Luka 18
1 Gbe ɖeka la, Yesu do lo sia na eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo be wòatsɔ fia wo be ehiã be woanɔ gbedodoɖa dzi ɖaa, eye ɖeɖi megate wo ŋu o.
He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart.
2 Egblɔ na wo be, “Ʋɔnudrɔ̃la aɖe nɔ du gã aɖe me. Ame sia mevɔ̃a Mawu o, eye mebua ame aɖeke hã ɖe naneke me o.
"In a certain town," He said, "there was a judge who had no fear of God and no respect for man.
3 Ahosi aɖe si hã nɔ dua me la vaa ʋɔnudrɔ̃la sia gbɔ gbe sia gbe va nɔ kuku ɖem nɛ be, ‘Ɖem le nye ketɔ si me.’
And in the same town was a widow who repeatedly came and entreated him, saying, "'Give me justice and stop my oppressor.'
4 “Hena ɣeyiɣi aɖe la, egbe be yemaɖo toe o. Ke mlɔeba la, egblɔ na eɖokui be, ‘Togbɔ be nyemevɔ̃a Mawu alo bua amewo ɖe naneke me o hã la,
"For a time he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, "'Though I have neither reverence for God nor respect for man,
5 le ahosi sia ƒe fuɖeɖe nam atraɖii ta la, makpɔ egbɔ be wotrɔ nu si nye etɔ la nɛ ale be magana be nu nati kɔ nam mlɔeba la le eƒe fuɖeɖe nam ta o!’”
yet because she annoys me I will give her justice, to prevent her from constantly coming to pester me.'"
6 Aƒetɔ la yi edzi be, “Mise nu si ʋɔnudrɔ̃la madzɔmadzɔ la gblɔ.
And the Lord said, "Hear those words of the unjust judge.
7 Miebu be Mawu matso afia na eƒe ame tiatia siwo le kuku ɖem nɛ zã kple keli la oa? Ɖe magbɔ dzi ɖi na wo oa?
And will not God avenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf?
8 Mele egblɔm na mi be aɖe wo enumake. Gake biabia lae nye be nenye be Nye, Amegbetɔ Vi la metrɔ gbɔ ɖe, ame neni makpɔ siwo ƒe xɔse anɔ te le anyigba dzi?”
Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
9 Azɔ Yesu do lo sia na ame siwo dana be yewonye ame dzɔdzɔewo, eye womekpɔa ame bubu ɖe naneke me o la be,
And to some who relied on themselves as being righteous men, and looked down upon all others, He addressed this parable.
10 “Ame eve aɖewo yi gbedoxɔ me be yewoado gbe ɖa. Ɖeka nye Farisitɔ, eye evelia nye nudzɔla aɖe.
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray," He said; "one being a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 Farisitɔ la do gbe ɖa be, ‘Meda akpe na Mawu be nyemenye nu vɔ̃ wɔla abe ame bubuwo ene o, adzodalawo, ame madzɔmadzɔwo, ahasiwɔlawo, vevietɔ abe nudzɔla si le afi mɛ ɖa ene o.
The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "'O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people--I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer.
12 Metsia nu dɔna zi eve le kɔsiɖa ɖeka me, eye metsɔa nye nukpɔkpɔwo ƒe ewolia naa Mawu.’
I fast twice a week. I pay the tithe on all my gains.'
13 “Gake nudzɔla la nɔ tsitre ɖe adzɔge afi aɖe ke, eye melɔ̃ be yeawu mo hã dzi akpɔ dziƒo o; ke boŋ eƒo akɔta hegblɔ be, ‘Mawu, kpɔ nublanui na nye nu vɔ̃ wɔla sia.’
"But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "'O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.'
14 Mele egblɔm na mi be nudzɔla sia trɔ yi aƒe me kple dzidzɔ, elabena Mawu tso afia nɛ. Ke wometsɔ Farisitɔ la ƒe nu vɔ̃ kee o, elabena woabɔbɔ dadalawo katã ɖe anyi eye woado ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokui la ɖe dzi.”
"I tell you that this man went home more thoroughly absolved from guilt than the other; for every one who uplifts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be uplifted."
15 Gbe ɖeka la, dzila aɖewo kplɔ wo viwo vɛ be Yesu nada asi ɖe wo dzi ayra wo. Gake esi nusrɔ̃lawo kpɔ esia la, wonya wo be womegaɖe fu na Aƒetɔ la o.
On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them.
16 Ke Yesu yɔ ɖeviawo va eɖokui gbɔe, eye wògblɔ be, “Mina ɖevi suewo nava gbɔnye, eye migaxe mɔ na wo o, elabena ame sia tɔgbiwo tɔe nye mawufiaɖuƒe la.
Jesus however called the infants to Him. "Let the little children come to me," He said; "do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs.
17 Le nyateƒe me la, mele egblɔm na mi be ame si maxɔ mawufiaɖuƒe la abe ɖevi sue ene o la mage ɖe eme gbeɖe o.”
I tell you in solemn truth that, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it."
18 Gbe ɖeka la, Yudatɔwo ƒe kplɔla ɖeka biae be, “Nufiala nyui, nu ka tututu wòle be mawɔ hafi ate ŋu anyi agbe mavɔ dome?” (aiōnios g166)
The question was put to Him by a Ruler: "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?" (aiōnios g166)
19 Yesu biae be, “Ebu be ènya nu si gblɔm nèle esi nèyɔm be ame nyuia? Le nyateƒe me la, ame aɖeke menyo o, negbe Mawu ɖeka ko.
"Why do you call me good?" replied Jesus; "there is no one good but One, namely God.
20 Ke le wò biabia ŋu la, magblɔ be ènya seawo xoxo be, ‘Mègawɔ ahasi o, mègafi fi o, mègawu ame o, mègada alakpa o, bu fofowò kple dawò kple bubuawo.’”
