Ọrụ Ndị Ozi 7
1 Onyeisi nchụaja sịrị ya, “Ị nụrụ ihe ndị a, ọ bụ eziokwu?”
Then the high priest asked, “Is this true?”
2 Ọ sịrị, “Ụmụnna m na ndị nna, geenụ m ntị. Chineke onye dị ebube gosiri nna nna anyị Ebraham onwe ya mgbe ọ nọ na Mesopotamịa, tupu ọ gaa biri na Haran.
Stephen replied, “Brothers and fathers, hear what I have to say. God, who manifests himself in the glory, appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, and before he settled in Haran, and said to him –
3 Ọ gwara ya, ‘Site nʼobodo gị na nʼetiti ndị ikwu gị pụọ, gaa nʼala m ga-egosi gị.’
‘Leave your country and your people, and come into the country that I will show you.’
4 “Ya mere, o sitere nʼobodo ndị Kaldịa pụọ, gaa biri na Haran. Mgbe nna ya nwụrụ, Chineke zitere ya nʼala a ebe unu bi ugbu a.
And so Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and settled in Haran; and from there, after his father’s death, God caused him to migrate into this country, in which you are now living.
5 O nyeghị ya ihe nketa nʼebe a, ọ bụladị ihe ruru otu nzọ ụkwụ. Ma o kwere ya nkwa na ọ ga-enye ya na ụmụ ụmụ ya ala ahụ ka ọ bụrụ nke ha, nʼagbanyeghị na ọ mụtaghị nwa.
God did not at that time give him any part of it, not even a foot of ground. But he promised to give him possession of it and his descendants after him, though at that time he had no child.
6 Ma Chineke gwara ya otu a, na, ‘Ụmụ ụmụ ya ga-ebi dịka ndị ọbịa nʼala na-abụghị nke ha, ndị ga-eji ha mere ohu, ma mejọọkwa ha narị afọ anọ.
God’s words were these – ‘Abraham’s descendants will live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years.
7 Mana aga m ata mba ahụ ha na-efe dịka ohu ahụhụ.’ Chineke kwukwara sị, ‘Mgbe nke a gasịrị, ha ga-esi na mba ahụ pụta, bịa fee m ofufe nʼebe a.’
But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will be enslaved,’ God said, ‘and after that they will leave the country and worship me in this place.’
8 O nyere ya ọgbụgba ndụ nke obibi ugwu. Ebraham mụrụ Aịzik bie ya ugwu nʼụbọchị nke asatọ. Aịzik amụta Jekọb, Jekọb amụta ndịisi ebo iri na abụọ nke Izrel.
Then God made with Abraham the covenant of circumcision; and under it Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old; and Isaac became the father of Jacob; and Jacob of the Twelve Patriarchs.
9 “Nʼihi na ndị nna ochie ahụ nwere ekworo nʼebe Josef nọ. Ha resi ya ndị Ijipt dịka ohu. Ma Chineke nọnyeere ya,
The Patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him,
10 zọpụta ya na mkpagbu ya niile, mee ka o nwee ihuọma na amamihe nʼihu Fero eze Ijipt. Onye mere ya onye ọchịchị nʼala Ijipt na onye nlekọta nke ezinaụlọ ya niile.
and delivered him out of all his troubles, and enabled him to win favor and show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor of Egypt and of his whole household.
11 “Nʼoge ahụ, ụnwụ dara nʼala Ijipt na nʼala Kenan. Ụnwụ a wetara ahụhụ dị ukwuu. Nna nna anyị ha enwekwaghị ike ịchọta nri.
Then a famine spread over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, causing great distress, and our ancestors could find no food.
12 Ma mgbe Jekọb nụrụ na nri ọka dị nʼala Ijipt, o zipụrụ nna nna anyị ha ka ha gaa njem mbụ ha nʼIjipt. Nke a bụ oge nke mbụ ha na-aga Ijipt.
Hearing, however, that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors there on their first visit.
