Mak 1
1 Mmalite oziọma maka Jisọs Kraịst, Ọkpara Chineke.
([This is/I want to tell you]) the good message about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God). [What I want to tell you] begins just like the prophet Isaiah [said it would begin, when] he wrote [these words that God said to Jesus: ] Listen! I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare [people for] your [coming].
2 Dịka e dere ya rịị nʼakwụkwọ Aịzaya onye amụma sị, “Aga m ezipu onyeozi m nʼihu gị, onye ga-edozi ụzọ gị.”
3 “Otu onye na-eti mkpu nʼọzara, na-asị, ‘Dozienụ ụzọ maka Onyenwe anyị, meenụ ka okporoụzọ ya guzozie.’”
He will call out to people [who pass by where he is] in the desolate area, “As people improve and straighten out pathways [before an important official arrives] [MET], make [yourselves] ready [DOU] [in order that you will be prepared when] the Lord [comes].”
4 Jọn omee baptizim pụtara na-eme baptizim nʼọzara, ma na-ekwusa baptizim nke nchegharị maka mgbaghara mmehie.
[The messenger that Isaiah predicted was] John. [People called him] ‘The Baptizer’. In the desolate area near the Jordan River he kept telling people, “If you want God to forgive you for having sinned, you must turn away from your sinful behavior [before you ask me to] baptize [you].”
5 Ndị mmadụ si nʼakụkụ Judịa niile na ndị niile bi na Jerusalem pụrụ jekwuru ya. Ka ha na-ekwupụta mmehie ha, o mere ha baptizim nʼosimiri Jọdan.
A great number [HYP] of people who lived in Jerusalem [city] and [elsewhere] in the Judea [district] were going out to where John was. There, [after hearing John’s message], they [responded by] confessing the sinful things [that they had done]. Then they were being baptized by John {John was baptizing them} in the Jordan River.
6 Uwe Jọn yi nʼahụ ya bụ nke e ji ajị ịnyịnya kamel mee. O kekwara ihe okike e ji akpụkpọ anụ mee nʼukwu ya. Nri ya bụ igurube na mmanụ aṅụ.
John wore [rough] clothes made of camel’s hair. And [as the prophet Elijah had done], he wore a leather belt around his waist; and what he ate was [only] grasshoppers and honey [that he found] in that desolate area.
7 O kwusara sị: “Onye dị ike karịa m na-abịa nʼazụ m. Onye m na-erughị ihudata ala tọpụ eriri akpụkpọụkwụ ya.
He was preaching, “Very shortly a man will come who is very great. I [am nothing compared to him. Because he is so superior to me], I am not even worthy to [serve him like a slave] by stooping down and untying his sandals.
8 Eji m mmiri na-eme unu baptizim, ma ọ ga-eji Mmụọ Nsọ mee unu baptizim.”
I used [only] water when I baptized you [because you said that you wanted to change your lives], but he will put his Holy Spirit [within] you [to truly change your lives].”
9 Nʼoge ahụ, Jisọs sitere na Nazaret nke Galili bịa nʼosimiri Jọdan, ebe Jọn mere ya baptizim.
During that time [when John was preaching], Jesus came from Nazareth [town], which is in Galilee [district]. He went to [where John was preaching] and he was baptized by John {John baptized him} in the Jordan [River].
10 Ma mgbe o si nʼime mmiri ahụ na-apụta, ọ hụrụ ka eluigwe meghere. Hụkwa Mmụọ Nsọ dị ka nduru ka ọ rịdatara bekwasị ya nʼisi ya.
Immediately after [Jesus] came up out of the water, he saw heaven opened up [and he saw] the Spirit [of God] descending on himself. He came in the form of a dove.
11 Otu olu si nʼeluigwe daa, “Ị bụ Ọkpara m hụrụ nʼanya, ihe gị dị m ezi mma.”
And [God] [MTY] spoke to him from heaven saying, “You are my Son, whom I love dearly. I am very pleased with you.”
