Romatɔwo 8
1 Eya ta azɔ la, fɔbubu aɖeke megali na ame siwo le Kristo Yesu me la o,
Because [God has erased the record of our sins because we trust in what Christ has done for us], now [God will] not condemn and punish those/us who have a relationship with (OR, are united to) Christ Jesus.
2 elabena to Yesu Kristo me la, Gbɔgbɔ si naa agbe la ɖem tso nu vɔ̃ kple ku ƒe se la si me.
[God’s] Spirit causes us to live [in a new way] [PRS] as a result of what Christ Jesus [did for us]. And he has set up a way by which he frees [each of] us from continually being forced to sin (OR, to obey our self-directed natures) and from being separated from God.
3 Elabena nu si se la mete ŋu wɔ o esi wògbɔdzɔ to ŋutilã me la, Mawu wɔe to Via si wòɖo ɖa le nu vɔ̃ ŋutilã ƒe nɔnɔme me la dzi, eye wòtsɔ eɖokui sa vɔe ɖe míaƒe nu vɔ̃wo ta, eye wòbu fɔ nu vɔ̃ le ŋutilã me,
What [we] could not do [by trying to obey] the laws [of God] [PRS], because our self-directed nature was too weak [to obey them], God did. He sent his own Son [into the world in order that his Son might atone] for our sin. His Son came having a body (OR, human nature) that was like [the body] (OR, the [human nature]) of us people who sin. [By sending his Son in this way], he condemned and punished [his Son, who never sinned, instead of punishing us, who] sinned [MTY]. He did that [by making his Son’s] body [a sacrifice] (OR, [by causing his Son’s] body [to suffer/die]) for [all our] sin.
4 be woawu se la ƒe dzɔdzɔenyenye nu le mí ame siwo mezɔna ɖe ŋutilã nu o, negbe le Gbɔgbɔ nu ko la me.
So we can [now] fulfill all that God required in his laws. We do this, not by our acting the way our sinful human nature [desires], but instead by living as [God’s] Spirit [desires us to live].
5 Ame siwo zɔna le ŋutilã nu la ƒe susuwo nɔa ŋutilã ƒe nudzodzrowo ŋuti; gake ame siwo zɔna le Gbɔgbɔ la nu la ƒe susuwo nɔa Gbɔgbɔ la ƒe nudzodzrowo ŋu.
People who live according to what their self-directed nature [desires] think about and are concerned about what their self-directed nature [desires]. But people who [live] according to what [God’s] Spirit [desires think about and are concerned about] what [God’s] Spirit [desires].
6 Elabena susu si ŋutilã la kplɔna la nye ku, ke susu si Gbɔgbɔ la kplɔna la nye agbe kple ŋutifafa.
Those people who [PRS] think about and are concerned about what their self-directed nature [desires] will not live eternally (OR, will be separated from God). But those people who think about and are concerned about what [God’s] Spirit [desires] will live [eternally] and have [inner] peace.
7 Susu si ŋutilã la kplɔna la nye adika na Mawu, elabena mebɔbɔa eɖokui ɖe Mawu ƒe seawo te o, eye mate ŋui hã o.
Let me explain this. [To the extent that] people [PRS] think about and are concerned about what their self-directed nature [desires], they are acting contrary to God. They do not obey the laws of God. In fact, they are not even able [to obey his laws].
8 Eya ta ame siwo gale agbe le ŋutilã nu la mate ŋu adze Mawu ŋu o.
The people who let their self-directed nature [control them] cannot do what pleases God.
9 Ke miawo la, mienɔa agbe le ŋutilã nu o, ke boŋ mienɔa agbe le Gbɔgbɔ la nu, ne ele eme be Mawu ƒe Gbɔgbɔ le mia me. Eye ne Kristo ƒe Gbɔgbɔ mele ame aɖe me o la, eya amea menye Kristo tɔ o.
But we do not have to let our self-directed nature [control us]. Instead, we can [let] God’s Spirit [control us], because he lives within us. If people do not have [living in them] the Spirit [who comes from] Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
10 Ke ne Kristo le mia me la, miaƒe ŋutilã ku le nu vɔ̃ ta, gake Gbɔgbɔ la nye agbe le dzɔdzɔenyenye ŋuti.
But since Christ [is living in you/us by his Spirit, although] your/our bodies [are certain to] die because you/we sin, your/our spirits are alive because God has erased the record of your/our sins.
