Romatɔwo 1

1 Nye Paulo, Yesu Kristo ƒe dɔla, ame si wotia be wòanye mawunyadɔgbedela, eye wodɔe be wòaɖe gbeƒã Mawu ƒe nyanyui la.

[I], Paul, who serve Christ Jesus, [am writing this letter]. God chose me to be an apostle, and I was appointed by him {he appointed me} in order that [I should proclaim] (the good message/the gospel) that [comes from him].

2 Mawu do Nyanyui sia ŋugbe xoxoxo to eƒe nyagblɔɖilawo dzi le Ŋɔŋlɔ Kɔkɔeawo me,

Long before [Jesus came to earth, God] promised [that he would reveal] this good message by means of what his prophets [wrote] in the sacred Scriptures.

3 tso Via, Yesu Kristo, ame si va xexea me abe amegbetɔ ene, eye wodzii abe David ƒe tɔgbuiyɔvi ene la ŋu.

This good message is [about the one whom we know as] his Son. As to his Son’s physical/human nature, he was born a descendant of [King] David.

4 To Via, Yesu Kristo, ƒe tsitretsitsi me la, Mawu fia be eyae nye Mawu ƒe Vi ŋusẽtɔ la, eye Mawu ŋutɔ ƒe nɔnɔme kɔkɔe la le eme.

As to his divine nature, it was shown {[God] showed} powerfully that he is (God’s own Son/the man who is also God). [God] showed this by his Holy Spirit causing him to become alive again after he died. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

5 Azɔ la, to Yesu Kristo me la, wokɔ Mawu ƒe dɔmenyo ɖe mí nu vɔ̃ wɔla madzemadzewo dzi, eye azɔ la, ele mía dɔm ɖe xexea me be míagblɔ nu gã siwo Mawu wɔ na xexea me la na ame siwo menye Yudatɔwo o la katã le afi sia afi, ale be woawo hã naxɔ edzi ase, eye woaɖo toe.

He is the one who appointed me, who did not deserve it, [to be] an apostle. He did that in order that [many] among the non-Jews would honor [him] and would obey him as a result of their believing [my message about him].

6 Eye miawo hã miele ame siwo woyɔ be woanye Yesu Kristo tɔwo la dome.

You [believers] who are living in Rome [city] are included among those whom God has chosen to belong to Jesus Christ.

7 Mi ame siwo katã le Roma, siwo nye Mawu ƒe lɔlɔ̃tɔwo, kple ame kɔkɔe siwo woyɔ la, Amenuveve kple ŋutifafa tso Mawu, mía Fofo kple Aƒetɔ Yesu Kristo gbɔ na mi katã.

[I am writing this letter] to all of [you in Rome] whom God loves and whom he has chosen [to become his] people. [I pray that] God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord will [continue to] act kindly toward you and [will continue to] cause you to have [inner] peace.

8 Gbã la, medaa akpe na nye Mawu to Yesu Kristo dzi le mi katã ta, elabena amewo le ɖase ɖim le xexea me godoo tso miaƒe xɔse ŋu.

As I begin [this letter], I thank my God for all you [believers in Rome]. It is because of [what] Jesus Christ [has done for us that] I [am able to do that]. I thank him because your trusting [in Jesus Christ] is something that people all over [the Roman Empire] [HYP] are talking about.

9 Mawu nya ale si medoa gbe ɖa enuenu ɖe mia tae. Metsɔa miawo kple miaƒe hiahiãwo yia gbedodoɖa me zã kple keli na ame si mesubɔna kple nye ŋusẽ katã, eye megblɔa Nyanyui la tsoa Via ŋu na ame bubuwo.

God, whom I devotedly serve as I [proclaim to people] the gospel concerning his Son, knows that I tell the truth when I say that I always mention you whenever [DOU] I pray [to God] [HYP].

10 Medoa gbe ɖa na Mawu be makpɔ mɔnu, ne Mawu lɔ̃ la, be mava mia gbɔ mlɔeba.

I especially ask God that if he desires [me to visit you], somehow at last I shall be able to do so.

11 Mele didim vevie be mava kpɔ mi ɖa ale be matsɔ gbɔgbɔmenunana aɖewo ado ŋusẽ mi,

[I pray this] because I long to visit you to help you spiritually, in order that you will become stronger [spiritually].

12 ale be nye kple miawo siaa míado ŋusẽ mía nɔewo ƒe xɔse.

I long to visit you in order that you and I might encourage each other [by means of our sharing with each other] how each of us trusts [in Jesus].

13 Nɔvinye lɔlɔ̃awo, medi be mianya be meɖoe zi geɖe be mava kpɔ mi ɖa, ale be mate ŋu awɔ dɔ le mia dome, eye makpɔ kutsetse nyui siwo ado tso eme abe ale si mewɔ le ame siwo menye Yudatɔwo o la dome ene, gake esia mete ŋu dze edzi o.

