Luka 12
1 Le ɣeyiɣi siawo katã me la, ameha la dzi ɖe edzi akpeakpewo ale gbegbe be afɔɖoƒe meganɔ anyi o. Azɔ etrɔ ɖe eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo ŋu, eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Mikpɔ nyuie le Farisitɔwo kple woƒe alakpanuwɔnawo ŋu. Wowɔa nu abe ame nyui ene, evɔ wovɔ̃ɖi ŋutɔ. Gake woƒe alakpanuwɔnawo ava dze go gbe ɖeka.
Meanwhile the people had gathered in thousands, so that they trod upon one another, when Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began by saying to them: “Be on your guard against the leaven — that is, the hypocrisy — of the Pharisees.
2 Ava dze go abe ale si nuʋãnu nana be abolomɔ hona ɖe dzi hlodzoo ene.
There is nothing, however covered up, which will not be uncovered, nor anything kept secret which will not become known.
3 Nu sia nu si miegblɔ le viviti me la, woasee le kekeli me, eye nu si mietsɔ do dalĩ le miaƒe xɔgãwo me la, woaɖe gbeƒãe le xɔwo tame.”
Hence all that you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear, within closed doors, will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 Ke mele egblɔm na mi xɔ̃nyewo be, “Migavɔ̃ na ame siwo di be yewoawu mi o. Ŋutilã la koe woate ŋu awu, ke womekpɔ ŋusẽ ɖe míaƒe luʋɔwo ya dzi o.
To you who are my friends I say, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but after that can do no more.
5 Gake magblɔ ame si wòle be miavɔ̃ la na mi, eyae nye Mawu ame si si ŋusẽ le be wòate ŋu awu ame atsɔe aƒu gbe ɖe dzomavɔ me. (Geenna g1067)
I will show you of whom you should be afraid. Be afraid of him who, after killing you, has the power to fling you into the Pit. Yes, I say, be afraid of him. (Geenna g1067)
6 “Ho neni akpakpa atɔ̃ xɔna? Menye sidi ʋɛ aɖe koe oa? Woƒe home mede naneke kura o ɖe? Gake Mawu meŋlɔa wo dometɔ ɖeka pɛ hã be o.
Are not five sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them has escaped God’s notice.
7 Miaƒe taɖa katã gɔ̃ hã ƒe xexlẽme le nyanya me na Mawu. Migavɔ̃ o, elabena miexɔ asi na Mawu tsɔ wu atsutsrɔewo.
No, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
8 “Medi be mana kakaɖedzi mi be, Nye, Amegbetɔ Vi la, made bubu mia ŋu le dutoƒe le mawudɔlawo ŋkume, nenye be miawo hã mieʋu menye le anyigba sia dzi abe mia xɔlɔ̃ ene.
Every one, I tell you, who shall acknowledge me before his fellow men, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God’s angels;
9 Ke ame si ke gbe nu le gbɔnye le amewo gbɔ la, nye hã magbe nu la eya hã gbɔ le mawudɔlawo ƒe ŋkume.
but he, who disowns me before his fellow men, will be altogether disowned before God’s angels.
10 Nenye be ame aɖe ƒo nu vɔ̃ɖi le nye Amegbetɔ Vi la ŋu la, ɖewohĩ woatsɔe akee, ke ame si agblɔ nya vɔ̃ɖi aɖe ɖe Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ŋu la, womatsɔe akee gbeɖe o.
Every one who shall say anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but for him who slanders the Holy Spirit there will be no forgiveness.
11 “Nenye be wokplɔ mi va ƒuƒoƒedzikpɔlawo kple amegãwo ŋkume be yewoadrɔ̃ ʋɔnu mi la, migatsi dzi le nu si miagblɔ la alo atsɔ aɖe mia ɖokui nu ŋu o.
Whenever they take you before the Synagogue Courts or the magistrates or other authorities, do not be anxious as to how you will defend yourselves, or what your defence will be, or what you will say;
12 Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ŋutɔ ade nya si tututu miagblɔ la nu na mi ne ɣeyiɣia ɖo.”
for the Holy Spirit will show you at the moment what you ought to say.”
13 Ame aɖe do ɣli tso ameawo dome gblɔ nɛ be, “Nufiala, meɖe kuku na wò, gblɔ na nɔvinyeŋutsua be wòama fofonye ƒe nuwo me atsɔ tɔnye nam!”
“Teacher,” a man in the crowd said to Jesus, “tell my brother to share the property with me.”
14 Yesu ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Ŋutsu, ame kae ɖom miaƒe ʋɔnudrɔ̃lae be matso nya sia ƒomevi me?”