11 Eye ne Mawu ƒe Gbɔgbɔ si fɔ Yesu ɖe tsitre tso ame kukuwo dome le agbe le mia me la, ekema ame si fɔ Kristo ɖe tsitre la agbɔ agbe miaƒe ŋutilã siwo kuna la to eƒe Gbɔgbɔ si le agbe le mia me la dzi.
[God] caused Jesus to live again after he died. And because his Spirit lives in you/us, [God] will also make your/our bodies, which [now] are sure to die, live [again after you/we die]. God, who caused Christ to live again after he died, will make you/us live again by [causing] his Spirit, who lives within you/us, [to do it].
12 Eya ta nɔvi lɔlɔ̃awo, míenyi fe, gake menye ŋutilã si míenyi fe le, be míanɔ agbe le ŋutilã nu o.
Therefore, my fellow believers, we must [live as the Spirit directs us]. What we do not have to do is to live as our self-directed nature [guides us].
13 Elabena ne miegale agbe le ŋutilã nu la, miaku; gake ne mietsɔ Gbɔgbɔ la ɖu ŋutilã ƒe nuwɔwɔwo dzi la, mianɔ agbe.
If you live the way your self-directed nature [directs], you will surely not live [eternally] (OR, will surely be eternally separated from God). But if by [the power of God’s] Spirit you quit doing the [sinful] things that your bodies [desire] [MET], you will live eternally.
14 Elabena ame siwo Mawu ƒe Gbɔgbɔ kplɔna la, ame mawoe nye Mawu viwo.
We who are guided by the Spirit of God {allow the Spirit of God to guide us} are God’s children.
15 Elabena Gbɔgbɔ si miexɔ la mewɔ mi mienye kluviwo, be miaganɔ vɔvɔ̃m o; ke boŋ Gbɔgbɔ si miexɔ la na vinyenye ƒe ŋusẽ mi, esime míedo ɣli be, “Abba, Fofo.”
[You have showed that this is true], because you received [from God] a Spirit that is not one that makes you fear [God] again. You are not like slaves who [fear their masters] [MET]. On the contrary, we have received a Spirit by whose [work in our hearts God] has adopted us. The Spirit now enables us to cry out [to God], “[You(sg) are my] Father [DOU]!”
16 Gbɔgbɔ la ŋutɔ ɖia ɖase kpena ɖe míaƒe gbɔgbɔ la ŋu be Mawu viwo míenye.
The Spirit himself confirms what our spirits [say], that we are God’s children.
17 Azɔ esi míenye viawo ta la, míezu eƒe kesinɔnuwo ƒe domenyilawo, Mawu ƒe domenyilawo kple ame siwo anyi dome kple Kristo, ne ele alea be míekpe fu kplii, be míakpɔ gome kplii le eƒe ŋutikɔkɔe me.
Because we are [God’s] children, we also will some day receive/inherit [eternal blessings/privileges]. We will receive/inherit them from God, and we will [also] receive/inherit [them] just like Christ has [inherited them]. But we must suffer [for doing good] as Christ did, in order to receive splendor as he did.
18 Mebuna be fukpekpe siwo me tom míele fifia la mate ŋu asɔ kple ŋutikɔkɔe si wole ɖeɖe ge afia le mía me la o.
I consider that what we suffer during the present time is not worth [paying attention to, because] the future splendor/glory that will be revealed {that [God] will reveal} to us [is so great].
19 Elabena Mawu ƒe nuwɔwɔwo katã tsɔ dzigbɔɖi kple mɔkpɔkpɔ le Mawu viwo ƒe ɖeɖefia la lalam.
The [things that God has] created are very eagerly waiting for [the time] [PRS, DOU] when God will reveal who his [true] children are.
20 Elabena nuwɔwɔ la le gbegblẽ me, nu si menye eƒe didi o, ke boŋ ame si he gbegblẽ sia vɛ la ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu wònye kple mɔkpɔkpɔ,
[God] caused the things that he created to be unable to achieve [what he had purposed. That was] not because they wanted to [be unable to do that]. On the contrary, [God] made them that way because he wanted them to keep confidently expecting
21 be nuwɔwɔ la axɔ ablɔɖe tso gbegblẽ ƒe kluvinyenye me age ɖe Mawu viwo ƒe ŋutikɔkɔe ƒe ablɔɖe la me.
that the things that [he] created will be freed {that [he] will free the things that [he] created} from their sure decay [MET]. [He] will free them in order that [he can give them] the same glory that belongs to his children.
