Mateo 21
1 Esi wòsusɔ vie Yesu kple eƒe nusrɔ̃lawo naɖo Yerusalem la, wova ɖo du aɖe si woyɔna be Betfage si le Amito la ŋu la me. Le afi sia la, Yesu dɔ eƒe nusrɔ̃la eve ɖo ɖe kɔƒe aɖe si le wo ŋgɔ la me.
As [we] approached Jerusalem, we came near Bethphage [village], near Olive [Tree] Hill. Jesus said to two [of his] disciples, “Go to the village just ahead of us. As soon as you enter [it], you will see a donkey and her foal that are {someone has} tied [up]. Untie them and bring them [here] to me.
2 Egblɔ na wo be, “Ne miege ɖe kɔƒea me ko la, miakpɔ tedzinɔ aɖe kple via le ka me. Mitu ka wo, eye miakplɔ wo vɛ.
3 Ne ame aɖe bia gbe mi la, migblɔ nɛ ko be, ‘Aƒetɔ lae le wo hiãm, eye ne miegblɔ esia la, womagabia nya aɖeke mi o.’”
If anyone says anything to you [about your doing that], tell [him], ‘The Lord needs them.’ He will [then allow you to] lead them away.”
4 Wowɔ esia be woawu nyagblɔɖi si wogblɔ da ɖi le blema ke la nu be,
When all this happened, what was written by a prophet {what a prophet wrote about} was fulfilled {happened}. The prophet wrote, “Tell the people who live in Jerusalem [SYN], ‘Look! Your king is coming to you! He will come humbly. He [will show that he is humble, because he will be] riding on a colt, the offspring of a donkey.’”
5 “Migblɔ na Zion vinyɔnuvi la be, ‘Wò Fia la gbɔna gbɔwò, edo tedzi kple tedzivi si nye dɔwɔlã!’”
6 Nusrɔ̃la eveawo wɔ ɖe Yesu ƒe gbe dzi,
So the [two] disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do.
7 eye woyi ɖakplɔ tedziawo vɛ nɛ. Azɔ wotsɔ woƒe awuwo ɖo ɖe tedziawo dzi, eye Yesu nɔ wo dzi.
They brought the donkey and its colt [to Jesus]. They placed their cloaks on them [to make something for him to sit on]. Then Jesus [mounted the colt] and sat on the cloaks.
8 Ame geɖewo ŋutɔ le ameha la dome tsɔ woƒe avɔwo kple awuwo ɖo ɖe mɔtata dzi le eŋgɔ; bubuwo hã ŋe deʋayawo kple atilɔwo ɖo ɖe eŋgɔ be wòazɔ wo dzi.
Then a large crowd spread [some of] their clothing on the road, and other [people] cut off branches from [palm] trees and spread them on the road. [They did those things to decorate the road in order to honor Jesus].
9 Ameha la ƒe akpa aɖe dze eŋgɔ, eye bubu hã kplɔe ɖo kplikplikpli nɔ ɣli dom be, “Hosana na Fia David ƒe Vi la!” “Woayra ame si gbɔna le Aƒetɔ la ƒe ŋkɔ me!” “Hosana le dziƒo ʋĩi!”
The crowds that walked in front of him and those who walked behind him were shouting things like, “Praise the [Messiah], the descendant of [King] David!” “May the Lord [God] bless [this one] who comes as [God’s] representative and with [God’s] authority [MTY].” “Praise God, who is in the highest [heaven]!”
10 Esi Yesu ge ɖe Yerusalem dua me la, zi gã aɖe ŋutɔ tɔ; ame sia ame kloe nɔ biabiam be, “Ame kae nye ame sia mahã?”
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, a crowd of people [MTY] from all [over the city] became excited and were saying, “Why [are they honoring] this man [like that]?”
11 Ame siwo nɔ Yesu ŋu la ɖo eŋu be, “Eyae nye Yesu, Nyagblɔɖila si tso Nazaret le Galilea.”
The crowd [that was already following him] said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee!”
