Mateo 6
1 “Mikpɔ nyuie be miagawɔ miaƒe dzɔdzɔenyenyedɔwo le amewo ƒe ŋkume be woakpɔ o. Ne miewɔe nenema la, miaxɔ fetu aɖeke tso mia Fofo si le dziƒo la gbɔ o.
“When you do your good deeds, make certain that you do not do them when other people are watching so that they may see you [and think highly of you]. If [you do good deeds merely in order that other people may think highly of you, God], your Father who is in heaven, will not give you any reward.
2 “Eya ta ne miena nu ame dahe aɖe la, migaɖe gbeƒãe kple kpẽ abe ale si alakpatɔwo wɔna le woƒe ƒuƒoƒewo kple mɔtatawo dzi, be amewo nakafu yewo ene o. Mele egblɔm na mi le nyateƒe me be, woxɔ woƒe fetu la katã xoxo.
So, whenever you give something to the poor, do not [announce it as people announce something that they want other people to know about] by playing a [fanfare] on a trumpet [MET]. That is what the hypocrites do (in the synagogues/in the Jewish meeting places) and on the main roads in order that people might [see what they do and] praise them. Keep this in mind: [People praise those hypocrites], [but] that is the [only] reward they will receive!
3 Ke ne miena nu ame dahe aɖe la, migana miaƒe miabɔ nanya nu si wɔm miaƒe ɖusibɔ le la o,
Instead [of doing as they do], when you give something to the poor, do not let other people know that you are doing that [MET].
4 ale be miaƒe nunana nanye bebemenu. Ekema mia Fofo si kpɔa nu si wowɔna le bebeme la natu fe na mi.
In that way, you will be giving to the poor secretly. [As a result God], your Father who observes [you] while no one else sees [you], will reward you.
5 “Ne miele gbe dom ɖa la, migawɔ abe alakpatɔwo ene o, elabena wolɔ̃a gbedodoɖa le tsitrenu le ƒuƒoƒewo kple mɔtatawo ƒe dzogoewo dzi, be amewo nakpɔ yewo. Mele egblɔm na mi le nyateƒe me be woxɔ woƒe fetu la katã xoxo.
Also when you pray, do not do what the hypocrites do. They like to stand in the Jewish meeting places and on the corners of the main streets to pray, in order that other people will see them [and think highly of them]. Keep this in mind: [People praise them, but] that is the [only] reward they will get.
6 Ne èbe yeado gbe ɖa la, yi ɖe wò xɔ me nàtu ʋɔa, eye nàdo gbe ɖa na Fofowò, ame si womekpɔna o la, ekema Fofowò, ame si kpɔa nu si wowɔna le bebeme la, atu fe na wò.
But as for you, when you pray, go into your private room and close the door in order to pray to [God], your Father, whom no one can see. He observes you where no one else observes you, and he will reward you.
7 Ne miele gbe dom ɖa la, migagblɔ nyawo taŋtaŋ abe trɔ̃subɔlawo ene o, elabena wobuna be yewoaxɔ yewoƒe ŋuɖoɖo le nya geɖewo gbɔgblɔ ta.
When you pray, do not repeat words many times as the people who do not know God do [when they pray. They repeat meaningless words] because they think that if they use many words, their gods will listen to them and give them [what they ask for].
8 Miganɔ abe woawo ene o, elabena mia Fofo nya nu siwo hiã mi la gɔ̃ hafi miebianɛ.
Do not [repeat words] as they do, because [God] your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “Ale si miado gbe ɖae nye esi: “‘Mía Fofo si le dziƒo, woade bubu wò ŋkɔ ŋuti,
So pray [things] like this: Father, [you who are] in heaven, we [(exc)] desire that you be honored/revered {that people honor/revere you}.
10 wò fiaɖuƒe neva, woawɔ wò lɔlɔ̃nu le anyigba dzi abe ale si wowɔnɛ le dziƒo ene.
We [(exc)] desire that people let you rule [over their lives]. We(exc) want [people who live] on the earth to do what you desire, as those who live in heaven [do what you want them to do].
11 Na nuɖuɖu si míaɖu egbe la mi.
Give us [(exc)] each day the food [SYN] that we [(exc) need for] that day.
12 Tsɔ míaƒe nu vɔ̃wo ke mí abe ale si míawo hã míetsɔnɛ kea, ame siwo daa vo ɖe mía ŋuti la ene.
Forgive our sins just like we [(exc)] have forgiven the people who sin against us [(exc)].
13 Mègakplɔ mí yi tetekpɔ me o, ke boŋ ɖe mí tso vɔ̃ɖitɔ la ƒe asi me.’
Do not let us(exc) do wrong things when we(exc) are tempted {someone or something tempts us}, and rescue us [(exc)] when Satan the evil one tempts us to do evil things.”