But Jesus said to him: “Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
15 Eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Mikpɔ nyuie! Milé be na mia ɖokui tso ŋukeklẽ ŋuti, elabena ame ƒe agbe menɔa eƒe nukpɔkpɔ vivivo la me o.”
And then he added: “Take care to keep yourselves free from every form of covetousness; for even in the height of his prosperity a man’s true Life does not depend on what he has.”
16 Azɔ edo lo sia be, “Agble nyui aɖe si wɔa nuku la nɔ gatɔ aɖe si.
Then Jesus told them this parable — “There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile;
17 Le nyateƒe me, eƒe nukuawo wɔ ale gbegbe be eƒe avawo katã yɔ fũu gbã go, eye megakpɔ nɔƒe na mamlɛawo gɔ̃ hã o. Ebu ta me le nu si wòawɔ la ŋu vevie,
and he began to ask himself ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?
18 eye susu aɖe va nɛ mlɔeba. Edo ɣli gblɔ be, ‘Menya nu si tututu mawɔ, magbã nye ava xoxoawo, eye matu esiwo lolo wu la ɖe wo teƒe, ale be mate ŋu akpɔ nɔƒe na nye nukuawo katã.
This is what I will do,’ he said; ‘I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them;
19 Eye manɔ anyi agblɔ na ɖokuinye be, “Nɔvi èdzra nuɖuɖu geɖewo ɖo ɖi hena ƒe geɖe siwo gbɔna, eya ta xɔ gbɔgbɔ nàɖe dzi ɖe anyi, ɖu nu, nano nu, eye nàɖu agbe nyuie.”’
and I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’
20 “Gake Mawu gblɔ na kesinɔtɔ sia be, ‘O, wò abunɛtɔ, egbe zã sia me ke woaxɔ wò agbe le asiwò. Ke ame ka tɔ nu siwo katã wòdzra ɖo ɖi la azu?’
But God said to the man ‘Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared — who will have it?’
21 “Enye nyateƒe be, ale ame sia ame si le nu nyuiwo dzram ɖo na eɖokui, eye kesinɔnuwo mele esi le Mawu gome o la lee nye esi.”
So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God.”
22 Yesu trɔ ɖe eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo ŋu, eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Le esia ta la, mele egblɔm na mi be, migatsi dzi le nu si miaɖu hena agbenɔnɔ alo nudodo siwo miaƒe ŋutilã hiã ŋu o,
And Jesus said to his disciples: “That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here — what you can get to eat; nor yet about your body — what you can get to wear.
23 elabena agbe xɔ asi wu nuɖuɖu eye ŋutilã xɔ asi wu nudodo.
For life is more than food, and the body than its clothes.
24 Mikpɔ akpaviãwo ɖa, womeƒã nu o, womeŋea nu o, eye ava ɖeka hã mele wo si be woadzra nuɖuɖu ɖo ɖe eme o, gake wokpɔa woƒe gbe sia gbe nuɖuɖu, elabena Mawu ŋutɔ naa nuɖuɖu wo. Evɔ miawo la, miele vevie na Mawu wu xeviwo katã!
Think of the ravens — they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn; and yet God feeds them! And how much more precious are you than birds!
25 Hekpe ɖe esia ŋu la, mia dometɔ ka ate ŋu ato dzitsitsi me atsɔ gaƒoƒo ɖeka pɛ akpe ɖe eƒe agbe ŋu?
But which of you, by being anxious, can prolong his life a moment?
26 Eye nenye be dzimaɖeɖi mate ŋu awɔ nu sue siwo megblɔ va yi o la, viɖe kae wòanye be miatsi dzimaɖeɖi ɖe nu gãwo ŋu?
And, if you cannot do even the smallest thing, why be anxious about other things?
27 “Mikpɔ dzogbenyawo le baliwo me ɖa. Wometrea ɖeti alo lɔ̃a avɔ o, gake Solomo ame si nɔ atsyɔ̃ gã me hã ƒe atsyɔ̃ɖoɖo mede seƒoƒo siawo tɔ nu kura o.
Think of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendour was not robed like one of these.
28 Nenye be Mawu ɖoa atsyɔ̃ na gbe le gbedzi, gbe si nɔa anyi egbe, eye wotsɔnɛ ƒua gbe ɖe dzo me etsɔ la, ɖe mate ŋu aɖo atsyɔ̃ na mi sãa wu gbe siawo oa? O, mi xɔse ʋɛ tɔwo!
If, even in the field, God so clothes the grass which is living to-day and to-morrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!
29 Gawu la, migaɖe fu na mia ɖokuiwo le nuɖuɖu kple nunono ŋuti o, migana esia nakplɔ mi ade nuxaxa me o. Mawu ana wo mi.