12 Azɔ Yesu yi gbedoxɔ la me, eye wònya nudzralawo do goe le teƒea. Etu afɔ gaɖɔlilawo ƒe kplɔ̃wo ƒu anyi, eye wòkaka akpakpadzralawo ƒe kplɔ̃wo hã.
Then Jesus went into the Temple [courtyard] and chased out all of those who were buying and selling things there. He also overturned the tables of those who were giving [Temple tax money in exchange for Roman] coins, and he overturned the seats of those who were selling pigeons [for sacrifices].
13 Egblɔ na wo be, “Woŋlɔ ɖi be, ‘Nye gbedoxɔ anye gbedoɖaƒe’, gake miawo la, mietsɔe wɔ ‘fiafitɔwo ƒe nɔƒee.’”
Then he said to them, “It is {([Jeremiah/A prophet]) has} written [in the Scriptures that God said], ‘[I want] my house to be called a place where [people] pray’, but you bandits have made it [MET] your hideout!”
14 Esi wònya ameawo vɔ la, ŋkuagbãtɔwo kple tekunɔwo va egbɔ, eye wòda gbe le wo ŋu le gbedoxɔ la me,
After that, [many] blind [people] and lame [people] came to Jesus in the temple [in order that he would heal them], and he healed them.
15 gake esi Yudatɔwo ƒe nunɔlagãwo kple sefialawo kpɔ nukunu dzɔatsu siwo wòwɔ, eye wose ɖevi suetɔ kekeake hã wònɔ ɣli dom le gbedoxɔ la me be, “Hosana na Fia David ƒe Vi la” la, dɔ me ve wo ŋutɔ.
The high priests and the men who taught the people the [Jewish] laws saw the wonderful deeds that Jesus did. [They also saw and] heard the children shouting in the Temple, “We praise the [Messiah], the descendant of [King] David!” The religious leaders were indignant [because they did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah].
16 Wobiae be, “Èse nu si gblɔm ɖevi siawo lea?” Yesu ɖo eŋu na wo be, “Ɛ̃, gake miexlẽe kpɔ be, “‘Èdzra kafukafu kple dodoɖedzi ɖe ɖeviwo kple vidzĩwo ƒe nu me’ oa?”
[They thought that Jesus should not be allowing the children to say that], so they asked him, “[How can you tolerate] this [RHQ]? Do you hear what these [children] are shouting?” Then Jesus said to them, “Yes, I [hear them, but] if you [remembered what] you have read [in the Scriptures about children praising me, you would know that God is pleased] [RHQ] [with them]. [The psalmist] wrote, [saying to God], ‘You have taught infants and other children to praise you perfectly.’”
17 Esia megbe la, etrɔ yi Betania, eye wòtsi afi ma dɔ.
Then Jesus left the city. We [disciples] went [with him] to Bethany [town], and we slept there [that night].
18 Esi ŋu ke, eye Yesu fɔ gayina Yerusalem le ŋdi me la, dɔ wui le mɔa dzi.
Early [the next morning], when we were returning to the city, [Jesus] was hungry.
19 Ekpɔ gboti aɖe le mɔa to, ale wòzɔ ɖe edzi be yeakpɔ kutsetse aɖe le edzi agbe aɖu mahã? Ke esi wòva ɖo atia te la, aŋgbawo ko wòkpɔ le edzi. Yesu gblɔ na gboti la be, “Tso egbe sia yina la, màgatse ku gbeɖe o!” Enumake gboti la yrɔ ɖe tsitrenu. (aiōn g165)
He saw a fig tree near the road. [So he went over to it to pick some figs to eat]. But when he got close, he saw that there were no [figs on the tree]. There were only leaves on it. So [to illustrate how God would punish the nation of Israel], he said to the fig tree, “May you never again produce figs!” As a result, the fig tree withered that night. (aiōn g165)
20 Nu sia wɔ nuku na nusrɔ̃lawo ŋutɔ, ale wobiae be, “Nu kae na be gboti la yrɔ enumake?”
[The next day] when we disciples saw [what had happened to the tree], we marveled, and we said [to Jesus], “(It is astonishing that the fig tree withered so quickly!/How is it that the fig tree dried up so quickly?)” [RHQ]
21 Yesu ɖo eŋu na wo be, “Le nyateƒe me la, ne xɔse vavã le mia si, eye ɖikeke mele mia me o la, miate ŋu awɔ nu siawo, eye nu siwo miawɔ la akɔ wu esiwo mewɔ kura gɔ̃ hã. Miate ŋu agblɔ na to si kpɔm miele le afii kura gɔ̃ hã be, ho nàyi aɖadze atsiaƒu me, eye wòava eme enumake.
