Romatɔwo 13
1 Miɖo to dziɖuɖu la, elabena Mawue nye ame si ɖo dziɖuɖu la anyi. Dziɖuɖu aɖeke mele afi aɖeke si Mawu ŋutɔ metsɔ ŋusẽ na o.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no authority but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Eya ta ame sia ame si gbe dukɔa ƒe sewo dzi wɔwɔ la gbe Mawu ƒe sewo dzi wɔwɔ, eye tohehe adze nu sia yome.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the authority, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 Elabena kpovitɔ medoa ŋɔdzi na ame siwo le nu nyui wɔm la o, ke ame siwo le nu vɔ̃ wɔm la, woavɔ̃ kpovitɔ ɣe sia ɣi. Eya ta ne mèdi be yeanɔ vɔvɔ̃m o la, wɔ seawo dzi kpoo, ekema eme anyo na wò.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 Mawu ƒe subɔlae nye kpovitɔ la ɖa ɖe wò nyonyo ta. Ke ne èle nu vɔ̃ aɖe wɔm la, eme kɔ ƒãa be ànɔ vɔvɔ̃m, elabena kpovitɔ la ana woahe to na wò nu gbegblẽ wɔla la.
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Eya ta miwɔ seawo dzi le nu eve siawo ta: gbã, be miagaxɔ tohehe o; evelia, elabena mienya xoxo tso miaƒe dzi me be ele be yewoawɔ seawo dzi.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 Midzɔ miaƒe dugawo hã le nu eve siawo ke ta, elabena ele be woaxe fe na dziɖuɖudɔwɔlawo, ale be woate ŋu anɔ Mawu ƒe dɔ la wɔm, anɔ kpekpem ɖe mia ŋu.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Mixe fe na ame sia ame abe ale si wòdzee ene. Mixe miaƒe dugawo kple adzɔwo dzidzɔtɔe. Miɖo to miaƒe tatɔwo, eye mitsɔ bubu na ame sia ame si dze bubu la.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Migana naneke ƒe fe natsi mia ŋu o, negbe ame bubuwo lɔlɔ̃ ƒe fe ko. Migaxe ame bubuwo lɔlɔ̃ ƒe fe sia vɔ gbeɖe o! Elabena ne mielɔ̃ wo la, miawɔ Mawu ƒe seawo katã dzi, eye miawɔ nu sia nu si Mawu bia tso mia si la.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 Ke nya si woŋlɔ ɖi bena: “Mègawɔ ahasi o,” “Mègawu ame o,” “Mègafi fi o,” “Mègabiã ŋu o,” eye ne se bubu aɖe gali si ƒo esiawo ta la, ekema eyae nye: “Lɔ̃ hawòvi abe ɖokuiwò ene.”
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Lɔlɔ̃ nana womedaa vo ɖe amehavi ŋu o. Eya ta lɔlɔ̃ na ame havie nye sedziwɔwɔ.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 Nu bubu si ta wòle be mianɔ agbe nyuie lae nye be: mienya be ɣeyiɣi boo megali o. Minyɔ, elabena xɔxɔ tu aƒe fifia wu ale si míexɔe se tsã.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 Zã la va yi vɔ, ŋu le kekem azɔ! Eya ta mina míaɖe asi le vivitimenuwɔwɔwo ŋu, eye míado kekeli ƒe akpoxɔnuwo.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Mina míawɔ nu dzeame, abe ale si nyo le ŋkeke me ene; menye le aglotutu kple ahamumu, ahasiwɔwɔ kple hadzedze, alo le dzrewɔwɔ kple ŋuʋaʋã me o.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 Ke boŋ mibia Aƒetɔ Yesu Kristo be wòakpe ɖe mia ŋu, be mianɔ agbe abe ale si dze ene. Migakpɔ dzidzɔ le nu vɔ̃ wɔwɔ ŋu o.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