22 Elabena míenya be nuwɔwɔ blibo la katã le veve sem abe fuɖuame ene va se ɖe fifi.
We know that until now [it is as though] all [things] that God created have been groaning together, [and they long for that glory, just like a mother having the pains before bearing a child] groans [and longs for her baby’s birth] [MET].
23 Gake menye eya ɖeɖe koe o, ke boŋ mí ame siwo xɔ Gbɔgbɔ ƒe ŋgɔgbenu la, míawo hã míele ŋeŋem le mía ɖokuiwo me hele vinyenye si nye míaƒe ŋutilã ƒe ɖeɖekpɔkpɔ la lalam.
Not only [do those things groan], but we ourselves also groan inwardly. We who have [God’s] Spirit, who is like a partial gift [MET] we have received as we wait for [the future glory, groan inwardly]. We groan while we wait eagerly for the time when we will receive our [full] rights as God’s adopted children. That [will include] his freeing our bodies [from the things that hinder us on earth. He will do this by giving us new bodies].
24 Elabena woɖe mí to mɔkpɔkpɔ sia me. Gake mɔkpɔkpɔ si kpɔa nu kple ŋku la menye mɔkpɔkpɔ wònye o. Ame kae kpɔa mɔ na nu si su esi xoxo mahã?
Ever since we were saved {since [God] saved us}, we have continued to confidently expect [that future glory]. If we had what we waited for, we would not [need to] wait for it any longer, because those who have something, certainly do not continue to wait for it! [RHQ]
25 Gake ne míele mɔ kpɔm na nu si mesu mía si haɖeke o la, míelalanɛ le dzigbɔɖi me.
But because we keep waiting expectantly to receive what we do not yet have, we wait for it eagerly and patiently/perseveringly.
26 Nenema ke Gbɔgbɔ la kpena ɖe mía ŋu le míaƒe gbɔdzɔgbɔdzɔ me. Elabena míenyaa nu si ta míado gbe ɖa ɖo gɔ̃ hã o, gake Gbɔgbɔ la ŋutɔ xɔa nya ɖe akɔ ɖe mía nu le ŋeŋe manyagblɔ aɖe me.
Similarly, in addition to our continuing to wait for what God will give us, God’s Spirit helps us when our spirits feel weak. We do not know what is proper/necessary for us to pray. But God’s Spirit knows, and he prays for us when we groan (OR, he groans) in a way that cannot be expressed in words (OR, prays with us, groaning in a way that cannot be expressed in words).
27 Ke ame si dzroa míaƒe dziwo me la nyaa nu si Gbɔgbɔ la le didim, elabena Gbɔgbɔ la xɔa nya ɖe akɔ na Mawu ƒe amewo le Mawu ƒe lɔlɔ̃nu me.
God, who examines our inner feelings, understands what his Spirit desires. What God understands is that his Spirit prays for us who belong to God exactly as God wants him to pray.
28 Ke míenya be le nuwo katã me la, Mawu wɔa nu hena ame siwo lɔ̃nɛ la ƒe nyui, ame siwo woyɔ le eƒe tameɖoɖo ɖi nu.
And we know that to those/us who love God, he works out all things that happen [to them/us] in a way that produces good [spiritual] benefits [for us]. He does these things for those/us whom he has chosen, because that was (OR, was according to) what he planned to do.
29 Elabena ame siwo Mawu nya ɖi la, woawo ke wòɖo ɖi be woanɔ Via ƒe nɔnɔme me, be wòanye ŋgɔgbevi le nɔviawo dome.
God knew previously [that we would believe] in him (OR, [would be saved]). We are those who God also decided previously would develop a character like his Son’s character. The result of that is that [Christ is like] a firstborn/highest-ranking [son], and [those/we who are God’s children] [MET] are [like] [MET] many [younger] brothers [of Jesus].
30 Eye ame siwo wòɖo ɖi la, woawo ke hã wòyɔ; ame siwo wòyɔ la, woawo wòtso afia na, eye ame siwo wòtso afia na la, woawo ŋuti wòkɔ.
And us who God decided previously [that we would become like his Son], he also summoned. And for us whom he summoned, he also erased the record of our sins. And for us whose record of sins he has erased, he also will surely give future splendor.