Jesus said to us, “Think about this: If you believe [that God has power to do what you ask him to] and you do not doubt [that], you will be able to do [things like what I have] done to this fig tree. You will even be able to do [marvelous deeds like] saying to a nearby hill, ‘Uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea’, and it will happen!
22 Nu sia nu si miabia to gbedodoɖa kple xɔse me la woana mi.”
In addition [to that], whenever you ask [God for something] when you pray [to him, if you] believe [that he will give it to you], you will receive [it from him].”
23 Yesu yi gbedoxɔ la me, eye esi wònɔ nu fiam la, nunɔlagãwo kple Yudatɔwo ƒe dumegãwo va egbɔ hebiae be, “Ŋusẽ kae nèkpɔ hafi le nu siawo wɔm, eye ame kae na ŋusẽ sia wò?”
After that, Jesus went into the Temple [courtyard]. While he was teaching [the people], the chief priests and the elders of the Jewish Council approached him. They asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who authorized you to do what you did [here yesterday] [DOU]?”
24 Yesu ɖo eŋu na wo be, “Nye hã mabia nya ɖeka mi. Ne mieɖo eŋuti nam la, ekema nye hã magblɔ afi si mekpɔ ŋusẽ tsoe hafi le nu siawo wɔm la na mi.
Jesus said to them, “I also will ask you a question, and if you answer me, I will tell you who authorized me to do these things.
25 Yohanes ƒe mawutsidetaname ɖe, afi ka wòtso? Dziƒo wòtso loo alo amewo gbɔ wòtsoa?” Wodzro nya sia me le wo ɖokuiwo dome, eye wogblɔ be, “Ne míegblɔ be, ‘Etso dziƒo’ la, abia mí be, ‘Ekema nu ka ŋuti miexɔ edzi se o ɖo?’
Where did John [the Baptizer] get [his authority to] baptize [those who came to him]? [Did he get it] from God or from people? [MTY/EUP]” The chief priests and elders debated among themselves [about what they should answer]. [They said to each other], “If we say, ‘[It was] [MTY/EUP] from God’, he will say to us, ‘Then (you should have believed his [message]!/why did you not believe [John’s message]?) [RHQ]’
26 Ke ne míegblɔ be, ‘Etso amewo gbɔ’ la, míele vɔvɔ̃m na nu si ameawo awɔ, elabena wo katã woxɔe se be Yohanes nye Nyagblɔɖila.”
If we say, ‘It was from people’, we are afraid that the crowd [will react violently], because all [the people] believe that John was a prophet [sent by God].”
27 Ale woɖo nya la ŋu na Yesu be, “Míenya o.” Tete Yesu hã gblɔ na wo be, “Nye hã nyemagblɔ afi si mexɔ mɔɖeɖe tsoe hafi le nu siawo wɔm la na mi o.”
So they answered Jesus, “We do not know [where John got his authority].” Then he said to them, “[Because you did not answer my question], I will not tell you who authorized me to do the things I did [here yesterday].”
28 Azɔ Yesu yi edzi gblɔ be, “Aleke miekpɔ tso nya si gbɔna la ŋuti? Ŋutsu aɖe si si viŋutsu eve nɔ la gblɔ na tsitsitɔ be, ‘Vinye, yi nàwɔ dɔ le agble me nam egbe.’
[Then Jesus said to the chief priests and elders], “Tell me [RHQ] what you think [about what I am about to tell you]. There was a man who had two sons. He went to his older son and said, ‘My son, go and work in my vineyard today!’