14 Elabena ne mietsɔ vo siwo amewo da ɖe mia ŋuti la ke wo la, ekema mia Fofo si le dziƒo hã atsɔ ake miawo hã.
“[Forgive the people who sin against you], because, if you forgive other people, [God], your Father who is in heaven, will forgive your [sins].
15 Ke ne mietsɔ amewo ƒe nu vɔ̃wo ke wo o la, mia Fofo hã matsɔ miaƒe nu vɔ̃wo ake mi o.
But if you do not forgive other people, neither will God forgive your sins.”
16 “Ne mietsi nu dɔ la, migayɔ mo lilili abe ale si alakpanuwɔlawo wɔna ene o. Ame siawo yɔa mo lilili, be amewo nakpɔ be yewole nutsitsidɔ me. Mele egblɔm na mi nyateƒetɔe be ame siawo xɔ woƒe fetu blibo la xoxo.
“When you abstain from eating food [in order to please God], do not look sad as the hypocrites look. They make their faces appear sad in order that people will see that they are abstaining from food [and will think highly of them]. Keep this in mind: [People will think highly of those people for that], but [that is the only] reward those people will get!
17 Ke ne miawo mietsi nu dɔ la, midzra mia ɖokui ɖo nyuie abe ɖe miele naneke wɔm o ene,
Instead, [each of] you, when you abstain from food, should comb your hair and wash your face [as usual],
18 ale be ame aɖeke maganya be mietsi nu dɔ o, negbe mia Fofo si womekpɔna o, gake eya kpɔa nu sia nu si wowɔna le bebeme la axe fe na mi.
in order that other people will not notice that you are fasting [because you will look as you always do]. But [God], your Father, whom no one can see, [will observe that you are abstaining from food. God] your Father sees [you] even though no one else sees [you], and he will reward you.”
19 “Migadzra miaƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖo ɖe anyigba dzi, afi si agbagblaʋui kple ɣebialéle gblẽa nu le, eye fiafitɔwo gbãa ʋɔ hefia nu le la o,
“Do not [selfishly] accumulate large quantities of money and material goods for yourselves on [this] earth, because [the earth is where everything is destroyed. For example], on earth termites ruin things, and things rust, and thieves enter [buildings] and steal things.
20 ke boŋ midzra miaƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖo ɖe dziƒo, afi si agbagblaʋui kple ɣebialéle megblẽa nu le, eye fiafitɔwo megbãa ʋɔ hefia nu le la o.
Instead, do [deeds that will please God. Your doing such deeds will be like] storing treasures in heaven [MET]. [Nothing perishes in heaven]. In heaven no termites ruin [things], nothing rusts, and thieves do not enter buildings and steal.
21 Elabena afi si miaƒe kesinɔnuwo le la, afi ma miaƒe dzi hã anɔ.
[Remember that] the things [that you think are the most] valuable are [the things that] you will be constantly concerned about [MET]. [So if you want to be storing treasures in heaven], you [need to be] constantly thinking [about God and heaven], [instead of your earthly possessions].”
22 “Ŋkue nye akaɖi na ame blibo la, eya ta ne wò ŋku dzi kɔ la, wò ame blibo la àyɔ fũu kple kekeli.
“Your eyes are [like] a lamp [MET] for your body, because they enable you to see things. So if your eyes are healthy, you are able to see everything well [MET]. [Similarly, if you are generous with your money and other possessions, you will be able to know much of what God wants you to know] [MET].
23 Ke ne wò ŋku dzi mekɔ o la, wò ame blibo la, àyɔ fũu kple viviti. Ekema ne kekeli si le mewò trɔ zu viviti la, aleke gbegbe viviti la asẽ ŋui!
But if your eyes are bad, you are not able to see things well. And if that continues, the time will come when you will not be able to see at all. You will be in complete darkness [MET]. [Similarly, if you continue to be greedy, you will be in spiritual darkness. If all that your eyes can see and your mind can think about involves your greedily desiring material possessions, all that you do will be evil] [MET].”
24 “Ame aɖeke mate ŋu asubɔ aƒetɔ eve o; alé fu ɖeka, eye wòalɔ̃ evelia, alo aku ɖe ɖeka ŋu vevie, eye wòagbe nu le evelia gbɔ. Màte ŋu asubɔ Mawu kple ga o.
“No one is able to serve two [different] bosses [at the same time]. If [he tried to do that], he would dislike one of them and love the other one, or he would be loyal to one of them and despise the other one [DOU]. [Similarly], you cannot [devote your life to] worshipping God and [worshipping] money and material goods [at the same time].”