13 Mgbe ha gara Ijipt nke ugboro abụọ, Josef mere ka ụmụnne ya mata ya, Fero matakwara ụmụnne Josef.
In the course of their second visit, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
14 Mgbe ahụ, Josef ziri ozi ka a kpọta nna ya bụ Jekọb na ndị ikwu ya, ndị dị iri mmadụ asaa na ise ka ha bịakwute ya.
Then Joseph sent an urgent invitation to his father Jacob and to his relatives, seventy-five persons in all;
15 Jekọb gara Ijipt. Ebe ahụ ka ya na nna nna anyị ha nọkwa nwụọ.
and so Jacob went down into Egypt. There he died, and our ancestors also,
16 E budatara ozu ha na Shekem, ebe e liri ha nʼili nke Ebraham jiri ego ọlaọcha zụta nʼaka ụmụ Hamọ nʼala Shekem.
and their bodies were removed to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
17 “Ma mgbe oge ahụ Chineke kwere Ebraham na nkwa na-abịaru nso, ndị Izrel nọ nʼIjipt mụbara nke ukwuu,
As the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people increased largely in numbers in Egypt,
18 ruo mgbe eze ọzọ nke na-amaghị Josef, bidoro ịchị ọchịchị nʼala Ijipt.
until a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to the throne.
19 O megburu ndị agbụrụ anyị, kpagbukwaa ha. Manye ndị nna nna anyị ha ka ha tufuo ụmụ ọhụrụ ha, ka ha ghara ịdị ndụ.
This king acted deceitfully towards our people and ill-treated our ancestors, making them abandon their own infants, so that they should not be reared.
20 “Ọ bụ nʼoge a ka a mụrụ Mosis, ọ mara mma nke ukwuu nʼanya Chineke. A zụrụ ya naanị ọnwa atọ nʼụlọ nna ya.
It was just at this time that Moses was born. He was an exceedingly beautiful child, and for three months was brought up in his own father’s house;
21 Mgbe e tufuru ya, ada Fero kpọọrọ ya, zụọ ya dị ka nwa nwoke nke aka ya.
and, when he was abandoned, the daughter of Pharaoh found him and brought him up as her own son.
22 A zụrụ Mosis nʼamamihe niile nke ndị Ijipt, ọ bụrụ dike nʼokwu na nʼọrụ ịtụnanya.
So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and proved his ability both by his words and actions.
23 “Mgbe ọ gbara iri afọ anọ, ọ batara ya nʼuche ịga ileta ụmụnna ya ndị Izrel.
When he was in his fortieth year, he resolved to visit his fellow Israelites;
24 Mgbe ọ hụrụ otu onye nʼime ha nke onye Ijipt na-emegide ya, ọ lụtara ya ọgụ, bọtakwara ya ọbọ site nʼigbu onye Ijipt ahụ.
and, seeing an Israelite ill-treated, he defended him, and avenged the man, who was being wronged, by striking down the Egyptian.
25 Mosis chere na ụmụnna ya ga-aghọta na Chineke akpọlitela ya isite nʼaka ya napụta ha. Ma ha aghọtaghị.
He thought his own people would understand that God was using him to save them; but they failed to do so.
26 Nʼụbọchị ọzọ sonụ, Mosis hụrụ ụmụnna ya ndị Izrel abụọ ka ha na-alụ ọgụ. Ọ gbalịrị ime ka udo dịrị nʼetiti ha, sị, ‘Unu bụ ụmụnna, gịnị mere unu ji emejọrịta onwe unu?’
The next day he again appeared on the scene, when some of them were fighting, and tried to make peace between them. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘you are brothers; how is it that you are ill-treating one another?’
27 “Ma nwoke ahụ nke na-emegbu nwanna ya nupuru ya sị, ‘Onye mere gị onyeisi na onye ikpe nʼetiti anyị?
But the man who was ill-treating his fellow workman pushed Moses aside saying – ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?
28 Ị na-achọ igbu m dị ka i si gbuo onye Ijipt ụnyaahụ?’
Do you mean to make away with me as you did yesterday with that Egyptian?’
29 Mgbe ọ nụrụ nke a, Mosis gbara ọsọ, gaa biri dị ka ọbịa nʼala Midia. Nʼebe ahụ ka ọ nọ mụta ụmụ nwoke abụọ.
At these words Moses took to flight, and became an exile in Midian; and there he had two sons born to him.
30 “Mgbe iri afọ anọ gafere, e mere ka Mosis hụ mmụọ ozi nʼọkụ na-ere ọhịa dị nʼọzara, nʼakụkụ Ugwu Saịnaị.
Forty years had passed when there appeared to him, in the desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 Ma mgbe ọ hụrụ nke a, o juru ya anya. Dị ka ọ na-agaru nso ka o leruo ya anya, ọ nụrụ olu Onyenwe anyị ka ọ dara, sị,
When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the vision; but on his going nearer to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord was heard to say –
32 ‘Abụ m Chineke nna nna gị ha. Chineke nke Ebraham, nke Aịzik na nke Jekọb.’ Ụjọ mere ka Mosis maa jijiji, na o nweghị ike ilegide ya anya.
‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.
33 “Ma Onyenwe anyị gwara ya, ‘Yipụ akpụkpọụkwụ gị. Nʼihi na ebe ahụ i guzo bụ ala dị nsọ.
Then the Lord said to him – ‘Take your sandals off your feet, for the spot where you are standing is holy ground.
34 Ahụla m otu e si akpagbu ndị m nọ nʼala Ijipt. Anụla m ịsụ ude ha bịakwa ịzọpụta ha. Ugbu a bịa, aga m ezighachi gị nʼIjipt.’
I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. Come now and I will send you into Egypt.’
35 “Ọ bụ otu Mosis ahụ ha jụrụ ajụ, mgbe ha sịrị, ‘Onye mere gị onyeisi na onye ikpe?’ Ọ bụkwa ya ka Chineke zigara ị bụ onyeisi na onye nnapụta ha, site nʼinyeaka mmụọ ozi ahụ mere ka ọ hụ ya nʼọhịa ahụ.
This same Moses, whom they had disowned with the words – ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ was the man whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, under the guidance of the angel that had appeared to him in the bush.
36 O duuru ha pụta mgbe ọ rụsịrị ọrụ ebube na ihe ịrịbama dị iche iche nʼala Ijipt, na nʼOsimiri Uhie na nʼọzara iri afọ anọ.
He it was who led them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years.
37 “Onye a bụ Mosis ahụ gwara ụmụ Izrel, sị, ‘Chineke ga-eme ka onye amụma nke dị ka m, biliere unu site nʼetiti ụmụnne unu.’
This was the Moses who said to the people of Israel – ‘God will raise up for you, from among yourselves, a prophet, as he raised up me.’
38 Ya onwe ya nọ nʼọgbakọ nʼọzara, ya na mmụọ ozi ahụ gwara ya okwu nʼUgwu Saịnaị, na nna nna anyị ha; ebe ọ natakwara okwu dị ndụ inye anyị.
He, too, it was who was present at the assembly in the desert, with the angel who talked to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and who received living truths to impart to you.
39 “Ma nna nna anyị ha jụrụ irubere ya isi. Kama ha nupuru ya nʼakụkụ, ma tụgharịa laghachi azụ nʼIjipt nʼobi ha,
Yet our ancestors refused him obedience; more than that, they rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
40 na-asị Erọn, ‘Meere anyị chi, ndị nke ga-edu anyị, nʼihi na anyị amaghị ihe mere nwoke a bụ Mosis, onye sitere nʼala Ijipt dupụta anyị.’
while they said to Aaron – ‘Make us Gods who will lead the way for us, since, as for this Moses who has brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’
41 Ha kpụụrụ onwe ha arụsị nke oyiyi nwa ehi, ha butere ihe ịchụ aja nye ya. Ha ṅụrịrị ọṅụ nʼọrụ nke aka ha.
That was the time when they made the calf and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held festivities in honor of their own handiwork!
42 Ma Chineke chepuru ihu ya site nʼebe ha nọ. Ọ rara ha nye ikpere usuu ihe dị nʼeluigwe. Nke a dabara nʼihe e dere nʼakwụkwọ ndị amụma, “‘Unu ụlọ Izrel, unu o wetara m onyinye anụ e gburu egbu ka ọ dị aja unu chụụrụ m iri afọ anọ unu nọrọ nʼọzara?
So God turned from them and left them to the worship of the Starry Host, as is written in the book of the prophets – ‘Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me, house of Israel, all those forty years in the desert?
43 Unu buliri ụlọ ikwu nke Mọlọk na kpakpando nke chi unu bụ Refan, bụ arụsị ndị ahụ unu mere ịkpọ isiala nye ha. Ya mere, aga m ewezuga unu, burukwa unu gaa nʼofe obodo Babilọn.’
You took with you the tent where Moloch is worshiped and the star of the god Rephan – the images which you had made to worship. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.’
44 “Ndị nna nna anyị ha nwere ụlọ ikwu nke iwu ọgbụgba ndụ nʼọzara. E mere ya site na ntụziaka na usoro ihe atụ Chineke gosiri Mosis.
