Luk 18
1 Mgbe ahụ ọ tụụrụ ha ilu a iji gosi ha mkpa ọ dị ikpe ekpere na-esepụghị aka,
[Jesus] told [his disciples] a parable to teach them that they always ought to pray confidently and not be discouraged [if God does not immediately answer their prayers].
2 ọ sịrị, “O nwere otu ọkaikpe bi nʼotu obodo ma ọ naghị atụ egwu Chineke. Ọ naghị asọpụkwara mmadụ.
He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not revere God, and did not care about people, either.
3 Nʼobodo ahụkwa, e nwere otu nwanyị di ya nwụrụ anwụ nke na-abịakwute ya, na-asị ya, ‘Kpepụta m nʼaka ndị na-emegide m.’
There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Please decide what is just [in the dispute between me and] the man who is opposing me [in court!’]
4 “Na mmalite, ọ chọghị, ma nʼikpeazụ, ọ gwara onwe ya sị, ‘Ọ bụ eziokwu na anaghị m atụ egwu Chineke maọbụ sọpụrụ mmadụ.
For a long time the judge refused [to help her]. But later he thought to himself, ‘I do not revere God and I do not care about people,
5 Ma nʼihi na nwanyị a di ya nwụrụ anwụ nọgidere na-enye m nsogbu, aga m ahụ na o nwetara ikpe ziri ezi, ka ọ kwụsị inye m nsogbu site na ọbịbịa ọ na-abịa.’”
but this widow keeps bothering me! So I will make sure that she is treated justly. [If I do not do that], she will exhaust me by continually coming to me!’”
6 Ya mere Onyenwe anyị sịrị, “Gerenụ ihe ọkaikpe nke na-eme ajọ omume na-ekwu.
Then the Lord [Jesus] said, “[Even though] the judge was not a righteous man, think carefully about what he said!
7 Ọ bụ na Chineke agaghị ekpepụta ndị ahụ ọ họpụtara, bụ ndị na-akpọku ya ehihie na abalị? Ọ ga-anọ tee anya nʼinyere ha aka?
[Similarly], (God will certainly show that [what you] have done has been right!/will God not show that [what you] have done has been right?) [RHQ] He will do this for you whom he has chosen. [He will do this for you] who pray earnestly to him night and day, asking him to [help you]. He may delay [helping you].
8 Asị m unu, ọ ga-eme ngwangwa hụ na ha nwetara ikpe ziri ezi. Ma otu ọ dị, mgbe Nwa nke Mmadụ ga-abịa, ọ ga-ahụkwa ndị nwere okwukwe nʼime ụwa?”
But I tell you, [some day] he will show that what you did was right, and he will do it quickly. But when [I], the one who came from heaven, return to earth, (there may not be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)./will there be [many people who will still] be trusting [that I will vindicate them] (OR, who will still be trusting in me)?) [RHQ]”
9 Ọ tụkwara ilu a nʼihi ndị tụkwasịrị obi nʼonwe ha na ha bụ ndị ezi omume ma na-eleda ndị ọzọ anya.
[Jesus] also told a parable [to warn] people who mistakenly thought that they were doing things that made them acceptable to God. Besides, they also despised other people.
10 “Ụmụ nwoke abụọ rigoro nʼụlọnsọ ukwu ikpe ekpere, otu onye nʼime ha bụ onye Farisii, onye nke ọzọ bụ onye ọna ụtụ.
[He said this]: “Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector.
11 Onye Farisii ahụ guzoro ọtọ kpee ekpere banyere onwe ya sị, ‘Chineke nna m, ana m ekele gị nʼihi na adịghị m ka mmadụ ndị ọzọ ndị na-apụnara mmadụ ihe ya nʼike, maọbụ ndị ajọ omume, maọbụ ndị na-akwa iko, ma ọ bụkwanụ dị ka onye ọna ụtụ a.
The Pharisee stood and prayed silently, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men. [Some] extort money [from others]; some treat others unjustly; some commit adultery. [I do not do such things. And I am certainly not] like this tax collector [who cheats people]!
12 Ana m ebu ọnụ ugboro abụọ nʼizu ụka ọbụla. Ana m akwụkwa otu ụzọ nʼụzọ iri nke ihe niile m nwetara.’
[Our law says that we(exc) should] (fast/abstain from food) [once a week], [but I do more than that. I] fast twice a week! I give [you] ten percent of all that I earn!’
13 “Ma onye ọna ụtụ ahụ guzo nʼebe dị anya, o nwekwaghị ike iweli ihu ya elu lee anya nʼeluigwe. Kama, ọ na-eti aka nʼobi ya na mwute na-asị, ‘Chineke, biko mere m ebere nʼihi na abụ m onye mmehie.’
