Mateo 18
1 Le ɣeyiɣi sia me la, nusrɔ̃lawo va Yesu gbɔ va biae be, “Ame kae nye gãtɔ le dziƒofiaɖuƒe la me?”
On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him, “Who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Yesu yɔ ɖevi sue aɖe va eɖokui gbɔ, eye wòtsɔe ɖo nusrɔ̃lawo ƒe ŋkume.
Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said,
3 Azɔ egblɔ na wo be, “Vavã mele egblɔm na mi bena, ne ame aɖe metsri nu vɔ̃, eye wòtrɔ ɖe Mawu ŋu hexɔ edzi se abe ɖeviwo ene o la, mage ɖe dziƒofiaɖuƒe la me o,
“I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven at all.
4 eya ta ame si bɔbɔ eɖokui abe ɖevi sue sia ene la, eyae age ɖe dziƒofiaɖuƒe la me.
Therefore, anyone who will humble themselves like this child – that person will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 Eye mia dometɔ si axɔ ɖevi aɖe abe esia ene le nye ŋkɔ me la, nyee nye ema wòxɔ.
And anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.
6 Ke nenye be mia dometɔ aɖe ana ɖevi sue siawo dometɔ aɖe nabu xɔse si le eme ɖe ŋunye la, anyo na ame ma wu ne woatsɔ kpe gã aɖe atsi ɖe kɔ nɛ, atsɔe aƒu gbe ɖe atsiaƒu me, eye wòano tsi aku boŋ.
But, if anyone puts temptation in the way of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be best for them to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung around their neck.
7 “Baba na xexea me le nu siwo nana amewo wɔa nu vɔ̃ la ta! Nu siawo ava eme tsã, gake baba na ame si dzi woato ava la!
Alas for the world because of such temptations! There cannot but be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!
8 Nenye wò asi alo afɔe nana be nèwɔa nu vɔ̃ la, lãe ɖa ne nàtsɔe aƒu gbe. Anyo na wò be nàyi dziƒo kple asi alo afɔ lalɛ̃ wu be asi eve kple afɔ eve nanɔ asiwò, eye woatsɔ wò aƒu gbe ɖe dzomavɔ me. (aiōnios g166)
“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the fire that never goes out. (aiōnios g166)
9 Nenye be wò ŋkue nana be nèwɔa nu vɔ̃ la, hoe le eƒe to me ƒu gbe. Anyo na wò be nàyi dziƒo kple ŋku ɖeka tsɔ wu be ŋku eve nanɔ asiwò, eye nàyi dzomavɔ me. (Geenna g1067)
If your eye causes you to sin, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fires of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
10 “Mikpɔ nyuie be miagado vlo ɖevi sue siawo dometɔ aɖeke o, elabena woƒe mawudɔlawo le Fofonye ƒe ŋkume le dziƒo ɣe sia ɣi. [
Beware of despising one of these little ones, for in heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
11 Amegbetɔ Vi la va be yeaɖe ame siwo bu la.]
12 “Nenye be alẽ alafa ɖeka le ame aɖe si, eye ɖeka bu la, aleke wòawɔ? Ɖe magble alẽ blaasiekɛ-vɔ-asiekɛ mamlɛawo ɖi ayi aɖadi ɖeka si bu la le togbɛwo dzi oa?
“What think you? If a person owns a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will the person not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and search for the one that is straying?
13 Vavã mele egblɔm na mi bena nenye be wòkpɔ alẽa ɖe, makpɔ dzidzɔ manyagblɔ aɖe ɖe eŋu tsɔ wu blaasiekɛ-vɔ-asiekɛ siwo le dedie le aƒe la oa?
And, if they succeed in finding it, I tell you that they rejoice more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray.
14 Nenema ke menye Fofonye si le dziƒo ƒe didi be ɖevi sue siawo dometɔ ɖeka pɛ hã nabu o.
So, too, it is the will of my Father who is in heaven that not one of these little ones should be lost.
15 “Nenye be nɔviwò aɖe dze agɔ le dziwò la, yi egbɔ dzaa ne nàɖe nu si wòwɔ la fiae. Nenye be ese eɖokui gɔme, eye wòɖo to wò la, ekema èɖe nɔviwò sia ƒe agbe.
“If your brother or sister does wrong, go to them and convince them of their fault when you are both alone. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
16 Ke nenye be wògbe meɖo to wò o la, kplɔ nɔviwò bubu ɖeka alo eve ɖe asi ne miayi egbɔ ake, be ame siawo naɖu ɖasefo na wò.
But, if they do not listen to you, take with you one or two others, so that on the evidence of two or three witnesses, every word may be put beyond dispute.
