Ndị Rom 11
1 Mgbe ahụ a na m ajụ, ọ ga-abụ na Chineke ajụla ndị ya? Mba, nke a apụghị ime, nʼihi na mụ onwe m bụkwa onye Izrel. Abụ m nwa nwa Ebraham, onye si nʼagbụrụ Benjamin pụta.
Because of that, [if anyone should ask], “Has God rejected his people [the Jews?” I would declare that] he certainly has not [rejected all of us! You can realize that by remembering that] I also belong to the [people of] Israel. I am a descendant of Abraham, and I belong to the tribe of Benjamin, [but God has not rejected me]!
2 Chineke ajụbeghị ndị ya bụ ndị ọ họpụtara site na mmalite ihe niile. Ọ bụ na unu amaghị ihe akwụkwọ nsọ na-ekwu banyere Ịlaịja, otu o siri rịọ Chineke arịrịọ megide ụmụ Izrel?
No, God has not rejected his people, whom he chose long ago [to be people whom he would bless in a special way]. Remember [RHQ] what is written [PRS] in the Scriptures about Elijah when he [mistakenly] complained to God about [the people of] Israel, saying,
3 “Onyenwe m, ha egbuchala ndị amụma gị niile, mebisiekwa ebe ịchụ aja gị niile, maọbụ naanị m fọdụrụ. Ha na-achọkwa ụzọ igbu m.”
“Lord, they have killed [the rest of] your [(sg)] prophets, they have destroyed your altars. I am the only one [who believes in you] who remains [alive], and now they are trying to kill me!”
4 Gịnị bụ ọsịsa Chineke nyere ya? “E nwere m puku mmadụ asaa ọzọ ndị hụrụ m nʼanya, ndị na-egbubeghị ikpere ha nʼala nye Baal.”
God answered him like this: “[You(sg) are not the only one who believes in me]! I have protected for myself [not just you, but] 7,000 [other] men who have not worshipped [the false god] Baal. (Remember that!/Do you not remember that?) [RHQ]”
5 Otu a ka ọ dịkwa nʼoge dị ugbu a, a họrọla mmadụ ole na ole site nʼamara ya.
So, similarly, there is also at this time a small group [of us Jews] who have become [believers. God] has chosen us [to become believers] (OR, [his people]) only because he acts kindly toward us, in ways that we do not deserve.
6 Ọ bụrụ na o sitere nʼamara, o sighịzikwa nʼọrụ. Nʼihi na ọ bụrụ na o si nʼọrụ, amara ya abụghịkwa amara nʼeziokwu.
Since it is because he acts kindly [toward those whom he chooses, it is] not because they have done good things [that he has chosen them]. If [God chose people because they did good deeds], then it would not be because he was acting toward them in a way that they did not deserve.
7 Gịnịkwa? Ihe ndị Izrel jiri ike ha niile na-achọ nke ha na-achọtaghị ka ndị a họpụtara chọtara. Ndị nke ọzọ mechiri obi ha.
[Since God chose only some people of Israel], [this is what I conclude: [RHQ] Most of the people of] Israel did not find [the way for him to erase the record of their sins], even though some of them were earnestly looking for it. The [people of Israel whom God had] chosen found it, but the rest [of them] were {[God]} made spiritually insensitive/unresponsive.
8 Dịka e dere ya, “Chineke nyere ha mmụọ na-eme mmadụ iberiibe. O nyela ha anya nke ha na-ejighị ahụ ụzọ, nyekwa ha ntị nke ha na-ejighị anụ ihe; o mere nke a ruo taa.”
[Our] fellow Jews are just like the [ones] about whom Isaiah wrote, God (caused their senses to be dull/made them unable to think clearly). Up to this very day, [they have] eyes but they cannot see [spiritually] [MET]. [They have] ears, but they cannot understand [spiritually] what they hear.
9 Devid kwukwara, “Ka tebul ha ghọọrọ ha igbudu na ọnya, ha bụrụkwa ihe ịsọ ngọngọ na ntaramahụhụ nye ha.
And [they remind me of what King] David said, [when he asked God to cause his enemies’ senses to be dull] [MET], [Make them stupid] [MTY], [like animals that are] caught in snares! May they [feel secure because of the things that they enjoy but which will catch them like a] trap [DOU, MET], with the result that you will destroy them.