But the tax collector stood far [from the other people in the Temple courtyard because he felt very unworthy]. He would not even look up toward heaven. Instead, he beat on his chest [to show that he was sorry for his sin]. He said, ‘God, I am a sinner; be merciful to me [and forgive me]!’”
14 “Asị m unu, na nwoke a lara nʼụlọ ya bụrụ onye a gụrụ nʼonye ezi omume nʼihu Chineke karịa onye nke ọzọ. Nʼihi na onye ọbụla ga-ebuli onwe ya elu ka a ga-eweda, ma onye ọbụla na-eweda onwe ya ala ka a ga-ebuli elu.”
[Then Jesus said], “I tell you [(pl)] that as the tax collector went home, the record of his sins was erased {[God] erased the record of his sins}, not that of the Pharisee. [Remember this]: Those who exalt themselves will be humbled {[God] will humble all those who exalt themselves}, but those who humble themselves will be exalted {[he] will exalt those who humble themselves}.”
15 Ndị mmadụ na-ekutere ya ụmụntakịrị ka o bikwasị ha aka. Mgbe ndị na-eso ụzọ ya hụrụ nke a, ha baara ha mba.
[One day when many people were coming to Jesus], they were also bringing small children. They wanted him to put his hands on [the children and bless them]. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked [those who were bringing those children].
16 Ma Jisọs kpọrọ ha ka ha bịakwute ya, sị, “Kweenụ ka ha bịakwute m, unu egbochikwala ha, nʼihi na alaeze Chineke bụ nke ndị dị ka ha.
But Jesus called the children [to come to him]. He said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me! Do not stop them! It is people who are [humble and trusting] like they are who can experience God ruling [their lives].
17 Nʼezie, agwa m unu, onye ọbụla na-agaghị anara alaeze Chineke dị ka nwantakịrị agaghị aba nʼime ya.”
Note this: Those who do not [trust God and] allow him to direct [their lives], as children [do], will not enter the [MET] place where God rules.”
18 Otu onye ọchịchị jụrụ ya sị, “Ezi onye ozizi, ọ bụ gịnị ka m ga-eme keta ndụ ebighị ebi.” (aiōnios g166)
A [Jewish] leader asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what shall I do in order to have eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 Jisọs sịrị ya, “Gịnị mere i ji akpọ m ezi mmadụ? Ọ dịghị onye ọbụla bụ ezi mmadụ ma ọ bụghị naanị Chineke.
Jesus said to him, “Only God is good! No one [else] is good! (So you(sg) should consider carefully what [you are implying by] calling me good!/[Do you realize that you are implying that I am God by] calling me good?) [RHQ]
20 Ị maara ihe niile enyere nʼiwu, akwala iko, egbula mmadụ, ezula ohi, agbala ama ụgha, sọpụrụ nne na nna gị.”
[But to answer your question], you [(sg)] know the commandments that [God gave Moses. He commanded such things as] ‘do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely [about what you have seen or heard], honor your father and mother.’”
21 Ọ sịrị, “Edebezuchaala m iwu ndị a niile site na mgbe m bụ nwata.”
The man said, “I have obeyed all those [commandments] ever since I was young. [So] ([there must be something else I have not done./is that enough]?)”
22 Mgbe Jisọs nụrụ nke a, ọ sịrị ya, “Otu ihe fọdụrụ ka ime: ree ihe niile i nwere, kesara ụmụ ogbenye ego ya. Ị ga-enwe akụ nʼeluigwe, bịazie soro m.”
When Jesus heard [him say] that, he replied to him, “There is one thing that you [(sg)] have not [done] yet. Sell all that you own. Then give [the money] to poor people. [The result will be that] you will have [spiritual] riches in heaven. Then come and be my disciple!”
23 Mgbe ọ nụrụ nke a, o wutere ya nke ukwuu, nʼihi na ọ bụ onye nwere ọtụtụ akụ.
The man became sad when he heard that, because he was very rich [and he did not want to give everything away].
24 Jisọs lere ya anya sị, “Lee ka o si bụrụ ihe siri ike bụ ndị ọgaranya ịba nʼalaeze Chineke.
Jesus looked at the man [as he left], and said, “It is very difficult for those who are wealthy [to decide] to let God rule [MET] their [lives].
25 Nʼezie, ọ dịrị ịnyịnya kamel mfe isite nʼanya agịga gafee karịa ọgaranya ịbanye nʼalaeze Chineke.”
[You would say] that it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is [almost] as difficult [HYP] for rich people [to decide] to let God rule their [lives].”
26 Ndị nụrụ ya sịrị, “Onye kwanụ ka a ga-azọpụta?”
[The Jews thought that God favored rich people, so they thought that if God did not save rich people, he would not save others, either]. So [one of the disciples] who heard him say that replied, “If that is so, it seems that no one will be saved {[that God] will not save anyone} [RHQ]!”
