Matiu 12
1 Nʼoge ahụ, Jisọs sitere nʼubi a kụrụ ọka na-agafe nʼụbọchị izuike. Ma ebe agụụ na-agụ ndị na-eso ụzọ ya, ha malitere ịghọ ogbe ọka, na ịta mkpụrụ ya.
During that period of time, on a (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest), Jesus [and we] disciples were walking through some grain fields. And because we were hungry, we began to pick some of the heads of grain and eat them. [The laws of Moses permitted people to do that if they were hungry].
2 Mgbe ndị Farisii hụrụ nke a, ha sịrị ya, “Lee, ndị na-eso ụzọ gị na-eme ihe na-ezighị ezi ime nʼụbọchị izuike!”
Some Pharisees saw us [do what they considered to be work]. So they said to Jesus, [accusing him], “Look! Your disciples are doing [work] that is not permitted [in our] laws [PRS] [for us] to do on our day of rest!”
3 Ma ọ zara ha sị, “Ọ bụ na unu agụtaghị ihe Devid na ndị ya na ha soo mere mgbe agụụ na-agụ ha?
[Jesus wanted to show them that the record in the Scriptures indicated that God permitted people to disobey certain religious laws when they needed food]. [So] he said to them, “[It is written] {[Someone wrote]} [in the Scriptures] [RHQ] what [our revered ancestor King] David did when he and the men with him were hungry. You have read about that, ([but you do not think about what it implies!/so why do you not think about what it implies]?) [RHQ]
4 Otu o si banye nʼụlọ Chineke, ya na ndị so ya, rie achịcha a na-eche nʼihu Chineke, nke na-ezighị ezi nʼiwu ka ha rie, kama ọ dịịrị naanị ndị nchụaja iri ya.
David entered the big tent [where they worshipped] God [and asked for some food. The high priest gave him] the bread that had been {they had} presented [to God]. According to the laws [of Moses], only priests were permitted to eat that bread, but David and the men who were with him ate it. And [God did not consider that what they did was wrong]
5 Ka ọ bụ na unu agụtabeghị ebe e dere ya nʼime akwụkwọ iwu Mosis na ndị nchụaja na-emerụ ụbọchị izuike nʼụlọnsọ ukwu ahụ, ma ọ dịghị onye na-ata ha ụta?
Also, think about the laws that [Moses wrote] [RHQ]. He said that [even though] the priests, [by working] in the Temple on our Jewish day of rest, are not obeying the Jewish day of rest [laws], they are not guilty. You have surely read that, [but you do not understand what it means].
6 Ma ana m agwa unu na onye dị ukwuu karịa ụlọnsọ ukwu nọ nʼebe a.
Note this: [God allows men to work in] the Temple [on our rest day because that work must be done. But in addition, I] tell you that [I have] more [authority than the authority of] the Temple. So, it is more important for you to obey my teachings than to obey your traditions about our rest day.
7 Ọ bụrụ na unu ghọtara ihe akwụkwọ nsọ na-ekwu mgbe ọ na-asị, ‘Ana m achọ ebere, ọ bụghị aja.’Unu agaraghị ama ndị ikpe na-amaghị ikpe.
[You should think about] these words [of God in the Scriptures]: ‘I want you to [act] mercifully toward people, and not [just] offer sacrifices.’ If you understood what that means, you would not condemn [my disciples], who have done no wrong.
8 Nʼihi na Nwa nke Mmadụ bụ Onyenwe ụbọchị izuike.”
[And I want you to know that] I, the one who came from heaven, have [the] authority [to determine what is right for my disciples to do on] the days of rest.”
9 O sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ banye nʼụlọ nzukọ ha.
After Jesus left there [that day], he went into a building where we Jews worship God.
10 Nʼebe a ka ọ hụrụ otu nwoke aka ya kpọnwụrụ akpọnwụ. Ndị nọ nʼebe ahụ jụrụ ya ajụjụ sị, “O ziri ezi nʼiwu ịgwọ mmadụ nʼụbọchị izuike?”
[He saw] a man with a shriveled hand there. [The Pharisees thought that Jesus would be disobeying the tradition about not working on the day of rest if he healed the man, so one of] them asked him, “Does [God] permit [us] to heal [people] on our day of rest?” [They asked that question] so that they might accuse him [if he healed someone] (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day).