My fellow believers, many times I planned to visit you. I certainly want you to know [LIT] that. [But I have not been able to come to you because] I have been hindered {[things] have always prevented me} until the present time. I have wanted to come in order that I might help you to mature spiritually [IDM], as [I have helped people to mature spiritually] in many other non-Jewish groups [HYP].

14 Enye nye dɔdeasi be magblɔ nyanyui la na Grikitɔwo kple ame siwo menye Grikitɔwo o la, na nunyalawo kple bometsilawo siaa.

I feel obliged [to proclaim the gospel to all non-Jewish people], specifically to [people who know] the Greek [language and culture] and to those who do not know it, to people who are educated and to those who are uneducated.

15 Eya ta medi vevie be magblɔ nyanyui la na mi ame siwo le Roma hã.

So what I have eagerly desired is that I might proclaim this good message to you who are living in Rome also.

16 Elabena nyanyui si tso Kristo ŋuti la mekpea ŋu nam o. Eyae nye Mawu ƒe ŋusẽ si nana be ame sia ame si xɔ Kristo dzi se la nakpɔ xɔxɔ. Gbã la, wogblɔ nya siawo na Yudatɔwo ɖeɖe ko, emegbe la, wogblɔe na ame siwo menye Yudatɔwo o la hã.

[That leads me to say that] I very confidently proclaim [LIT] the good message [about what Christ has done], because this good message is the powerful [means] that God [uses] to save [from the guilt of their sins] all people who trust [in what Christ has done for them]. Specifically, God first has saved the Jews [who believe the good message], and then he has saved non-Jews.

17 Nyanyui sia ɖe Mawu ƒe dzɔdzɔenyenye fia, dzɔdzɔenyenye si vana to xɔse me tso gɔmedzedze va se ɖe nuwuwu abe ale si Ŋɔŋlɔ Kɔkɔe la gblɔe ene be, “Ame dzɔdzɔe anɔ agbe to xɔse me.”

By means of this good message God reveals how he erases the record of people’s sins (OR, declares people no longer guilty for having sinned); and his doing this is entirely because [IDM] they trust [in Christ. This is confirmed] by what [a prophet long ago] wrote [that God said], “Those (whose record of sin [I] have erased/whom [I] have declared no longer guilty for sin) because they trust [in me] will live [forever].”

18 Woɖe Mawu ƒe dɔmedzoe ɖe go tso dziƒo ɖe amegbetɔ ƒe mawumavɔmavɔ̃ kple vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖinyenye katã ŋu, ame siwo tea nyateƒe la ɖe to, to woƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi me.

From [where God rules in] heaven he is making it clear to all [non-Jewish] people who show no respect for God and who do wicked things, that he is angry with them [and that they deserve to be punished] {[that he would punish them]} [MTY]. By means of [their behaving] wickedly, they keep other people [from believing what they know] to be true [about God].

19 Elabena woɖe nu si wòle be woanya tso Mawu ŋu la me na wo keŋ.

[Everyone] can clearly know what God [is like], because God himself has revealed to everyone [what he is like].

20 Elabena tso xexea me ƒe gɔmedzedzea me la, Mawu ƒe nɔnɔme siwo womekpɔna kple ŋku o, esiwo nye eƒe ŋusẽ mavɔ kple eƒe mawunyenye la me kɔ na wo ƒãa. Wose esia gɔme to eƒe nuwɔwɔwo me, be taflatsedodo naganɔ ame aɖeke si o. (aïdios g126)

[People] cannot see what God is like. But ever since he created the world, by means of what he created he has clearly revealed what he is like. He has made clear to everyone that he has always been able to do very powerful things. [Therefore, we should recognize that] God is powerful, [completely different from all that he created]. So no one has a basis for saying, [“We never knew about God].” (aïdios g126)

21 Togbɔ be wonya Mawu hã la, womesubɔnɛ alo daa akpa nɛ abe Mawu ene o ke boŋ woƒe tamesusuwo zu nu dzodzro, eye woƒe dzi manyanu la me do viviti.

Although [the non-Jews] knew what God [is like], they did not honor him as God, nor did they thank [him for what he had done]. But instead, they began to think foolish [things about him], and they became unable to understand [MET] [what he wanted them to know].

22 Togbɔ be wobu be yewonye nunyalawo hã la, wonye bometsilawo boŋ,

Although they claimed that they were wise, they became foolish,

23 elabena wotsɔ Mawu makumaku la ƒe ŋutikɔkɔe ɖɔli aklamakpakpɛwo be wòanɔ abe amegbetɔ, dziƒoxeviwo kple lã afɔenewo kple nutatawo tɔ ene.

and they refused to [admit that] God is glorious and will never die. Instead, they made and worshipped idols [that resembled people who] will some day die, and [then they made other idols that resembled] birds and four-footed animals, and [finally] they made idols that resembled reptiles.

