Romatɔwo 12
1 Eya ta nɔvinyewo, le Mawu ƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ sɔgbɔ la ta, mele ŋusẽ dom mi be miatsɔ miaƒe ŋutilãwo awɔ vɔsa gbagbe si le kɔkɔe, eye wòdzea Mawu ŋu, wòanye miaƒe subɔsubɔ gbɔgbɔmetɔ.
My fellow believers, since God has acted mercifully [toward you] in so many ways, I appeal to [all of] you that you present yourselves [SYN] [to him by making yourselves like] holy sacrifices [MET]. [Make yourselves sacrifices] that he is pleased with, sacrifices that are living/alive, [not ones that are dead/killed. Since God has done so much for you/us], this is the [only] appropriate way to serve him.
2 Migazɔ ɖe xexe sia me ƒe nuɖoanyiwo nu o, ke boŋ mitrɔ to miaƒe tamesusuwo ƒe yeyewɔwɔ me, ekema miate ŋu anya, eye miakpɔ kakaɖedzi le nu si Mawu ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu nye la ŋu; eƒe lɔlɔ̃nu si nyo, eye wòdze hede blibo la. (aiōn g165)
Do not let anything non-Christian determine how you should act. Instead, let God change your [way of life] by making your way of thinking new, in order that you may know what he wants you to do. That is, you will know what is good, and you will know what pleases [God], and you will know how to be all that he wants you to be. (aiōn g165)
3 Le Mawu ƒe amenuveve ƒe nunana si wònam nu la, mele egblɔm na mia dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe be: migabu mia ɖokuiwo amegãwoe wu ale si dze o, ke boŋ mibu mia ɖokuiwo ɖokuibɔbɔlawoe le xɔse ƒe dzidzenu si Mawu na mi la nu.
Because God has kindly appointed me [to be his apostle], which I did not deserve, I say this to every one of you: Do not think about yourselves more highly than what is right for you to think! Instead, think [about yourselves] in a sensible way that [corresponds to the abilities] that God has given you [because] you trust [in Christ].
4 Abe ale si ŋutinu geɖewo le miaƒe ŋutilãwo ŋu, eye ŋutinu siawo katã mewɔa dɔ ɖeka o ene la,
Although a person has one body, it consists of many parts. All of the parts are needed for [the body], but they do not all function the same way.
5 nenema ke wole Kristo hã ƒe ŋutilã ŋui, eye ŋutinu siawo nye wo nɔewo tɔ, ame sia ame hiã nɔvia.
Similarly we, [although we are] many, are [united into] one group because of our relationship with Christ, and we belong to one another. [So no one should act as though he] is needed by God more [than others are!]
6 Mawu na amenuveve ƒe nunana mía dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe be wòawɔ nu tɔxɛ aɖe nyuie. Eya ta ne Mawu na nunana wò be nàgblɔ nya ɖi la, ekema ele na wò be nàgblɔ nya ɖi ɣe sia ɣi si nàte ŋui kple zi geɖe ale si wò xɔse asẽ ŋu, ale be nàte ŋu axɔ nya tso Mawu gbɔ.
[Instead], since each one of us can do various things that differ according to the abilities that [God has] given to us, [we should do them diligently and cheerfully]! Those whom [God has enabled] to speak messages from him [should speak] what corresponds to what they believe [God told them].
7 Ne wò nunanae nye be nàsubɔ ame bubuwo la, ekema nàsubɔ wo nyuie. Ne ènye nufiala la, nàfia nu nyuie.
[Those whom God has enabled] to serve [others] should do that. [Those whom God has enabled] to teach [his truth] should do that.
8 Ne ènye mawunyagblɔla la, ekema ele be nàkpɔ egbɔ be ŋusẽ le yeƒe mawunya ŋu, eye wòkpena ɖe amewo ŋu. Ne Mawu na hotsui wò la, tsɔe nyo dɔ me, eye nàkpe ɖe ame bubuwo ŋu. Ne Mawu na dzikpɔkpɔ ƒe nunana wò, eye wòna be nàkpɔ ame bubuwo ƒe dɔwo dzi la, ele na wò be nàlé fɔ ɖe wò dɔdeasi sia ŋu vevie. Ele na ame siwo faa akɔ na konyifalawo la be woatsɔ kristotɔwo ƒe dzidzɔ awɔe.
Those [whom God has enabled to] encourage/exhort [his people] should do that. Those who share [their goods/money with others] should do it sincerely/generously. Those who lead [the congregation] should do it wholeheartedly. Those who help the needy should do it cheerfully.
9 Migalɔ̃ mia nɔewo le ŋkume ko o, ke boŋ milɔ̃ wo tso dzi vavã me ke. Milé fu nu vɔ̃. Mide nu nyui dzi.
Love others sincerely! Hate what is evil! Continue to eagerly do what [God considers to be] good!