11 Ma ọ zara ha sị, “Ọ bụrụ na otu onye nʼime unu nwere otu atụrụ danyere nʼime olulu nʼụbọchị izuike gịnị ka ọ ga-eme? Ọ ga-ahapụ ya nʼebe ahụ? Ọ gaghị ejide ya dọpụta ya?
He replied to them, “Would anyone among you who has [only] one sheep that falls into a hole (on the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day) [just leave it there] [RHQ]? [Certainly not]! You would take hold of it and lift it out right away, [and that would be acceptable work on our day of rest, too]
12 Mmadụ ọ dịghị mkpa karịa atụrụ? Ya mere, o ziri ezi nʼiwu bụ ịrụ ọrụ ọma nʼụbọchị izuike.”
[Because] sheep are valuable, [their owners may work on our day of rest in order to rescue them. So, because] people are more valuable than sheep, it is certainly right for us to do something good [by healing another person any day, including] our day of rest!”
13 Mgbe ahụ ọ sịrị nwoke ahụ, “Setịpụ aka gị.” Nwoke ahụ setịpụrụ aka ya. Aka ahụ dịkwara ya mma dị ka aka nke ọzọ.
Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your [withered] hand!” The man stretched it out, and it became normal like the other hand!
14 Nʼihi nke a ndị Farisii sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ, ga gbaa izu otu ha ga-esi gbuo ya.
Then the Pharisees left [the meeting house. They were worried that the people would reject their traditions and would accept Jesus’ teaching instead. So] they met together to plan how they could kill him.
15 Ma ebe Jisọs maara ihe ha na-ezube ime, o sitere nʼebe ahụ pụọ. Ma ọtụtụ ndị mmadụ sooro ya. Ọ gwọkwara ha nrịa nrịa ha niile.
Because Jesus knew [that the Pharisees were plotting to kill him], he [took us disciples and] went away from there. Crowds, [including many sick people], followed him, [wanting him to heal them], and he healed them all.
16 Ma o nyere ha iwu ka ha hapụ ịgwa ndị ọzọ onye ọ bụ.
But he told them firmly that they should not tell [other people yet] who he was.
17 Nke a bụ ka emezuo okwu ahụ Aịzaya onye amụma kwuru,
[By acting humbly like that] he fulfilled what was written by Isaiah the prophet {what Isaiah the prophet wrote} [long ago about the Messiah]. [Isaiah wrote] that God said:
18 “Onye a bụ onye na-ejere m ozi, onye m họpụtara. Onye m hụkwara nʼanya. O bụkwa onye ihe ya na-atọ m ụtọ. Aga m etinye Mmụọ m nʼime ya. Ọ ga-eme ka ikpe ziri ezi rute mba niile aka.
Take note of my servant whom I have chosen, the one whom I love and with whom I am pleased. I will put my Spirit in him, and he will proclaim that [God] will judge the non-Jews justly.
19 Ọ gaghị ese okwu, ọ gaghị etisikwa mkpu ike. O nweghị onye ga-anụ olu okwu ya nʼezi.
He will not quarrel [with people], neither will he shout. He will not [teach with] a loud voice in the [main] streets.
20 Ọ gaghị agbaji ahịhịa riidi azọpịara nʼala, maọbụ menyụọ ogho oriọna na-enwu ntakịrị ntakịrị, tutu ruo mgbe ọ ga-eme ka ikpe ziri ezi merie.
Until he has justly judged [the people who trust in him and] has declared them not guilty, he will not destroy [anyone who is weak like] a smashed stalk [MET], nor will he silence [anyone who is as helpless as] a smoldering [linen] wick [MET, DOU].
21 Ọ bụkwa nʼaha ya ka mba niile dị nʼụwa ga-atụkwasị olileanya ha.”
As a result, the non-Jews will confidently expect [that he will do great things for them].
22 Emesịa, ha kpọtaara ya otu nwoke kpuru ìsì ma daakwa ogbi. Ọ bụkwa onye mmụọ ọjọọ na-esogbu. Ọ gwọrọ ya, mee ka nwoke ahụ hụ ụzọ, bidokwa ikwu okwu.
One day when Jesus was at home, [some men] brought to [Jesus] a man [who, because of being] controlled by a demon {a demon controlled him}, was blind and unable to speak. [Jesus] healed him [by expelling the demon]. As a result, the man [began to] talk and [was able to] see.