And you — do not be always seeking what you can get to eat or what you can get to drink; and do not waver.
30 Xexemedukɔwo katã dagbana be yewoakpɔ gbe sia gbe nuɖuɖu, ke mia Fofo si le dziƒo nya miaƒe hiahiãwo.
These are the things for which all the nations of the world are seeking, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 Ke boŋ midi eƒe fiaɖuƒe la, eye woatsɔ nu siawo katã akpe ɖe eŋuti na mi.”
No, seek his Kingdom, and these things shall be added for you.
32 Eya ta migavɔ̃ o, mi alẽha sue sia, elabena edzɔ dzi na mia Fofo si le dziƒo la ŋutɔ be wòatsɔ fiaɖuƒe la na mi.
So do not be afraid, my little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.
33 Midzra nu siwo le mia si, eye miatsɔ ga la ana hiãtɔwo, esia adzi miaƒe fetu si le dziƒo la ɖe edzi. Ne miedzra miaƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖo ɖe dziƒo, fiafitɔ aɖeke mate ŋu afi wo o, eye gbagbladza aɖeke hã mate ŋu aɖu wo o.
Sell what belongs to you, and give in charity. Make yourselves purses that will not wear out — an inexhaustible treasure in Heaven, where no thief comes near, or moth works ruin.
34 Afi si miaƒe kesinɔnuwo le la, afi ma miaƒe dzi hã anɔ.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
35 “Midzra ɖo, eye miaƒe akaɖiwo nanɔ bibim.
Make yourselves ready, with your lamps alight;
36 Miawo la, miɖi dɔla siwo le mɔ kpɔm na woƒe aƒetɔ be ne egbɔ tso srɔ̃ɖeƒe eye wòva ƒo ʋɔa la, ne yewoaʋui nɛ enumake.
and be like men who are waiting for their Master’s return from his wedding, so that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him at once.
37 Dɔla siawo akpɔ dzidzɔ ŋutɔ, ne woƒe aƒetɔ gbɔ, eye wòkpɔ be wole ŋudzɔ; vavã mele egblɔm na mi be dɔla siawo anɔ kplɔ̃ ŋu, eye eya ŋutɔ ado subɔvi ƒe awu aɖo kplɔ̃ ɖe woƒe akɔme be woaɖu nu.
Happy are those servants whom, on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and bid them take their places at table, and will come and wait upon them.
38 Mienya ɣe ka ɣie wòava o, ate ŋu ava le zã ga asiekɛ me loo alo zãtitina. Gake ne eva ɖo ko, dzi adzɔ eƒe dɔla siwo katã le klalo la.
Whether it is late at night, or in the early morning that he comes, if he finds all as it should be, then happy are they.
39 Ame sia ame anɔ klalo na eƒe vava nenye be wònya ga si me wòle vava ge. Ɖeko wòle abe ale si ame nanɔ ŋudzɔ na fiafitɔ ƒe vava nenye be enya ga si me tututu wòle vava ge ene.
This you do know, that, had the owner of the house known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the watch, and would not have let his house be broken into.
40 Eya ta minɔ ŋudzɔ ɣeawo katã ɣi elabena, Nye, Amegbetɔ Vi la, mava le gaƒoƒo si me ame aɖeke manɔ mɔ kpɔm nam o.”
Do you also prepare, for when you are least expecting him the Son of Man will come.”
41 Petro biae be, “Aƒetɔ, míawo ko nèle lo siawo dom na loo alo ame sia ame?”
“Master,” said Peter, “are you telling this parable with reference to us or to every one?”
42 Aƒetɔ la ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Azɔ ame kae nye dɔla nuteƒewɔla kple nunyala, ame si eƒe aƒetɔ atsɔ ɖo eƒe aƒemetɔwo nu be wòana woƒe nuɖuɖu wo le enaɣi mahã?
“Who, then,” replied the Master, “is that trustworthy steward, the careful man, who will be placed by his master over his establishment, to give them their rations at the proper time?
43 Eme anyo na dɔla ma ne eƒe aƒetɔ trɔ gbɔ va kpɔ be ewɔ eƒe dɔdeasi.
Happy will that servant be whom his master, when he comes home, shall find doing this.
44 Le nyateƒe me la, aƒetɔ la atsɔe aɖo eƒe nuwo katã nu.
His master, I tell you, will put him in charge of the whole of his property.