31 Nu ka gɔ̃ míagblɔ tso nu siawo ŋu? Ne Mawu le mía dzi la, ame kae ate ŋu atsi tsitre ɖe mía ŋu?
So (I will tell you what we must conclude from [all] these things [that God does for us]./what shall we conclude from [all] these things [that God does for us]?) [RHQ] Because God [is acting] on our behalf, (no one can win against us!/can anyone defeat us? (OR, it does not matter if anyone opposes us)!) [RHQ]
32 Ame si meve eya ŋutɔ Via nu o, ke boŋ wòtsɔe na ɖe mí katã ta la, ɖe matsɔ nu bubu ɖe sia ɖe hã ana mí oa?
God did not spare even his very own Son. Instead, he turned him over [to others to cruelly kill him] in order that all we [who believe in him] may benefit [from his dying for us. Therefore, because God did that], (he will also certainly give us freely everything [that we need to live for him], in addition to [giving us] Christ./will he not also certainly give us freely everything [that we need to live for him], in addition to [giving us] Christ?) [RHQ]
33 Ame kae ate ŋu atsɔ nya ɖe mí ame siwo Mawu tia na eɖokui la ŋu? Mawue nye afiatsola.
It is God himself who erases the record of our sins. So (no one who accuses us [before God will win against us] (OR, [it does not matter] if anyone tries to accuse us) whom God has chosen./is it possible that anyone who accuses us [before God] will win against us (OR, does it matter if anyone tries to accuse us) whom God has chosen?) [RHQ]
34 Ekema ame kae abu fɔ mí? Ame aɖeke mabu fɔ mí o. Kristo Yesue nye ame si ku; ke nu si gawu lae nye be eyae wofɔ ɖe tsitre tso ame kukuwo dome, eye wònɔ anyi ɖe Mawu ƒe nuɖusime, eye wòle kuku ɖem ɖe mía ta le dziƒo.
It is Christ Jesus himself who pleads [with God] for us, so (no one can condemn us (OR, say that we are still guilty for our sin)./can anyone condemn us (OR, say that we are still guilty for our sin)?) [RHQ] Christ died [for us], but he was also brought back to life {[God] also raised him from the dead}, and he is now at the place of honor [ruling] with God [MTY].
35 Nu kae ama mí ɖa tso Kristo ƒe lɔlɔ̃ gbɔ? Fuwɔame loo alo xaxa? Yometiti loo alo dɔwuamea? Amamanɔnɔ loo, dzɔgbevɔ̃e loo, alo yia?
Absolutely no one and nothing can cause Christ to stop loving us! [RHQ] That could not [RHQ] happen [because someone] caused us to have trouble [DOU], or [because someone did things to] harm us, or [because we did] not have anything to eat, or [because we did] not have enough clothes, or [because we lived in a] dangerous situation, or [because someone killed us with] a sword [MTY] (OR, murdered us).
36 Abe ale si woŋlɔe ɖi ene be, “Le tawò míeɖoa ku ƒe xaxawo me le ŋkeke blibo la me; wobua mí abe alẽ siwo wokplɔ yina wuwu ge la ene.”
[Such things may happen to us, just like] it is written {[as David] wrote} [that David said to God], “Because we are your [(sg)] people, [other people repeatedly attempt to] kill us. They consider that we are [only people to be killed], [like a butcher considers] that sheep are [only] animals to be slaughtered [MET].”
37 Gake le nu siawo katã me la, míeɖu dzi glo le ame si lɔ̃ mí la me.
But even though all these bad things [may happen to us], we win a great victory/triumph [over these things because Christ], who loves us, [helps us].
38 Elabena menyae keŋ be eɖanye ku o, eɖanye agbe o; eɖanye mawudɔlawo o, eɖanye gbɔgbɔ vɔ̃wo o; eɖanye nu siwo li fifia o, eɖanye nu siwo le vava ge o, eɖanye ŋusẽwo o,
I am absolutely certain that neither being dead (OR, being killed), nor [what happens to us while] we live, nor angels, nor demons, nor present events, nor future events, nor powerful [beings/forces],
39 eɖanye kɔkɔƒe o, eɖanye gogloƒe o, alo nuwɔwɔ bubu aɖe o, womate ŋu ama mí ɖa tso Mawu ƒe lɔlɔ̃ si le Kristo Yesu, míaƒe Aƒetɔ me la gbɔ o.
nor [powerful beings] above [the horizon] or below [the horizon] [MTY], nor anything else that [God has] created can cause God to stop loving us. [God showed us that he loves us by sending] Jesus Christ our Lord [to die for us].