23 Ihe a juru igwe mmadụ nọ nʼebe ahụ anya. Nʼihi ya, ha kwuru sị, “Nwoke a, ọ ga-abụ Nwa Devid?”
All the crowd [who saw it] marveled. They began asking [each other], “Could this man be the [Messiah, the] descendant of [King] David, [whom we have been expecting]?”
24 Mgbe ndị Farisii nụrụ nke a, ha sịrị, “Nwoke a chụpụrụ mmụọ ọjọọ a nʼihi na Belzebub, eze ndị mmụọ ọjọọ, nyere ya ike ịchụpụ ya.”
Because the Pharisees [and the men who taught the Jewish laws] heard [that the people thought that Jesus might be the Messiah because he had expelled the demon], they said, “[It is not God, but] Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons, who enables [this man] to expel demons [from people!]”
25 Ma ebe ọ matara ihe ha na-eche nʼobi ha. Ọ gwara ha okwu sị, “Alaeze ọbụla kewara megide onwe ya ga-ada. Obodo o bụla maọbụ ezinaụlọ ọbụla kewara megide onwe ya agaghị eguzo.
But Jesus knew what [the Pharisees] were thinking [and saying]. So, [in order to show them that what they said did not make sense], he said to them, “If [the people in] [MTY] one nation fight against each other, [they] will destroy their nation {their nation will be destroyed}. If [people who live in] the same city or house fight each other, they will certainly not remain [as one group or family].
26 Ọ bụrụ na ekwensu achụpụ ekwensu, o kewala megide onwe ya. Oleekwanụ otu alaeze ya ga-esi guzo.
[Similarly], if Satan were expelling his own [demons] [MTY], [it would be as though] he was fighting against himself. (His kingdom would not continue!/How could his kingdom continue?) [RHQ] His rule over them would [certainly] not last!
27 Dị ka unu kwuru, ọ bụrụ na m na-achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ site nʼike Belzebub, ọ bụ nʼike onye ka ụmụ unu ndị ikom na-achụpụ ha? Ya mere, ọ bụ ụmụ unu ga-ekpe unu ikpe nʼihi okwu a unu kwuru.
Furthermore, if [it is true that] Satan enables me to expel demons, is it also true that your disciples [who] expel demons [do so] by [Satan’s] power [RHQ]? [No] So they will show you that you [are not thinking logically].
28 Ma ọ bụrụ na m na-esite nʼike Mmụọ nke Chineke na-achụpụ mmụọ ọjọọ, matakwanụ na alaeze Chineke abịala nʼetiti unu.
But because it is God’s Spirit who [enables] me to expel demons, [that proves that the power of] God to rule [people’s lives] has come to you.
29 “Ọ dịghị mmadụ ọbụla pụrụ ịbanye nʼụlọ nwoke dị ike kwakọrọ ngwongwo niile dị nʼụlọ ahụ. Ma o nwere ike ime nke a ma ọ bụrụ na ọ ga-eburu ụzọ kee nwoke ahụ agbụ? Mgbe o kesịrị ya agbụ, o nwere ike ịbanye kwakọtaa ngwongwo niile dị nʼụlọ nwoke ahụ.
[I will illustrate why I am able to expel demons]. (A person cannot go into the house of a strong man) [RHQ] [But if he ties up the strong man], then he will be able to steal [the things in that man’s] house.
30 “Onye ọbụla na-adịnyeghịrị m na-emegide m. Onye ọ bụlakwa na-adịghị eso m ekpokọta, na-ekposa ekposa.
[No one can be neutral]. Those who do not acknowledge [that the Holy Spirit enables] me [to expel demons] are opposing me, and those who do not gather [people to become] my [disciples] are causing [those people] to [DOU] go away [from me].
31 Ya mere, ana m agwa unu sị, na a ga-agbaghara mmehie na nkwulu niile. Ma agaghị agbaghara nkwulu ekwuluru Mmụọ Nsọ.
You [are saying that it is not the Holy Spirit who is enabling me to expel demons]. So I will say this to you: [If] those who offend and slander other people in any way are [then sorry and ask God to forgive them, God] will forgive them. But people who discredit what the Holy Spirit does will not be forgiven {[God] will not forgive [people] who discredit what the Holy Spirit does}.
