la ta.” la ta.
Many of the Samaria [district] people who [lived] in that town believed that Jesus [was the Messiah] because they heard what that woman said [about Jesus], “That man [was able to] tell me all about my past life [HYP]!”
40 Azɔ esi Samariatɔwo va egbɔ la, woɖe kuku nɛ be, wòanɔ yewo gbɔ, eye wònɔ wo gbɔ ŋkeke eve
So when those people of Samaria came to Jesus, they urged him to stay with them. So we stayed there two days.
41 Le eƒe nyawo ta la, ame geɖewo xɔ edzi se.
Many more of those people believed ([in Jesus/that he was the Messiah]) because of what he said.
42 Ale wova gblɔ na nyɔnu si do goe gbã le vudoa to la be, “Míawo hã míexɔ edzi se, elabena míawo ŋutɔ hã míese nya geɖewo tso eƒe nu me, ke menye le wò ɖaseɖiɖi ɖeɖe ko ta o. Míenya be ame siae nye xexea me ƒe Ɖela la vavã.”
They told the woman, “We believe in Jesus [now], but not [just] because of what you told us. Now we have heard him ourselves. And now we know that this man truly is the one who [can] save [people] [MTY] [from the guilt of their sins].”
43 Le ŋkeke eve megbe la, edzo yi Galilea.
Jesus had said [previously] that people did not honor prophets [like himself when they tried to teach people] in their own home area. So, two days later, Jesus and [we] disciples left that area and went to [his own area in] Galilee [district, because he knew that people there would not think very highly of him, and as a result the Jewish leaders would not be jealous].
44 (Yesu ŋutɔ gblɔ be nyagblɔɖila aɖeke mekpɔa bubu le eya ŋutɔ dedu me o.)
45 Esi wòyi Galilea la, Galileatɔwo xɔe nyuie, elabena wokpɔ nukunu siwo katã wòwɔ le Yerusalem, esi woyi ɖaɖu Ŋutitotoŋkekenyui la le afi ma.
However, when we arrived in Galilee [district, many] of the people there welcomed him, because they had been in Jerusalem during the [Passover] celebration and had seen all the things he did there.
46 Yesu gava Kana le Galilea, afi si wòtrɔ tsi wòzu wain le la. Afi ma wòdo go aʋafia aɖe le. Ŋutsu sia ƒe vi le dɔ lém le Kapernaum.
Jesus went again to Cana in Galilee [district]. That was where he [previously] turned water into wine. There was one of the king’s officials who lived in Capernaum, whose son was very sick.
47 Esi ŋutsu sia se be Yesu tso Yudea va ɖo Galilea la, eyi egbɔ heɖe kuku nɛ be wòava yɔ dɔ ye viŋutsuvi si ɖo kudo nu la na ye.
When that man heard [others say] that Jesus had returned to Galilee [district] from Judea [district], he went to Jesus [in Cana] and pleaded with him, “Please come down [to Capernaum] and heal my son, who is about to die!”
48 Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Mia dometɔ aɖeke maxɔ dzinye ase o, dzaa miekpɔ dzesi kple nukunuwo?”
Jesus said to him, “You people will believe my message only if you see me perform [more] miracles!”
49 Aʋafia la gblɔ be, “Aƒetɔ, meɖe kuku, va míyi kaba hafi vinyea naku?”
But the official said to him, “Sir, ([I] believe [in you/I believe that you came from God]). [So please] come down [to my home] before my son dies!”
50 Ke Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Yi aƒe me, elabena viwò la ƒe lãme sẽ.” Aʋafia la xɔ nya si Yesu gblɔ nɛ la dzi se, eye wòtrɔ dzo yina aƒe me.
Jesus said to him, “Then you may go [home]. Your son (will live/not die)!” The man believed what Jesus said, and left.
51 Esi wònɔ mɔa dzi yina la, eƒe dɔla aɖewo va kpee hegblɔ nɛ be via ƒe lãme sẽ.
[The next day] while he was on the way home, his servants met him. They told him, “Your child is going to live!”
52 Aʋafia la bia gaƒoƒo si me tututu via ƒe lãme sẽ la wo. Woɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Etsɔ, anɔ abe ŋdɔ ga ɖeka me ene la, asrã la vɔ nɛ.”
He asked them, “At what time did my son start to become well?” They said to him, “His fever ceased yesterday [afternoon] at one o’clock.”
53 Aʋafia la ɖo ŋku edzi be gaƒoƒo ma me tututue Yesu gblɔ na ye be, “Viwò la ƒe lãme sẽ.” Ale aʋafia la kple eƒe aƒemetɔwo katã xɔ Yesu dzi se.
Then the boy’s father realized that this was the time Jesus told him, “Your son will (live/not die).” So he and all the people in his house believed [that Jesus was the Messiah].
54 Esiae nye nukunu evelia si Yesu wɔ, esi wòtso Yudea va Galilea.
That was the second miracle that Jesus performed in Galilee [district], after he had returned from Judea [district].