Our ancestors had the tent where they worshiped God in the desert, constructed, just as he who spoke to Moses had directed him to make it, after the model which he had seen.
45 Mgbe Joshua duuru nna nna anyị ha nweta ala ndị mba ọzọ ndị Chineke chụpụrụ. E butekwara igbe ọgbụgba ndụ a nʼala ahụ. Ọ nọgidekwara nʼala ahụ tutu ruo nʼoge Devid.
This tent, which was handed down to them, was brought into this country by our ancestors who accompanied Joshua (at the conquest of the nations that God drove out before their advance), and remained here until the time of David.
46 Onye chọtara ihuọma nʼebe Chineke nọ, ma rịọ ka o wuore Chineke nke Jekọb ebe obibi.
David found favor with God, and prayed that he might provide the God of Jacob with a place to reside.
47 Ma ọ bụ Solomọn wuru ya ụlọ ahụ.
But it was Solomon who built a house for God.
48 “Otu ọ dị, Onye kachasị ihe niile elu adịghị ebi nʼụlọ e ji aka wuo, dịka onye amụma kwuru,
Yet it is not in buildings made by hands that the Most High dwells. As the prophet says –
49 “‘Eluigwe bụ ocheeze m. Ụwa bụkwa ebe mgbakwasị ụkwụ m. Ụdị ụlọ dị aṅaa ka unu ga-ewuru m? Maọbụ ebee ka ebe izuike m ga-adị? Ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru.
‘The heavens are a throne for me, and the earth a stool for my feet. What manner of house will you build me, asks the Lord, or what place is there where I may rest?
50 Ọ bụghị aka m mere ihe ndị a niile?’
Was it not my hand that made all these things?’
51 “Unu ndị isiike! Ndị obi ha, na ntị ha kpọchiri akpọchi ịnụ ihe. Ndị na-ajụ ịnabata Mmụọ Nsọ dịka nna nna unu ha mere.
Stubborn people, heathen in heart and ears, you are for ever resisting the Holy Spirit; your ancestors did it, and you are doing it still.
52 Ọ dị onye amụma ndị nna unu ha na-akpọgbughị? Ha gburu ọ bụladị ndị buru amụma banyere ọbịbịa nke onye ezi omume ahụ, ma ugbu a unu bụ ndị raara ya nye ma gbukwaa ya.
Which of the prophets escaped persecution at their hands? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers –
53 Unu bụ ndị natara iwu Chineke dịka e nyere ya site nʼaka ndị mmụọ ozi, ma unu edebeghị ya.”
you who received the Law as transmitted by angels and yet failed to keep it.”
54 Mgbe ha nụrụ ihe ndị a, iwe were ha nke ukwu. Ha tara ikikere eze nʼiwe na nʼọnụma nʼebe ọ nọ.
As they listened to this, the Council grew frantic with rage, and gnashed their teeth at Stephen.
55 Ma ebe o jupụtara na Mmụọ Nsọ, o lere anya nʼeluigwe hụ ebube Chineke. Ọ hụkwara Jisọs ka o guzoro nʼaka nri Chineke.
He, filled as he was with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes intently on the heavens, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.
56 Ọ sịrị, “Lee, ana m ahụ ka eluigwe meghere, hụkwa Nwa nke Mmadụ ka ọ na-eguzo nʼaka nri Chineke.”
“Look,” he exclaimed, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand!”
57 Ha mere ụzụ dị ukwuu, were mkpịsịaka ha rụchie ntị ha. Ha niile gbara ọsọ gaa nụkwasị ya,
At this, with a loud shout, they stopped their ears and all rushed on him, forced him outside the city,
58 dọkpụrụ ya pụọ nʼazụ obodo malite ịtụ ya nkume. Nʼoge a, ndị akaebe wụsara uwe ha nʼụkwụ otu nwokorobịa a na-akpọ Sọl.
and began to stone him, the witnesses laying their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 Mgbe ha na-atụ Stivin nkume ahụ, o kpere ekpere, “Onyenwe anyị Jisọs, nara mmụọ m.”
And they stoned Stephen, while he cried to the Lord, “Lord Jesus! Receive my spirit!”
60 O gburu ikpere nʼala werekwa oke olu tie mkpu, “Onyenwe anyị, biko agụnyekwarala ha mmehie nke a!” Mgbe o kwusiri nke a, ọ dara nʼala nwụọ.
Falling on his knees, he called out loudly, “Lord! Do not charge them with this sin;” and with these words he fell asleep.