You know the Commandments: 'Do not commit adultery;' 'Do not murder;' 'Do not steal;' 'Do not lie in giving evidence;' 'Honour thy father and thy mother.'"
21 Ŋutsua ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Mewɔ ɖe se siawo katã dzi tso keke nye ɖevime ke.”
"All of those," he replied, "I have kept from my youth."
22 Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Esusɔ nu vevi ɖeka nàwɔ, yi nàdzra nu siwo katã le asiwò, eye nàtsɔ ga la na ame dahewo; esia anye kesinɔnu na wò le dziƒo, ekema va nàdze yonyeme.”
On receiving this answer Jesus said to him, "There is still one thing wanting in you. Sell everything you possess and give the money to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and then come, follow me."
23 Gake esi ŋutsua se nya sia la, etrɔ dzo nublanuitɔe, elabena kesinɔtɔ gã aɖe wònye.
But on hearing these words he was deeply sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich.
24 Yesu nɔ eyome kpɔm esi wòyina, eye wògblɔ be, “Asesẽ na kesinɔtɔ ŋutɔ be wòage ɖe mawufiaɖuƒe la me!
Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God!
25 Anɔ bɔbɔe na kposɔ be wòato abi ƒe vo me ado, tsɔ wu be kesinɔtɔ nage ɖe mawufiaɖuƒe la me.”
Why, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
26 Ame siwo le afi ma se nya si wògblɔ la gblɔ be, “Nenye be esesẽ alea ɖe, ekema ame ka koŋ ate ŋu akpɔ ɖeɖe sia?”
"Who then can be saved?" exclaimed the hearers.
27 Yesu ɖo eŋu be, “Mawu ate ŋu awɔ nu si amegbetɔ mate ŋu awɔ o!”
"Things impossible with man," He replied, "are possible with God."
28 Petro gblɔ nɛ be, “Míawo la, míegblẽ míaƒe aƒewo kple nu sia nu ɖi dze yowòme.”
Then Peter said, "See, we have given up our homes and have followed you."
29 Yesu ɖo eŋu be, “Esia le eme vavã, eye ame sia ame si gblẽ eƒe aƒe, srɔ̃a, nɔviawo, dzilawo alo viawo ɖi ɖe mawufiaɖuƒea ta la,
"I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom,
31 Azɔ Yesu yɔ nusrɔ̃la wuieveawo va eɖokui gbɔ, gblɔ na wo be, “Abe ale si mienyae ene la, míeyina Yerusalem. Ne míeɖo afi ma la, nyagblɔɖi siwo katã nyagblɔɖilawo gblɔ ɖi tso Amegbetɔ Vi la ŋu la le eme va ge.
Then He drew the Twelve to Him and said, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written in the Prophets which refers to the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32 Woatsɔm ade asi na Ame siwo menye Yudatɔwo be woaɖu fewu le ŋunye, ado ŋukpem nyuie, woaɖe ta ɖe ŋunye,
For He will be given up to the Gentiles, and be mocked, outraged and spit upon.
33 aƒom, eye woawum. Eye le ŋkeke etɔ̃a gbe la, mafɔ tso ku me.”
They will scourge Him and put Him to death, and on the third day He will rise to life again."
34 Nusrɔ̃lawo mese eƒe nya siwo wògblɔ la ɖeka pɛ hã gɔme o, elabena edze abe ele nu ƒom na wo le lododo me ene.
Nothing of this did they understand. The words were a mystery to them, nor could they see what He meant.
35 Esi wote tu Yeriko la, wokpɔ nubiala ŋkuagbãtɔ aɖe wònɔ mɔ to nɔ nu biam le mɔzɔlawo si.
As Jesus came near to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the way-side begging.
36 Esi wòse ameha ŋkɔ wòva yina la, ebia be wòagblɔ nu si nɔ dzɔdzɔm la na ye.
He heard a crowd of people going past, and inquired what it all meant.
37 Wogblɔ nɛ be, “Yesu Nazaretitɔ lae va yina.”
"Jesus the Nazarene is passing by," they told him.
38 Ale wode asi ɣlidodo me be, “Yesu David Vi la, kpɔ nye nublanui!”
Then, at the top of his voice, he cried out, "Jesus, son of David, take pity on me."
39 Ame siwo nɔ Yesu ŋgɔ la blu ɖe eta be wòazi ɖoɖoe, gake ɖeko wògado ɣlia sesĩe wu be, “David Vi, kpɔ nye nublanui.”
Those in front reproved him and tried to silence him; but he continued shouting, louder than ever, "Son of David, take pity on me."
40 Esi Yesu va ɖo afi si wònɔ la, etɔ, eye wògblɔ be, “Mikplɔ ŋkuagbãtɔ ma va afii.”
At length Jesus stopped and desired them to bring the man to Him; and when he had come close to Him He asked him,
41 Esi wòva la, Yesu biae be, “Nu ka dim nèle tso asinye?” Ŋkuagbãtɔ la ɖe kuku nɛ gblɔ be, “Aƒetɔ medi be makpɔ nu!”
"What shall I do for you?" "Sir," he replied, "let me recover my sight."
42 Yesu gblɔ nɛ be, “Enyo wò ŋkuwo neʋu nakpɔ nu. Wò xɔse da gbe le ŋuwò.”
"Recover your sight," said Jesus: "your faith has cured you."
43 Ŋutsua de asi nukpɔkpɔ me enumake, eye wòdze Yesu yome henɔ Mawu kafum. Ame siwo katã kpɔ nu si dzɔ la hã kafu Mawu.
No sooner were the words spoken than the man regained his sight and followed Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people, seeing it, gave praise to God.
