Jenesis 18
1 Onyenwe anyị gosiri Ebraham onwe ya nʼakụkụ osisi ukwu dị na Mamre, mgbe Ebraham nọdụrụ ala nʼihu ụlọ ikwu ya, nʼetiti ehihie.
One day during that year when it was hot, Yahweh appeared to Abraham again near the big trees that belonged to Mamre, while Abraham was sitting in the entrance to his tent.
2 O lelitere anya ya hụ ndị ikom atọ ka ha guzo ebe ọ nọ nso. Mgbe ọ hụrụ ha, o sitere nʼihu ụlọ ikwu ya gbakwuru ha izute ha, kpọọ isiala.
Abraham looked up [MTY] and was surprised to see three men standing near him. [Actually, one was Yahweh, and the other two were angels]. When he saw them, he ran to meet them. He prostrated himself with his face on the ground to show respect,
3 Ọ sịrị, “Onyenwe m, ọ bụrụ na m natara amara nʼihu gị, agabigala ohu gị.
and said [to one of them], “Sir, if you are pleased with me, stay here for a little while [LIT].
4 Biko, ka ekutere unu mmiri ntakịrị, ka unu sachaa ụkwụ unu, zurukwa ike nʼokpuru osisi a.
Allow my servants to bring a little water and wash your feet, and rest under this tree.
5 Ka m wetara unu nri ntakịrị unu ga-eri nke ga-agba unu ume tupu unu agawa nʼihu nʼije unu ugbu a unu bịara na nke ohu unu.” Ha zara sị ya, “Ọ dị mma. Mee dịka i kwuru.”
Since you have come here to me, allow me to bring you some food [SYN] so that you can feel refreshed before you leave.” Yahweh replied, “All right, do as you have said.”
6 Ya mere, Ebraham mere ngwangwa banyekwuru Sera nʼụlọ ikwu ya sị ya, “Mee ngwa, mapụta ihe ọtụtụ sịa atọ site na ọka a kwọrọ nke ọma jiri meta achịcha.”
So Abraham quickly went into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, get some of our best flour and make some loaves of bread!”
7 Mgbe ahụ, Ebraham gbagara nʼigwe ehi ya, họpụta otu nwa ehi na-akaghị aka nke ahụ ya dị mma, nye ya otu ohu ya onye mere ngwangwa gbuo ya, dozie ya maka oriri.
Then he ran to the herd of cattle and selected a calf whose meat would be tender and tasty. He gave it to one of his servants [and told him to] quickly kill it and cook it.
8 Emesịa, Ebraham buuru mmiri ara ehi nke rahụrụ arahụ, na mmiri ara ehi, na anụ ahụ a kwadoro dozie ha nʼihu ndị ọbịa ahụ. O guzokwara nso nso ebe ha nọ nʼokpuru osisi ahụ mgbe ha na-eri nri.
When the meat was cooked, Abraham brought some curds and milk and the meat that had been prepared, and set them in front of his visitors. Then he stood near them, under a tree, while they ate.
9 Ha jụrụ ya sị, “Ebee ka Sera nwunye gị nọ?” Ọ zara sị, “Ọ nọ nʼime ụlọ ikwu.”
[One of] them asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He replied, “She is in the tent.”
10 Ọ sịrị ya, “Nʼezie, mụ onwe m ga-alọghachikwute gị nʼoge a nʼafọ ọzọ, Sera nwunye gị ga-amụta nwa nwoke.” Sera guzo nʼime ụlọ ikwu ahụ nke dị nʼazụ Ebraham na-ege ntị nʼihe ha na-ekwu.
Then the leader of the group said, “I will return to you (about this time/in the springtime) next year, and to your amazement, your wife Sarah will have an infant son.” It happened that Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind the one who was speaking.
11 Nʼoge a, Ebraham na Sera emeela nnọọ agadi, gbaakwa isi awọ. Sera agafeela oge ịmụta nwa.
Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was far past the time of when she could bear children.
12 Ya mere, mgbe Sera nụrụ ihe Onyenwe anyị kwuru, ọ chịrị ọchị sị, “Agadi nwanyị dịka m o si aṅaa amụta nwa, ugbu a onyenwe m karala nka?”