17 Nenye be wògbe esia hã la, tsɔ nya la yi na hame la, eye ne hame la tso afia na wò, gake melɔ̃ ɖe edzi o la, mibu eya amea abe trɔ̃subɔla alo nudzɔla ko ene.
If they refuse to listen to them, speak to the church; and, if they also refuse to listen to the church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.
18 “Nyateƒe, mele egblɔm na mi be nu sia nu si miabla le anyigba dzi la anɔ babla le dziƒo, eye nu sia nu si miatu le anyigba dzi la anɔ tutu le dziƒo.
“I tell you, all that you forbid on earth will be held in heaven to be forbidden, and all that you allow on earth will be held in heaven to be allowed.
19 “Mele egblɔm na mi hã nyateƒetɔe be ne mi ame eve miewɔ ɖeka le anyigba dzi bia nane Fofonye si le dziƒo la, awɔe na mi.
Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they will pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in heaven.
20 Elabena afi si ame eve alo etɔ̃ ƒo ƒu ɖo le nye ŋkɔ me la, manɔ wo dome.”
For where two or three have come together in my name, I am present with them.”
21 Azɔ Petro te ɖe eŋu, eye wòbiae be, “Aƒetɔ, zi nenie nɔvinye ada vo ɖe ŋutinye, eye matsɔe akee? Zi adrea?”
Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus, “Master, how often am I to forgive someone who wrongs me? As many as seven times?”
22 Yesu ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Gbeɖe, menye zi adre o, ke boŋ zi blaadre teƒe adre.”
But Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.
23 Azɔ Yesu do lo sia be, “Dziƒofiaɖuƒe la sɔ kple fia aɖe si di be yeawɔ akɔnta kple eƒe dɔlawo la.
Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24 Esi wònɔ akɔnta la wɔm la, wokplɔ eƒe fenyila ɖeka vɛ; ame sia nyi fe sidi akpe akpewo le esi.
When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him ten thousand bags of gold;
25 Fenyila la mate ŋu axe fe la o, eya ta fia la ɖe gbe be woadzra ŋutsu sia srɔ̃, viawo kple woƒe nu sia nu atsɔ axe fe lae.
and, as he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, together with his wife, and his children, and everything that he had.
26 “Ke dɔla la dze klo ɖe fia la ƒe akɔme ɖe kuku nɛ be, ‘O, Aƒetɔ, meɖe kuku, gbɔ dzi ɖi nam vie, ne mava xe fe la katã na wò emegbe.’
The servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27 Dɔla la ƒe nu wɔ nublanui na fia la ale gbegbe be eɖe asi le eŋu, eye wòtsɔ fe si wònyi la hã kee.
The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt.
28 “Ke esi dɔla sia do go yina la, edo go ehavi dɔla bubu, ame si nyi sidi alafa aɖewo ko ƒe fe le esi. Eti kpo dze edzi helé awu ɖe vɛ nɛ, eye wòbia tso esi be, ‘Xe fe si nènyi le asinye la nam!’
But, on going out, that same servant came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. Seizing him by the throat, he said ‘Pay what you owe me.’
29 “Ŋutsu sia hã dze klo ɖe kuku nɛ be, ‘Meɖe kuku, gbɔ dzi ɖi nam vie ekema maxe fe la katã na wò.’
His fellow servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. ‘Have patience with me,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you.’
30 “Gake ŋutsu vɔ̃ɖi sia gbe asiɖeɖe le fenyila la ŋuti, eye wòna wolée de mɔ va se ɖe esime wòaxe fe la katã nɛ.
But the other would not, but went and put him in prison until he should pay his debt.
31 Ŋutsu nublanuitɔ sia xɔlɔ̃ aɖe kpɔ nu si dzɔ la, eye wòyi ɖagblɔ nya la na fia la.
When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him.
32 “Fia la yɔ ŋutsu vɔ̃ɖi si wòtsɔ fe kee la va egbɔ, eye wògblɔ nɛ be, ‘Wò, dɔla vɔ̃ɖi tagbɔsesẽtɔ! Nye ya metsɔ fe gbogbo si nènyi le asinye la ke wò esi neɖe kuku nam.
So the master sent for the servant, and said to him ‘You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt.
33 Nu ka ta wò hã màkpɔ nublanui na amewo abe ale si nye hã mekpɔ nublanui na wò ene o?’
Shouldn’t you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’
34 Fia la do dɔmedzoe ɖe ŋutsu sia ŋu vevie, eye wòna wodee gaxɔ me, afi si fukpekpe le, be wòanɔ afi ma va se ɖe esime wòaxe fe siwo katã wònyi la, pesewa afã hã masusɔ o.
Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt.
35 “Alea tututu Fofonye si le dziƒo la hã awɔ na mi nenye be mietsɔ nu vɔ̃wo ke mia nɔewo tso miaƒe dzi me o.”
So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”