29 “Ɖevi la ɖo eŋu be, ‘Nyemayi o.’ Ke emegbe la, etrɔ eƒe susu, eye wòyi agble la me ɖawɔ dɔ la.
But the son said [to his father], ‘I do not want to [go and work in your vineyard today]!’ But later he changed his mind, and he went to the vineyard [and worked].
30 “Fofoa va ɖevitɔ hã gbɔ eye wògblɔ nɛ be wòawɔ nenema. Ɖevi la ɖo eŋu nɛ be, ‘Papa mayi.’ Ke egbe meyi o.
Then the father approached his younger son and said what he had said to his older son. That son said, ‘Sir, I will [go and work in the vineyard today.’] But he did not go there.
31 “Le ɖevi eve siawo dome ɖe, ame kae wɔ fofoa ƒe gbe dzi?” Wogblɔ bena, “Gbãtɔ lae.” Azɔ Yesu ɖe lododo la gɔme na wo be, “Le nyateƒe me la, ame vɔ̃ɖiwo kple gbolowo kura age ɖe mawufiaɖuƒe la me hafi miawo miava yi,
So which of the man’s two sons did what their father desired?” They answered, “The older son.” Jesus [explained to them what that parable meant] by saying, “Think about this: [It is more likely that other people, including] tax collectors and prostitutes, [whom you think are very sinful], will enter where God rules, than it is that you [Jewish leaders] will enter.
32 elabena Yohanes Mawutsidetanamela gblɔe na mi be, midzudzɔ nu vɔ̃ wɔwɔ, eye miaku ɖe Mawu ŋu, gake mieɖo toe o. Ke ame vɔ̃ɖiwo kple gbolowo ɖo toe, eye wodzudzɔ nu vɔ̃ wɔwɔ. Ke nu si vɔ̃ɖi wu lae nye be, esi miekpɔ be ame siawo dzudzɔ nu vɔ̃ wɔwɔ hã la, metsɔ fu le lãme na mi gɔ̃ hã be miawo hã miadzudzɔ o, ke boŋ miesẽ dzi me goŋgoŋgoŋ.
I [say this to you] because, even though John [the Baptizer] explained to you how to live righteously, you did not believe his message. But tax collectors and prostitutes believed his [message, and they turned away from their sinful behavior]. In contrast, you, even though you saw what they did, refused to turn away from your sinful behavior, and you did not believe [John’s message].”
33 “Miɖo to miase lododo sia ɖa. Agbledela aɖe de waingble gã aɖe, eye wòtɔ kpɔ ƒo xlãe. Etu nɔƒe tɔxɛ na agble la ŋu dzɔla, eye wòtu wainfiaƒe hã. Azɔ etsɔ agblea de asi na agbledelawo be woawɔ dɔ le eme, ale be yeama viɖe si ado tso eme la kpli wo. Le esia wɔwɔ vɔ megbe la, agbletɔ la ŋutɔ dzo yi du bubu aɖe me.
“Listen to another parable [that I will tell you]. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He built a fence around it. He dug a hole in the ground [inside the fence]. He placed [in the hole] a stone tank to [collect the juice that would be] pressed out of the grapes. He also built a tower [inside that fence that someone would sit in to guard that vineyard]. He arranged for some men [to care for] the vineyard [and to give him some of the grapes in return]. Then he went away to another country.
34 “Esi nuŋeɣi ɖo la, eɖo dɔlawo ɖe agblea dzi kpɔlawo gbɔ be woaxɔ yeƒe viɖe vɛ na ye.
When it was time to harvest the grapes, the landowner sent some of his servants to the men who were taking care of the vineyard to get his share of the grapes [that the vineyard had produced].
35 Ke agbledzikpɔlawo dze ame dɔdɔawo dzi wu ɖeka, ƒo ɖeka vevie, eye woƒu kpe etɔ̃lia.
But the renters seized the servants. They beat one of them, they killed another one, and [killed] another one of them [by throwing] stones at him.
36 “Agbletɔ la gaɖo dɔla bubu geɖewo ɖa, gake wowɔ fu woawo hã abe ame dɔdɔ gbãtɔwo ene.