32 Onye ọbụla nke ga-ekwu okwu megide Nwa nke Mmadụ, a ga-agbaghara ya, ma onye ọbụla na-ekwu megide Mmụọ Nsọ, agaghị agbaghara ya, nʼọgbọ a maọbụ nʼọgbọ nke na-abịa. (aiōn g165)
[God is willing to] forgive people who criticize [me], the One who came from heaven. But I [warn you that] those who say evil things about what the Holy Spirit [does] will not be forgiven {[God] will not forgive people who speak evil words about what the Holy Spirit [does]}. They will not be forgiven {[He] will not forgive them} now, and they will never be forgiven {[he] will never forgive them}.” (aiōn g165)
33 “Ọ bụrụ na e mee ka osisi too nke ọma, ọ ga-amịta mkpụrụ ọma, ma ọ bụrụ na o toghị nke ọma, ọ ga-amịta mkpụrụ ọjọọ. Nʼihi na a na-amata osisi ọbụla site na mkpụrụ ya.
“Think about this: You can know whether [a person is good and what that person says is good, in the same way that you] can know whether a tree [MET] and the fruit it produces [MET] are good. [You can also know whether a person and what that person says is evil in the same way that you can know] whether a tree [MET] and its fruit [MET] are blighted. You can know whether a tree is good by [seeing] its fruit, and similarly [people can know the evil character of you Pharisees by listening to your accusations against me].
34 Ụmụ ajụala, olee otu unu ga-esi kwuo okwu dị mma, ebe obi unu dị njọ? Nʼihi na ihe mmadụ kwuru bụ ihe si ya nʼobi pụta.
[What] you [teach harms people spiritually like poisonous] snakes [harm them physically] [MET]! You are not able to speak good things because you are evil [RHQ]. Evil people [SYN] [like you] speak what comes from all that is in their (inner beings/hearts).
35 Ezi mmadụ na-esi nʼezi akụ ya wepụta ihe dị mma, ma ajọ mmadụ na-esitekwa nʼajọ akụ ya wepụta ajọọ ihe.
Good people [speak good things. That is like] taking good things out of buildings where they are stored. But evil people [speak evil things. That is like] taking evil things out of buildings where they are stored.
36 Ma ana m agwa unu sị, nʼụbọchị ikpe ahụ, onye ọbụla ga-aza ajụjụ, banyere okwu niile na-enweghị isi o kwuru.
I tell you that on the day when God judges [MTY], he will make people recall every useless word they have spoken, [and he will judge them accordingly].
37 Nʼihi na ọ bụ site nʼokwu ọnụ gị ka ị ga-abụ onye ikpe mara, sitekwa nʼokwu ọnụ gị ka ị ga-abụ onye ikpe na-amaghị.”
Based on the words that you have spoken, [God] will [either] declare that you are righteous based on the words that you have spoken, or [else] he will condemn you.”
38 Mgbe ahụ, ụfọdụ ndị ozizi iwu na ndị Farisii gwara Jisọs sị ya, “Onye nkuzi, anyị chọrọ ka i gosi anyị ihe ịrịbama.”
Then some of the Pharisees and men who taught the [Jewish] laws responded [to what Jesus was teaching] by saying to him, “Teacher, we want to see you [perform] a miracle [that would prove to us that God sent you].”
39 Ma ọ zara sị ha, “Ọ bụ naanị ajọ ọgbọ nke na-enweghị okwukwe ga-achọkwa ka e gosi ha ihe ịrịbama. Ma ọ dịkwaghị ihe ịrịbama ọzọ a ga-egosi unu karịa ihe ịrịbama Jona onye amụma.
Then Jesus said to them, “[You] people [have already seen me perform miracles], but you are evil, and you do not faithfully worship God [MET]! You want [me to perform] a miracle [that would prove to you that God sent me], but [God will enable] you to see only one miracle. It will be [like] what happened to Jonah the prophet [MET].
40 Nʼihi na dị ka Jona nọrọ ụbọchị atọ, ehihie na abalị nʼafọ azụ dị ukwuu, otu a ka Nwa nke Mmadụ ga-esi nọọkwa ụbọchị atọ, ehihie na abalị nʼobi nke ala.
Jonah was in the stomach of a huge fish for three days and nights [before God caused him to live again]. Similarly, for three days and nights I, the one who came from heaven, will be in a place [where dead people are, and then God will cause me to live again].
41 Ndị ikom Ninive ga-eso ọgbọ a bilie nʼụbọchị ikpe maa ya ikpe. Nʼihi na ha chegharịrị mgbe ha nụrụ nkwusa Jona. Ma lee onye karịrị Jona ukwuu nọ nʼebe a.