12 Ngwangwa, Mmụọ Nsọ duuru ya baa nʼime ọzara.
(Then/Right away) the Spirit [of God] sent Jesus into the desolate area.
13 Ọ nọkwara nʼime ọzara ahụ iri ụbọchị anọ, ebe ekwensu nwara ya ọnwụnwa. Ya na ụmụ anụ ọhịa nọkwa. Ma ndị mmụọ ozi jeere ya ozi.
He was there for 40 days. During that time, he was tempted by Satan {Satan tempted him}. There were wild animals [there] also. But angels took care of him.
14 Mgbe e tinyesịrị Jọn nʼụlọ mkpọrọ, Jisọs gara na Galili, na-ekwusa oziọma Chineke.
Later, after John was put in prison {after [soldiers] put John in prison} [because he had rebuked the governor Herod Antipas for his sins], Jesus went to Galilee [district]. There he was preaching the good message [that came] from God.
15 Ọ sịrị, “Oge ahụ eruola, alaeze Chineke dị nso. Chegharịanụ ma kwerekwanụ nʼoziọma.”
He was repeatedly saying, “Now is the time when God will begin to rule people’s lives [in a new way]. [So] turn away from your sinful behavior! Believe the good message [in order] ([to belong to him/to become those whose lives he will rule])!”
16 Mgbe Jisọs na-aga nʼakụkụ osimiri Galili, ọ hụrụ Saimọn na Andru nwanne ya, ka ha na-awụnye ụgbụ ha nʼime mmiri nʼihi na ha bụ ndị ọkụ azụ.
[One day], while Jesus was walking along by Galilee Lake, he saw [two men], Simon and Simon’s [younger] brother, Andrew. They were casting their [fishing] net into the lake. They [earned money by] catching [and selling] fish.
17 Jisọs siri ha, “Bịanụ soro m, m ga-emekwa unu ndị ọkụ na-akụta mmadụ.”
Then Jesus said to them, “[Just like you have been] gathering fish, come with me and I will [teach] you how to [gather people to become my disciples]” [MET].
18 Ngwangwa ha hapụrụ ụgbụ azụ ha ma soro ya.
Immediately they abandoned [the work that they were doing with] their nets, and they went with him.
19 Mgbe ọ gatụrụ nʼihu nke nta, ọ hụrụ Jemis nwa Zebedi na nwanne ya bụ Jọn ndị nọ nʼime ụgbọ mmiri, na-ekezi ụgbụ azụ ha.
After they had gone on a little further, Jesus saw [two other men], James and James’ [younger] brother, John. They were the sons of [a man named] Zebedee. They were both in a boat mending [fishing] nets.
20 Ngwangwa, ọ kpọrọ ha, ha hapụrụ nna ha Zebedi na ndị o goro ọrụ nʼime ụgbọ soro ya.
As soon as Jesus saw them, he told them that [they should leave their work and to come with him]. So they left their father, [who remained] in the boat with the hired servants, and they went away with Jesus.
21 Ha gara Kapanọm, mgbe ụbọchị izuike ruru, ọ bara nʼime ụlọ ekpere ma malite izi ha ihe.
[Later] Jesus [and those disciples] arrived at Capernaum [town]. On the next (Sabbath/Jewish rest day), after Jesus had entered (the synagogue/the Jewish meeting place), he began teaching [the people who had gathered there].
22 Ozizi ya juru ha anya nke ukwuu, nʼihi na o ziri ha ihe dịka onye nwere ikike, ọ bụghị dị ka nke ndị ozizi iwu.
They were continually amazed at the way he taught. [He did] not [just teach what others had taught], like the men who teach the [Jewish] laws did. [They habitually just repeated what other people had taught]. Instead, he taught with [his own] authority.