25 “Eya ta mele egblɔm na mi be, migatsi dzimaɖi le miaƒe agbe ŋuti, nu si miaɖu alo miano ŋu o; alo le miaƒe ŋutilã ŋuti, nu si miata ŋu o. Ɖe miaƒe agbe mexɔ asi wu nuɖuɖu, eye miaƒe ŋutilã mexɔ asi wu nudodo oa?
“Because [you should be concerned about what God thinks is important and not about material goods, I] tell you that you should not worry about [things that you need in order to] live. [Do not worry] about whether you will have [enough food] to eat, and [something] to drink, or [enough] clothes to wear. It is important to have [sufficient] food [and drink] and clothing, but the way you conduct your lives is much more important [RHQ].
26 Mikpɔ dziƒoxeviwo ɖa; womeƒãa nu alo ŋea nu alo ƒoa nu nu ƒu ɖe avawo me o. Ke mia Fofo si le dziƒo la naa nuɖuɖu wo. Ɖe mi amegbetɔwo miexɔ asi sãa wu dziƒoxeviwo oa?
Look at the birds. They do not plant [seeds, and they do not] harvest [crops] and gather them into barns. [But they always have food to eat because God], your Father who is in heaven, provides food for them. And you are certainly worth a lot more than birds [RHQ]! [So you can be assured that God will supply what you need!]
27 Mia dometɔ kae ate ŋu ato dzitsitsi me atsɔ gaƒoƒo ɖeka pɛ akpe ɖe eƒe agbe ŋu?
(None of you can, just by worrying, [add time to your life]./Can any of you, just by worrying, [add time to your life]?) [RHQ] [You cannot] add [even] one minute to your life! [So you should not worry about things such as food and clothing!]
28 “Ekema nu ka ŋuti mietsia dzi ɖe nutata ŋu ɖo? Mikpɔ ale si dzogbenyawo le gbedzi tsinae ɖa. Womewɔa dɔ alo trea ɖeti o.
You should also not worry about [whether you will have enough] clothes [to wear] [RHQ]. Think about the way flowers [grow] in the fields. They do not work [to earn money], and they do not make their own clothes.
29 Ke mele egblɔm na mi be Solomo, ame si nɔ atsyɔ̃ gã me hã ƒe atsyɔ̃ɖoɖo mede seƒoƒo siawo tɔ nu kura o.
But I tell you that even though [King] Solomon, who [lived long ago], [wore very beautiful clothes], his clothes were not as beautiful as one of those [flowers].
30 Ke 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 na mi sãa wu gbe siawo oa? O mi xɔse ʋɛ tɔwo?
God makes the wild plants very beautiful, [but they grow] in the field [for only a short time]. One day they grow, and the next day they are thrown into an oven {someone [cuts them and] throws them into an oven} [to be burned to make heat for baking bread. But you are more important to God than wild plants are, and you live much longer]. So (God will certainly provide clothes for you who [live a long time but] trust him so little!/will not God surely very adequately clothe you, [who live a long time but] trust him so little?) [RHQ]
31 Eya ta migatsi dzi anɔ biabiam be, ‘Nu ka míaɖu?’ alo ‘Nu ka miano?’ alo, ‘Nu ka míata?’ o.
Because of God’s caring for you, do not worry and say, ‘Will we have anything to eat?’ or ‘Will we have anything to drink?’ or ‘Will we have clothes to wear?’ [RHQ]
32 Elabena trɔ̃subɔlawo tia nenem nu siawo katã yome, ke mia Fofo si le dziƒo la nya miaƒe hiahiãwo katã.
Those who do not know God are always worrying about things like that. But God, your Father who is in heaven, knows that you need all those things, [so you should not worry about them].
33 Ke midi Mawu ƒe fiaɖuƒe la kple eƒe dzɔdzɔenyenye gbã, eye woatsɔ nu siawo katã akpe ɖe eŋuti na mi.
Instead, the most important thing you should be concerned about is to let [God] completely direct your life, and to strive [to live] righteously. [If you do that], all the things that you [need] will be given to you {God will give you all the things [that you need]}.
34 Eya ta migatsi dzi ɖe etsɔ si gbɔna la ŋu o, elabena etsɔ si gbɔna la atsi dzi ɖe eɖokui ŋu elabena kuxi sɔ gbɔ le ŋkeke sia ŋkeke me xoxo.
So [each day] do not be worried about what will happen to you the next day, because [when] that day [PRS] comes, [you] will be concerned about [what happens during] that day. You will have enough to be concerned about each day. [So do not worry ahead of time].”