10 Mitsɔ dadaviwo ƒe lɔlɔ̃ lɔ̃ mia nɔewo, eye mide bubu mia nɔewo ŋu wu miawo ŋutɔ mia ɖokuiwo.
Love one another as members of the same family do; and, you should be (the first ones/eager) to honor each other!
11 Migagbɔdzɔ le vevidodo nu me o, ke boŋ mixɔ dzo le gbɔgbɔ me, eye misubɔ Aƒetɔ la kple dzi blibo.
Do not be lazy. [Instead], be eager [to serve the Lord] God!
12 Mikpɔ dzidzɔ le ɖoɖo siwo katã Mawu le wɔwɔm ɖe mia ŋu la ŋuti. Mido dzi le xaxawo me, eye mianɔ gbedodoɖa dzi ɣe sia ɣi.
Rejoice because you are confidently awaiting [what God will do for you]! When you suffer, be patient! Keep praying and never give up!
13 Ne ame kɔkɔewo ge ɖe hiã me la, miɖe wo tso eme. Mikpe amewo va miaƒe aƒewo me enuenu ne woaɖu nu kpli mi; ne dzeƒe hiã wo la, mina wo.
If any of God’s people lacks anything, share with them [what you have]! Readily take care of [travelers who need a place to stay]!
14 Ne ame aɖe wɔ nu masɔmasɔ aɖe ɖe ŋuwò le wò kristotɔnyenye ta la, mègaƒo fi dee o; do gbe ɖa ɖe eta, eye nàyrae.
[Ask God to] be kind to those who (persecute you/cause you to suffer) [because you believe in Jesus! Ask him to] be kind to them; do not [ask him to] cause bad things to happen to them.
15 Mikpɔ dzidzɔ kple ame siwo le dzidzɔ kpɔm la; mifa konyi kple ame siwo le konyi fam la.
If someone is joyful, you should rejoice also! If someone is sad, you should also be sad!
16 Miwɔ dɔ kple mia nɔewo dzidzɔtɔe. Migado mia ɖokuiwo ɖe dzi glodzoo o. Migadze agbagba be yewoadze amegãwo ŋu o, ke boŋ mide ha kple ame gblɔewo. Migabu be yewonya nu sia nu o.
Desire for others what you desire for yourselves (OR, Live harmoniously with each other)! Do not do things because you want to be [famous]! Instead, be content to do [tasks that others consider that only] unimportant people do (OR, [to associate with unimportant] people). Do not consider yourselves wise.
17 Migaɖo vɔ̃ vɔ̃ teƒe o. Miwɔ nyui, ale be ame sia ame nate ŋu akpɔe be mienye nyateƒetɔwo le goawo katã me.
Do not do something evil to anyone [who has done] something evil to you. Act in a way that all people will recognize as good!
18 Migawɔ dzre kple ame aɖeke o, ke boŋ minɔ anyi kple ame sia ame le ŋutifafa me abe ale si miate ŋui ene.
Live peacefully with other people whenever it is possible, to the extent that you [can influence the situation].
19 Xɔ̃nye lɔlɔ̃awo, migabia hlɔ̃ na mia ɖokuiwo o. Migblẽ hlɔ̃biabia ɖe Mawu ƒe asi me, elabena eya ŋutɔe gblɔ be yeabia hlɔ̃ ame siwo dze na hlɔ̃biabia la.
[My fellow believers] whom I love, do not do something evil in return when people do something evil to you! Instead, allow [God] to punish them [MTY], because it is {someone has} written [in the Scriptures that] the Lord [said], “‘It is my responsibility to take revenge; I am the one who will punish [people who do something something evil to you] [DOU],’ says the Lord.”
20 Le hlɔ̃biabia teƒe la, ne dɔ le wò futɔ wum la, na nuɖuɖui. Ne tsikɔ le ewum la, na tsii wòano. Ekema àna ŋu nakpee le nu si wòwɔ ɖe ŋuwò la ta.
Instead of [doing something evil to those who have done something evil to you], [do as the Scriptures teach]: “If your [(sg)] enemies are hungry, feed them! If they are thirsty, give them something to drink! By doing that, you [(sg)] will cause them to feel ashamed [and perhaps they will change their attitude toward you] [IDM].”
21 Mègana nu vɔ̃ naɖu dziwò o, ke boŋ tsɔ nu nyui wɔwɔ ɖu nu vɔ̃ dzii.
Do not let evil [things that others have done to you] overcome you [(sg) by making you do evil things to them!] [PRS] Instead, overcome the evil [things that they have done] by [doing] good [deeds to them]!