45 Gake nenye be dɔla ma gblɔ le eƒe dzi me be, ‘Nye aƒetɔ anɔ anyi ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe hafi agbɔ.’ Eya ta wòde asi ame siwo wotsɔ de eƒe dzikpɔkpɔ te la ƒoƒo me, eye wòle aha mum la,
But should that servant say to himself ‘My master is a long time coming,’ and begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
46 eƒe aƒetɔ ava le ŋkeke si mele mɔ kpɔm nɛ o kple gaƒoƒo si menya o la dzi, eye wòaɖee ɖa le nɔƒe kɔkɔ si wòdae ɖo, eye wòadae ɖe ame mawɔnuteƒewo dome.
that servant’s master will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware, and will flog him severely and assign him his place among the untrustworthy.
47 “Woahe to na dɔla ma vevie, elabena enya eƒe aƒetɔ ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu be wòawɔ ɖe edzi, gake egbe mewɔe o.
The servant who knows his master’s wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes;
48 Ame si menya be nane si wɔm yele la nye vɔ̃ o la ƒe tohehe masesẽ o. Ame si si wotsɔ nu geɖe dee la, wodi ŋutete geɖe tso egbɔ, elabena nu si wotsɔ de eƒe dzikpɔkpɔ te la sɔ gbɔ.”
while one who does not know his master’s wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From every one to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded.
49 “Ɖe meva be made agbe yeye ƒe dzo anyigbadzitɔwo me. Ne ɖe mewu dɔ sia nu xoxo la, ne anyo ŋutɔ hafi.
I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what more can I wish, if it is already kindled?
50 Tsideta dziŋɔ aɖe le ŋgɔnye, eye anye nu si ate ɖe dzinye va se ɖe esime enu nava yi.
There is a baptism that I must undergo, and how great is my distress until it is over!
51 Miebu be ŋutifafae metsɔ va anyigba dzia? Gbeɖe, dzre kple domemama boŋ metsɔ vɛ.
Do you think that I am here to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but to cause division.
52 Tso azɔ dzi yina la, ƒomewo me ama, akpa etɔ̃ adze yonyeme, eye akpe eve atsi tsitre ɖe ŋunye. Alo akpa eve adze yonyeme, eye akpa etɔ̃ atsi tsitre ɖe ŋunye.
For from this time, if there are five people in a house, they will be divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 Vi kple tɔ ƒe gbe madze gbe dzi o le tanye, nenema ke adika aɖo vinyɔnu kple dadaa dome. Eye nenye be lɔ̃xo aɖe aɖo nu nyui aɖe be yeawɔ la, lɔ̃xoyɔvia atu afɔ eme.”
‘Father will be opposed to son and son to father, mother to daughter and daughter to mother, mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law.’”
54 Yesu trɔ ɖe ameha la ŋu azɔ, eye wògblɔ be, “Ne miekpɔ lilikpowo le ƒu ƒom ɖe ɣetoɖoƒe la, miegblɔna be, ‘Agbafie le wɔwɔ ge.’ Eye tsi dzana hã vavã.
And to the people Jesus said: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once ‘There is a storm coming,’ and come it does.
55 Ne anyigbemeya de asi ƒoƒo me la, miegblɔna be, ‘Egbe la, ŋdɔ le ʋuʋu ge sesĩe.’ Eye esia hã vaa eme.
And when you see that the wind is in the south, you say ‘It will be burning hot,’ and so it proves.
56 Mi alakpanuwɔlawo! Mienya be tsi le dzadza ge alo ŋdɔ le ʋuʋu ge to ŋkuléle ɖe yame kple anyigba ŋu me. Gake miegbe be yewomalé ŋku ɖe nu si gbɔna la ƒe dzesi si ƒo xlã mi la ŋu o.
Hypocrites! You know how to judge of the earth and the sky; how is it, then, that you cannot judge of this time?
57 “Nu ka ta miagbe be yewomakpɔ nu si nyo la na mia ɖokuiwo o ɖo?
Why do not you yourselves decide what is right?
58 Nenye be wò futɔ tsɔ nya ɖe ŋuwò, eye nèkpɔe le mɔ dzi wòyina fia ƒe ʋɔnu kple wò nya la, tɔe, eye nàlé avu le mi kplii dome. Ne menye nenema o la, ʋɔnudrɔ̃la ade wò mɔ.
When, for instance, you are going with your opponent before a magistrate, on your way to the court do your best to be quit of him; for fear that he should drag you before the judge, then the judge will hand you over to the bailiff of the court, and the bailiff throw you into prison.
59 Eye ne wode wò mɔ la, ànɔ afi ma va se ɖe esime nàxe fe siwo katã nènyi la wòavɔ keŋkeŋ.”
You will not, I tell you, come out until you have paid the very last farthing.”