When [God] judges [all people], the people who lived in Nineveh will stand [in front of him] with [you] people who [have seen me perform miracles]. The [people of Nineveh turned from their sinful ways as a result of hearing what] Jonah preached. [Jonah was important, but I], who am more important than Jonah, [have come and preached to you, but you have not turned from your sinful ways. So] when [God] judges [all people, he] will condemn you.
42 Nʼụbọchị ikpe ahụ kwa, eze nwanyị nke Ndịdaga-eso ọgbọ a bilie boo ya ebubo. Ọ ga-amakwa unu ikpe. Nʼihi na o siri nʼebe dị ụwa sọtụrụ bịa nụrụ okwu amamihe Solomọn. Ma ugbu a onye ahụ dị ukwuu karịa Solomọn nọ nʼebe a, ma unu jụrụ i kwere na ya.
The queen from [Sheba, South of Israel, who lived long ago, came from a distant region in order to listen to King Solomon teach] many wise things. But now [I], [a man] who [is much] greater [and wiser] than Solomon, am here, [but you have not listened to what I have told you]. So at the time when [God] judges [all people], the queen from [Sheba will stand in front of him, along] with you people, and will condemn you.”
43 “Mgbe mmụọ na-adịghị ọcha si nʼime mmadụ pụọ, ọ na-agabiga nʼọzara ebe mmiri na-adịghị ịchọ ebe izuike, ma ọ naghị achọta ya.
“[Sometimes] when an evil spirit leaves a person, it wanders around in desolate areas, seeking [someone in whom it can] rest. If it does not find anyone,
44 Mgbe ahụ, ọ na-asị, ‘Aga m alaghachi nʼụlọ m, ebe m si pụta.’ Mgbe ọ lọghachiri, ọ na-achọpụta na a zachara ụlọ ahụ dozie ya, ọ dịkwaghị onye bichiri nʼime ya.
it says [to itself], ‘I will return to the person [MET] in whom I used to live.’ So it goes back [and finds that the Spirit of God is not in control of that] person’s [life. The person’s life is like] a house that has been swept clean and everything put in order [MET], [but it is] empty.
45 Mgbe ahụ, ọ na-apụ gaa chọta mmụọ asaa ọzọ, ndị dị njọ karịa ya onwe ya. Ha niile na-abata bịa biri nʼime onye ahụ. Mee ka ọnọdụ ya dị njọ karịa ka ọ dị na mbụ. Otu a ka ọ ga-adịrị ndị bi nʼọgbọ a jọrọ njọ.”
Then [this evil spirit] goes and gets seven other spirits that are [even] more evil, and they [all] enter [that person] and [begin] living there. [So, although] that person’s condition [was bad] before, it becomes much worse. That is what [you] wicked people who [have heard me teach] will experience.”
46 Mgbe ọ nọ na-agwa igwe mmadụ ahụ okwu, nne ya na ụmụnne ya bịara guzoro nʼezi na-eche ka ha gwa ya okwu.
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his [younger] brothers [arrived]. They stood outside [the house], wanting to speak with him.
47 Otu onye nʼime igwe mmadụ ahụ gwara ya okwu sị, “Lee, nne gị na ụmụnne gị ndị nwoke na-achọ ịhụ gị nʼezi. Ha chọrọ ịgwa gị okwu.”
Someone said to him, “Your mother and your [younger] brothers are standing outside [the house], wanting to talk to you.”
48 Ma ọ zara onye ahụ gwara ya okwu sị, “Onye bụ nne m? Olee ndị bụ ụmụnne m ndị nwoke?”
Then Jesus said to the person who told him [that], “([I will tell you something about] my mother and brothers [MET].[/Do you know] who I [consider to be like] my mother and my brothers?)” [MET, RHQ]
49 Ọ tụrụ ndị na-eso ụzọ ya aka, sị, “Lee, ndị a bụ nne m na ụmụnne m ndị nwoke.
He then pointed toward [us] disciples and said, “These are ones [whom I love as much as I love] my mother and my brothers [MET].
50 Nʼihi na onye ọbụla na-eme ihe Nna m bi nʼeluigwe chọrọ, bụ nwanne m nwoke, na nwanne m nwanyị, nakwa nne m.”
Those who do what [God] my Father [who is] in heaven wants, are [as dear to me] [MET] [as] my brother, my sister, or my mother.”