23 Ma nʼotu oge ahụ, otu nwoke nọ nʼime ụlọ ekpere ahụ nke mmụọ na-adịghị ọcha bi nʼime ya, tiri mkpu nʼoke olu,
Suddenly, [while he was teaching], a man [appeared] in their worship place who had an evil spirit in him, and he shouted,
24 sị, “Gịnị ka anyị na gị nwekọrọ, gị Jisọs onye Nazaret? Ị bịala ịla anyị nʼiyi? Amaara m onye ị bụ, Onye Nsọ nke Chineke.”
“Jesus, from Nazareth [town, since] we [evil spirits] have nothing in common with you, ([do not interfere with us]!/what do you want with us [evil spirits]?) [RHQ] (Do not destroy us [now]!/Have you come to destroy us [now]?) [RHQ] I know who you are. I know that you are the holy one [who has come] from God!”
25 Ma Jisọs baara ya mba sị ya, “Mechie ọnụ sikwa nʼime ya pụta!”
Jesus rebuked [the evil spirit], saying, “Be quiet! And come out [of the man]!”
26 Mmụọ ahụ na-adịghị ọcha seere ya, mee ka ahụ ya maa jijiji, o tiri mkpu nʼoke olu, ma sikwa nʼime ya pụta.
The evil spirit shook the man hard. He screamed loudly, and then he came out of the man [and left].
27 Ha niile bụ ndị nọ nʼọnọdụ ihe iju anya ma na-ajụrịtara onwe ha ajụjụ sị, “Gịnị bụ nke a? Ozizi ọhụrụ ya na ikike! Ọ na-enye ọ bụladị mmụọ na-adịghị ọcha iwu. Ha na-erubekwara ya isi.”
All [the people who were there] were amazed. As a result, they discussed this among themselves, [exclaiming], “(This is [amazing]!/What is this?) [RHQ] Not only does he teach in a new and authoritative way, but also the evil spirits obey him [when] he commands [them]!”
28 Akụkọ banyere ya gbasara ngwangwa ruo akụkụ niile nke Galili.
The people very soon told [many others] throughout the whole Galilee district what Jesus [had done].
29 Ngwangwa ha hapụrụ ụlọ ekpere ahụ, ha na Jemis na Jọn soro banye nʼụlọ Saimọn na Andru.
After they left (the synagogue/the Jewish meeting place), [Jesus, Simon and Andrew], along with James and John went directly to Simon and Andrew’s house.
30 Nʼoge a, nne nwunye Saimọn dina nʼakwa ndina. Ahụ ọkụ jikwa ya. Ha mere ka ọ mata banyere ya.
Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed because she had a [high] fever. Right away someone told Jesus about her [being sick].
31 Ọ gakwuru ya, jide ya nʼaka selite ya elu. Ahụ ọkụ ahụ hapụrụ ya. Ọ malitekwara ile ha ọbịa.
He went to her, and helped her up by taking hold of her hand. She recovered [at once] from the fever, and then she [got up and] served them [some food].
32 Nʼoge uhuruchi, mgbe anwụ dara, ha kpọtaara ya ndị niile ahụ na-esighị ike na ndị mmụọ ọjọọ bi nʼime ha.
That evening, after the sun had gone down [and restrictions about travel on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day]) [were ended], some people brought to Jesus many people who were sick and others whose lives evil spirits were controlling.
33 Obodo ahụ niile gbakọrọ nʼọnụ ụzọ.
[It seemed as though] everyone [HYP, MTY] [who lived in] the town was gathered at the doorway [of Simon’s house].
34 Ọ gwọrọ ọtụtụ ndị bu ọrịa dị iche iche, ọ chụpụkwara ọtụtụ mmụọ ọjọọ ma o kweghị ka mmụọ ọjọọ ndị ahụ kwuo okwu nʼihi na ha matara onye ọ bụ.
Jesus healed many people who were ill with various diseases. He also expelled many demons [from people]. He did not allow the demons to tell people [about him], because they knew that he [had come from God, and for various reasons he did not want everyone to know that yet].