27 Ọ sịrị, “Ihe mmadụ na-apụghị ime, bụ ihe Chineke pụrụ ime.”
But Jesus said, “It is impossible for people [to save themselves]. But [God can save them, because] God can do anything!”
28 Mgbe ahụ Pita sịrị, “Lee, anyị ahapụla ihe niile anyị nwere soro gị!”
Then Peter said, “[You know that we(exc) have left] everything we had and have become your disciples [RHQ]. [So what about us?] (OR, [So will God accept/save us?]”)
29 Ọ sịrị ha, “Nʼezie, agwa m unu, o nweghị onye ọbụla hapụrụ ụlọ ya, maọbụ nwunye, maọbụ ụmụnne, maọbụ ndị mụrụ ya, maọbụ ụmụntakịrị ya, nʼihi alaeze Chineke
He said to them, “Keep this in mind: Those who have left [their] homes, [their] wives, [their] brothers, [their] parents, [their] children, [or any other family members], [to tell others] about how God wants to rule [MET] [people’s lives],
31 Jisọs kpọpụrụ mmadụ iri na abụọ ahụ na-eso ụzọ ya nʼakụkụ, gwa ha sị, “Anyị na-aga Jerusalem, ihe niile ndị amụma dere banyere Nwa nke Mmadụ ga-emezu.
[Jesus] took the twelve [disciples] to a place by themselves and said to them, “Listen carefully! We [(inc)] are [now] going up to Jerusalem. [While we are there], everything that has been written by the prophets {that the prophets have written} about [me], the one who came from heaven, will be fulfilled {will occur}.
32 A ga-arara ya nyefee ya nʼaka ndị mba ọzọ. Ha ga-akwa ya emo, mee ya ihe ihere, bụkwaa ya ọnụ mmiri asụ.
I will be put into the hands of {[My enemies] will hand me over to} non-Jews. [The non-Jews] will make fun of me and mistreat me and spit on me.
33 Ha ga-apịa ya ihe, gbukwaa ya; ma nʼụbọchị nke atọ, ọ ga-esite nʼọnwụ bilie ọzọ.”
They will whip me, and [then] they will kill me. But on the third day [after that] I will become alive again.”
34 Ma ha aghọtaghị ihe ọbụla nʼokwu ndị a. E mere ka nkọwa okwu ndị a bụrụ ihe e zoro ezo nʼebe ha nọ, ha aghọtakwaghị ihe o kwuru.
But [the disciples] did not understand any of those things that [he said]. They were prevented {[Something] prevented them} from understanding the meaning of what [he] was telling [them].
35 O ruo ka ọ bịaruru Jeriko nso, otu nwoke kpuru ìsì nọ nʼakụkụ ụzọ na-arịọ arịrịọ.
As [Jesus and his disciples] came near to Jericho [city], a blind man was sitting beside the road. [He was] begging [for money].
36 Mgbe ọ nụrụ uzu igwe mmadụ ka ha na-agafe, ọ jụrụ ihe na-eme.
When he heard the crowd [of people] passing by, he asked someone, “What is happening?”
37 Ha gwara ya, “Jisọs onye Nazaret na-agafe.”
They told him, “Jesus, [the man] from Nazareth [town], is passing by.”
38 O tiri mkpu sị, “Jisọs nwa Devid, meere m ebere!”
He shouted, “Jesus, [you who are] descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
39 Ndị bu ụzọ baara ya mba ka o mechie ọnụ. Ma o tisiri mkpu ike sị, “Nwa Devid, meere m ebere!”
Those who were [walking] at the front [of the crowd] scolded the man [and] told him to be quiet. But he shouted more loudly, “You who are descended from [King] David, [the Messiah], pity me!”
40 Jisọs kwụsịrị, nye iwu ka a kpọtara ya nwoke ahụ. Mgbe o rutere nso, ọ jụrụ ya,
Jesus stopped and told [people] to bring the man to him. When [the blind man] came near, Jesus asked him,
41 “Gịnị ka ị chọrọ ka m meere gị?” Ọ sịrị, “Onyenwe anyị, ka e mee ka m hụ ụzọ ọzọ.”
“What do you [(sg)] want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, enable me to see [again]!”
42 Jisọs sịrị ya, “Hụ ụzọ, okwukwe gị agwọọla gị.”
Jesus said to him, “[Then] see! Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me], [I] have healed you!”
43 Ngwangwa, o bidoro ịhụ ụzọ ma soro Jisọs, na-etokwa Chineke. Ndị mmadụ niile, mgbe ha hụrụ ya tokwara Chineke.
Immediately he was able to see! And he went with [Jesus], praising God. And when all the people who were [going with Jesus] saw it, they also praised God.