24 Eya ta, le woƒe dzi vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe didi nu la, Mawu tsɔ wo de asi na ahasiwɔwɔ ƒe makɔmakɔnyenye be woado ŋunyɔ woƒe ŋutilãwo kple wo nɔewo.

So God allowed [the non-Jews] do immoral sexual things that they [SYN] strongly desired, things [that their desires were compelling them to do]. As a result, they [began to] dishonor each other’s bodies [by their sexual actions].

25 Wotsɔ Mawu ƒe nyateƒe la ɖɔli aʋatsoe; wosubɔa nuwɔwɔwo, eye wodea ta agu na wo wu wo Wɔla, ame si wòle be woakafu tegbetegbe. Amen. (aiōn g165)

Also, they [chose to worship] false [gods] instead (of admitting/of choosing to believe) what is true [about] God. They worshipped and served things [that God] created instead of [worshipping and serving God himself], the one who created [everything. They did this even though] he [deserves that those he created] would forever praise him. Amen!/May it be so! (aiōn g165)

26 Le esia ta Mawu tsɔ wo de asi na dzodzro vɔ̃wo; woƒe nyɔnuwo gɔ̃ hã tsɔ nu siwo menye dzɔdzɔmenuwo o la ɖɔli dzɔdzɔmenuwoe le gbɔdɔdɔnyawo gome.

So, God allowed [the non-Jews to do] shameful [sexual] things that they [strongly] desired. As a result, many women did not have natural sexual relations [with their husbands] [EUP]. Instead, they were doing sexual actions with other women [EUP].

27 Nenema ke woƒe ŋutsuwo hã ɖe asi le dzɔdzɔme ƒe kadodo si le ŋutsu kple nyɔnu dome la ŋu, eye woƒe lãme fiena ɖe wo nɔewo ŋu. Ale ŋutsu wɔa ŋunyɔnu kple ŋutsu bubuwo. Ale woxɔa woƒe ŋukpenanuwo ƒe fetu ɖe woƒe ŋutilã me.

Similarly, [many] men stopped having/did not have natural sexual relations with women [EUP]. Instead, they strongly desired to have sexual relations with other men. They committed [homosexual] acts with other men, acts that were shameful. As a result, [God has] punished them [by sicknesses] in their bodies, which is what they deserve [because] they [thought] wrongly [that God would not punish them for doing that].

28 Gawu la, esi wosusui be mehiã be woalé sidzedze Mawu me ɖe asi o ta la, Mawu ɖe asi le woƒe susu ŋu na bometsitsi be woawɔ nu si mele be woawɔ o.

Furthermore, because they decided that it was not [worthwhile] to know God, he allowed their own worthless thoughts [to completely control them]. As a result, they began doing [evil] things that [God says that people] should not do.

29 Ale wo ameawo me yɔ fũu kple vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi ɖe sia ɖe ƒomevi, nu tovo wɔwɔ, ŋukeklẽ kple gbɔ̃ɖiɖi ame ɖokui. Nenema ke ŋuʋaʋã, hlɔ̃dodo, dzrewɔwɔ, beble kple vɔ̃ediname hã yɔ wo me fũu. Wonye amenyagblɔlawo,

They strongly desire to do all [kinds of] unrighteous [things]. They strongly desire to do all [kinds of] evil things [to others]. They strongly desire to possess things that [belong to others]. They strongly desire to harm [others] in various ways. [Many non-Jews] are constantly envying [other people. Many] constantly desire to murder [people. Many] constantly desire to cause strife [between people. Many] constantly desire to deceive [others. Many] constantly desire to speak hatefully [about others] (OR, [to speak harmful things about others, things that are not true]). [Many] gossip [about others].

30 ameŋugblẽlawo, ame siwo léa Mawu ɖe ke me, amemabulawo, dadalawo, adegbe ƒuƒlu ƒolawo, ame siwo toa nu gbegblẽ yeyewo wɔwɔ vanɛ, ame siwo meɖoa to wo dzilawo o.

[Many] slander [others. Many] act especially hatefully toward God. [Many] speak or act in an insulting way [toward others. Many] treat others contemptuously. [Many] boast [about themselves to others. Many] invent new ways to do evil things. [Many non-Jewish children] disobey their parents.

31 Wonye numanyalawo, dzimaxɔsetɔwo, nublanuimakpɔlawo kple tamesesẽtɔwo.

[Many non-Jews] act in other morally foolish ways. [Many] do not do what they promised [others that they would do. Many] do not [even] love [their own family members. And many] do not act mercifully [toward other people].

32 Togbɔ be wonya nu le Mawu ƒe sedede dzɔdzɔe la ŋu be ame siwo wɔa nenem nu siawo tɔgbi dze na ku hã la, womeyi nu sia nu wɔwɔ dzi ɖeɖe ko o, ke boŋ woda asi ɖe ame siwo wɔnɛ hã tɔ dzi.

Although they know that God has declared that those who do such things deserve to be killed, they not only habitually do these [kinds of evil] things, but they also approve of others who habitually do them.