35 Nʼisi ụtụtụ, mgbe ọchịchịrị ka gbachiri, o biliri, ga ebe ọ ga-anọrọ onwe ya, naanị ya. Nʼebe ahụ kwa ka ọ nọ kpee ekpere.
Jesus got up very early [the next morning] while it was still dark. He left [the house] and went away [from the town] to a place where there were no people. Then he prayed there.
36 Saimọn na ndị ya na ha nọ pụrụ na-achọgharị ya.
Simon and his companions searched for him. When they found him, [wanting him to go back to town to help other people], they said to him,
37 Ma mgbe ha hụrụ ya, ha sịrị ya, “Mmadụ niile na-achọgharị gị!”
“[Come back to the town with us, because] many [HYP] people [in Capernaum] are looking for you!”
38 Ọ zaghachiri ha sị, “Ka anyị gaanụ ebe ọzọ, nʼobodo ndị ọzọ dị anyị gburugburu, ka m zisakwaara ha oziọma. Ọ bụ nʼihi nke a ka m ji bịa.”
He said to them, “[No], let’s go on to the neighboring towns in order that I can preach there also, because the reason that I came [into the world] was to [preach to people] in many places!”
39 Ya mere, ọ pụrụ jegharịa na Galili niile na-ekwusa oziọma nʼụlọ ekpere ha niile, na-achụpụkwa mmụọ ọjọọ.
So they went throughout Galilee [district. As they did so, each (Sabbath/Jewish rest day]) he preached in (synagogues/Jewish meeting places). He was also expelling evil spirits [from people].
40 Otu onye ekpenta bịakwutere ya gbuo ikpere nʼala rịọọ ya sị, “Ọ bụrụ na ị chọrọ, ị pụrụ ime ka m dị ọcha.”
[One day] a man who had [a bad skin disease called] leprosy came to Jesus. He knelt down in front of Jesus and then he pleaded with him saying, “[Please heal me, because I know] you are able to heal me if you want to!”
41 Ebe o jupụtara nʼọmịiko, Jisọs setịpụrụ aka ya metụ ya sị, “Achọrọ m, dị ọcha!”
Jesus felt very sorry for him. [So he ignored the religious laws about coming close to people who had that disease]. He reached out his hand and touched the man. Then he said to him, “Since I am willing [to heal you], be healed {I heal you} [now]!”
42 Ngwangwa ekpenta ya hapụrụ ya, e mekwara ka ọ dị ọcha.
Immediately the man was healed! He was no longer a leper!
43 Mgbe ahụ, Jisọs ji ịdọ aka na ntị zilaga ya,
Jesus spoke sternly to him before he sent him away.
44 ọ gwara ya sị, “Hụkwa na ọ dịghị onye ọbụla ị ga-agwa ihe a. Kama gaa gosi onye nchụaja onwe gị. Chụọkwa aja dị ka Mosis nyere nʼiwu, maka ime ka ị dị ọcha gị, ka ọ bụrụ ihe ama nye ha.”
What Jesus said was, “Go to a local priest and show yourself to him [in order that he may examine you and verify that you are healed]. Then, [after the priest tells the local people], they will know [that you have been healed, and you will be able to associate with them again]. Make sure that you do not tell others [about what happened] Then go to [Jerusalem and take to the priest what Moses commanded that people who have been healed from leprosy should offer, in order that he] may offer it [as a sacrifice to God].”
45 Ma ọ pụrụ malite ịkọsa akụkọ banyere ọgwụgwọ ya ebe niile. Nʼihi ya Jisọs enwekwaghị ike ịbanye nʼobodo, kama ọ gara nọrọ nʼebe zoro ezo. Ma ndị mmadụ na-abịakwutekwa ya site nʼebe niile dị iche iche.
The man went [and presented himself to the priest. But then] he began to tell many people about [how Jesus had healed him] [DOU]. As a result, Jesus was no longer able to enter any town publicly [because the crowds would surround him]. Instead, he remained outside [the towns] in places [where no people lived]. But people kept coming to him from all over that region.