So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “My body is worn out, and my husband is old. So how can I have the pleasure [of having a child]?” [RHQ]
13 Onyenwe anyị jụrụ Ebraham ajụjụ sị, “Gịnị mere Sera ji achị ọchị? Gịnị mere o ji kwuo sị, ‘Olee otu agadi nwanyị dịka m ga-esi mụọ nwa?’
Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why was she thinking, ‘I am too old, so how can I bear a child?’
14 Ọ dị ihe nyịrị Onyenwe anyị ime? Mụ onwe m ga-alọghachikwute gị nʼoge a kara aka, Sera nwunye gị ga-amụta nwa nwoke.”
I am Yahweh! (Is there anything too difficult for me?/There is nothing too difficult for me!) [RHQ] I will return about this time next year in the springtime, and Sarah will have an infant son.”
15 Ma ụjọ tụrụ Sera. Nʼihi ya, ọ gọrọ agọ sị, “Achịghị m ọchị.” Ma Ọ zara sị, “Ọ bụ ezie, Sera, ị chịrị ọchị.”
Then Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But Yahweh said, “Don’t deny it! You did laugh.”
16 Mgbe ndị ikom atọ ahụ biliri ibidokwa ije ha, ha chere ihu ịga obodo Sọdọm, Ebraham dupụkwara ha.
When the three men got up to leave, they looked down into the valley toward Sodom [city]. Abraham was walking with them to say “goodbye” to them.
17 Mgbe ha na-aga nʼụzọ, Onyenwe anyị tulere sị, “O kwesiri ka m zochiere Ebraham ihe m chọrọ ime?
Yahweh thought to himself, “It is not right for me to prevent Abraham from knowing what I plan to do [RHQ].
18 Ebraham aghaghị ịbụ mba dị ukwuu dịkwa ike. A ga-agọzikwa agbụrụ niile nọ nʼụwa site na ya.
Abraham’s descendants [MTY] will become a great and powerful nation. And people of [MTY] all nations will be blessed because of what I do for him.
19 Nʼihi na ahọpụtala m ya, ka ọ tụziere ụmụ ya na ụlọ ya ndị ga-esote ya ịgbaso ụzọ Onyenwe anyị site nʼime ihe dị mma na ihe ziri ezi, ka Onyenwe anyị mezuoro Ebraham ihe niile o kwere ya na nkwa.”
I have chosen him in order that he will teach his children and their families to obey me and do what is right and fair, and then I will do for Abraham what I promised.”
20 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị kwuru sị, “Mkpu akwa m na-anụ site na Sọdọm na Gọmọra dị ukwuu, otu a kwa, mmehie ha jọbigara njọ oke.
So Yahweh said to Abraham, “I have heard the terrible things that have been said about the people of [MTY] Sodom and Gomorrah. Their sins are very great.
21 Ugbu a, ana m aga ka m jiri anya m hụ ma ihe ha mere ọ dị njọ dịka mkpu akwa m na-anụ si dị. Ma o sighị otu ahụ dịrị, aga m amata.”
So I will go down now, and I will see if all the terrible things that I have heard are true or not true.”
22 Mgbe ahụ, ndị ikom abụọ nʼime ha gawara Sọdọm. Ma Ebraham nọ na-eguzo nʼihu Onyenwe anyị.
Then the two men turned and started walking toward Sodom. But Yahweh remained, standing in front of Abraham.
23 Ebraham jeruru Onyenwe anyị nso jụọ ya sị, “Uche gị ọ bụ ikpochapụ ndị ezi omume na ndị ajọ omume?
Abraham came closer to him and said, “Will you really destroy righteous people along with wicked ones?
24 Ọ bụrụ na ị chọta iri ndị ezi omume ise nʼime obodo ahụ, ị ga-ekpochapụ obodo ahụ? Ị gaghị agbaghara ya nʼihi iri ndị ezi omume ise nọ nʼime ya?
What will you do if there are only 50 righteous people in the city? Will you really get rid of them all, and not spare the place/city for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in the city?