[So the landowner] sent more servants than [he had sent] the first [time]. The renters treated those servants the same way that [they had treated the other servants].
37 Mlɔeba la, agbletɔ la dɔ Via ŋutsu ɖa kple susu sia be woade bubu eya ŋu, elabena enye via.
Later, [knowing this], [the landowner] sent his son to [the renters to get his share of the grapes]. When he sent him, he said [to himself], ‘They will certainly respect my son [and give him some of the grapes].’
38 “Gake kpao! Esi agbledzikpɔla siawo kpɔ ŋutsuvia wògbɔna la, wogblɔ na wo nɔewo be, ‘Ɛhɛ̃, ame siae le fofoa ƒe dome nyi ge, ale be teƒe sia katã gbɔna etɔ zu ge. Mía tɔwo, mina míawui be agble sia nazu mía tɔ!’”
But when the renters saw his son [arriving], they said to each other, ‘This is the man who will inherit [this vineyard]! Let’s kill him and divide the property [among ourselves].’
39 Ale wohe agbletɔ la ƒe vi la do goe le agble la me, eye wowui.
So they grabbed him, dragged him outside the vineyard, and killed him.
40 Yesu yi edzi bia wo be, “Nenye be agbletɔ la ŋutɔ gbɔ ɖe, nu ka miebu be awɔ agbledzikpɔla vɔ̃ɖi siawo?”
[Now I ask you], when the landowner returns to his vineyard, what [do you think] he will do to those renters?”
41 Yudatɔwo ƒe amegãwo ɖo eŋu nɛ be, “Ana woawu ame vɔ̃ɖi siawo, eye wòaxɔ agble la atsɔ na ame siwo awɔ eƒe gbe dzi la.”
[The chief priests and elders] replied, “He will thoroughly destroy those wicked [renters]! Then he will rent the vineyard to others. They will give him [his share of] the grapes when they are ripe.”
42 Yesu gabia wo be, “Miexlẽ le mawunya me kpɔ be, “‘Kpe si xɔtulawo gbe be yewomazã o lae va zua dzogoedzikpe na xɔ la oa? Esia menye nu wɔnuku aɖe si Aƒetɔ la wɔ oa’?
Jesus said to them, “[That is right, so you need to think carefully about these words which] you have read [RHQ] in the Scriptures: The builders rejected a certain stone. [But others put] that same stone [in its proper place, and it] has become the most important stone [of the] building [MET]. The Lord has done this, and we marvel as we look at it.
43 “Nya si gblɔm mele na mi la gɔme kpuie koe nye be woaxɔ mawufiaɖuƒe la le mia si atsɔ na dukɔ bubu si atsɔ viɖe si nye Mawu tɔ la vɛ nɛ.
So, [because you reject me], I am going to tell you this: God will no longer let you [Jews] be the people over whom he rules. Instead, he will let [non-Jews] be the people over whom he rules, and they will do [IDM] what he asks them to do.
44 Nyateƒe, nya sia ɖe wòle abe kpe ene; ame si akli kpe sia la, aŋe kluikluiklui, eye ame si dzi kpe sia age adze la, agbã gudugudu.”
[The important stone in the building represents me, the Messiah, and those who reject me are like people who fall on this stone]. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken into pieces {This cornerstone will break into pieces anyone who falls on it}, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
45 Yudatɔwo ƒe nunɔlagãwo kple Farisitɔwo kpɔe dze sii be yewoe nye agbledzikpɔla vɔ̃ɖi siwo ŋu Yesu ƒo nu le le lododo la me, eye yewo ŋuti wòle nya la gblɔm ɖo.
When the chief priests and the [elders who were] Pharisees heard this parable, they realized that he was accusing them [because they did not believe that he was the Messiah].
46 Esia ta wodi vevie be yewoawui, gake wonɔ vɔvɔ̃m be ne yewolée la, ameha la atɔ zi, elabena wonya be ameha la xɔe se be Yesu nye Nyagblɔɖila.
They wanted to seize him, but [they did not do so] because they were afraid of what the crowds [would do if they did that], because [the crowds] considered that Jesus was a prophet.