25 Ọ bụghị ezi ihe na ị ga-ala ndị ezi omume na ndị ajọ omume nʼiyi. Nʼihi na ị gaghị emeso ndị ezi omume dịka i si mesoo ndị na-eme ajọ ihe. O kwesighị ka onye ga-ekpe ụwa niile ikpe, kpee ikpe ziri ezi?”
It would certainly not be right for you to do such a thing, to kill righteous people along with wicked ones, and treat righteous people and wicked people the same way. You could not do that, because you, who are the judge of everyone on the earth, will certainly do what is right [regarding the people of Sodom]!” [RHQ]
26 Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Ọ bụrụ na m achọta iri ndị ezi omume ise nʼobodo Sọdọm, aga m agbaghara obodo ahụ niile nʼihi ha.”
Yahweh replied, “If I find 50 righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the whole place/city for their sake.”
27 Ebraham kwukwara ọzọ sị, “Ugbu a m nwere ike kwuwapụta okwu nʼihu Onyenwe anyị, mụ onye bụ naanị aja na ntụ.
Abraham replied, “I should not be bold like this and speak to you, God, because I am as worthless as dust and ashes [MET].
28 Eleghị anya ọ bụrụ na e nweta naanị iri ndị ezi omume anọ na ise, ị ga-emebi obodo ahụ?” Onyenwe anyị zara sị, “Agaghị m ebibi ya ma ọ bụrụ na m achọta iri mmadụ anọ na ise nʼime ya.”
But what will you do if there are only 45 righteous people? Will you destroy everyone in the whole city because there are only 45 and not 50 righteous people?” Yahweh replied, “I will not destroy it if I find that there are 45 righteous people.”
29 Ọzọkwa, ọ sịrị ya, “Ọ bụrụkwanụ na a ga-achọta naanị iri mmadụ anọ?” Onyenwe anyị zara sị ya, “Nʼihi iri mmadụ anọ, agaghị m ebibi ya.”
Abraham continued to speak to him [like this], saying, “What will you do if you find that there are only 40 righteous people there?” Yahweh replied, “I will not destroy them all, for the sake of the 40.”
30 Mgbe ahụ ọ sịrị, “Biko, ka iwe hapụ iwe Onyenwe anyị ma m kwuo okwu. Eleghị anya, achọta naanị iri mmadụ atọ nʼebe ahụ?” Onyenwe anyị zaghachiri sị ya, “Agaghị m emebi ya, ma ọ bụrụ na m achọta iri mmadụ atọ nʼime ya.”
Abraham said, “God, please don’t be angry now. Let me speak again. What will you do if there are only 30 righteous people?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find that there are 30 there.”
31 O kwuru sị, “Ebe ọ bụ na m amalitela ịgwa gị, Onyenwe anyị okwu, biko kwere ka m gaa nʼihu. Ọ bụrụ na a ga-achọta naanị iri mmadụ abụọ?” Onyenwe anyị zara sị, “Nʼihi iri mmadụ abụọ ahụ agaghị m emebi ya.”
Abraham said, “I should not be bold and speak to you like this, God. But what will you do if you find that there are only 20 righteous people there?” He replied, “I will not destroy the whole city, for the sake of those 20.”
32 Nʼikpeazụ, Ebraham kwuru sị, “Ka iwe hapụ iwe Onyenwe anyị. Ka m kwuo naanị otu ugboro a. Ọ bụrụkwanụ na a chọta naanị mmadụ iri nʼebe ahụ?” Onyenwe anyị zara sị, “Nʼihi mmadụ iri ahụ, agaghị m ebibi ya.”
Abraham said, “God, don’t be angry now. Just let me speak one time more. What will you do if you find that there are only ten righteous people there?” Yahweh answered, “I will not destroy the city for the sake of those ten.”
33 Mgbe Onyenwe anyị gwachara Ebraham okwu, ọ hapụrụ ya gawa ebe ọ na-aga. Ebraham laghachiri azụ nʼụlọ ya.
Abraham said no more, and as soon as Yahweh finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