10 Ka anya ha gbaa ọchịchịrị, ka ha gharakwa ịhụ ụzọ. Mee ka azụ ha bụrụ ihe arọjiri arọji ruo mgbe ebighị ebi.”
May their ability to perceive [danger] be dulled {Dull their ability to perceive [spiritually]} [MET], with the result that they will not [become alarmed] [MET] [when there is danger]. May you cause them to carry heavy loads on their backs continually [as slaves do] [MTY].
11 Ajụjụ ọzọ m na-ajụ bụ nke a: Ọ ga-abụ na ha sụrụ ngọngọ ka ha daa ma ghara ibilite ọzọ? Ọ bụghị otu a! Kama nʼihi mmehie ha, nzọpụta rutere ndị mba ọzọ ka e sitekwa na nke a kpalie ekworo nʼime ụmụ Izrel.
[Perhaps someone will ask], “[When the Jews] sinned [by not believing in Christ, did] it result in their separating themselves from God [permanently?]” Then I [would reply], [No], they have certainly not [separated themselves from God permanently]! What is happening is that because they sinned, [God] is saving non-Jews in order to cause [the Jews] to envy [the way he blesses non-Jews and so ask Christ to save them].
12 Ma ọ bụrụ na mmehie ha wetara akụnụba nye ụwa, ọ bụrụkwa na ịbụ ogbenye ha wetara ngọzị nye ndị mba ọzọ, ọ bụ na ngọzị babigara ụba oke agaghị adị mgbe a ga-agụkọta ọnụọgụgụ ha niile?
[When the Jews] sinned (OR, rejected Christ), [the result was that God] abundantly [blessed other people in] [MTY] the world by [offering them the opportunity to believe]. And [when the Jews] failed [spiritually, the result was that God] abundantly [blessed] the non-Jews. Since that is true, think how wonderful it will be when the complete number [of the Jews whom God has chosen will believe in Christ] [RHQ]!
13 Ugbu a, unu ndị mba ọzọ, ka m na-agwa okwu. Ọ bụ ezie na mụ onwe m bụ onyeozi nye ndị mba ọzọ, ana m enwe afọ ojuju nʼihi ije ozi m.
Now it is to you non-Jews that I am saying [what follows]. I am the one who is the apostle to non-Jews, and I highly esteem this work [that God appointed] me to do.
14 Nʼihi na enwere m olileanya na, ma eleghị anya, apụrụ m isite nʼụzọ a kpasuo ekworo nʼime ụfọdụ ụmụnna m, ka e site nʼekworo ha zọpụta ụfọdụ nʼime ha.
But I also hope that [by my labors] I will make my fellow Jews (jealous/want what you non-Jews have), [with the result that] some of them will [believe and] be saved.
15 Ọ bụrụ na ọ bụ site nʼọjụjụ a jụrụ ha ka e siri mee ka ụwa dịrị na mma, gịnị ga-eme mgbe a nabatara ha? Ọ ga-adị ka i si nʼọnwụ bilie ọzọ, nwee ndụ ọzọ.
[God] has rejected [most of my fellow Jews because they refused to believe, with the result that] he reconciled [many other people in] the world [MTY] [to himself]. But he will accept [my fellow Jews again when they trust in Christ]! And (this is what the result will be./do you know what the result will be?) [RHQ] It will be [as though God is making them] alive again after they have been dead!
16 Ebe ọ bụkwa na iberibe achịcha e jiri chụọ aja bụ ihe dị nsọ, mgbe ahụ, achịcha ahụ niile bụ ihe dị nsọ. Nʼihi na ọ bụrụ na mgbọrọgwụ osisi dị nsọ, otu a kwa, alaka ya ga-adịkwa nsọ.
[Just like] the whole lump [of dough] will belong to God if [people offer] to God [MET] the [bread baked from] the first part [of it] [MET], [so the Jews will belong to God because their ancestors belonged to God]. And just like the branches [of a tree] will be good if the roots are good [MET], [so the descendants of our great Jewish ancestors who belonged to God will also some day belong to God].
17 Ma a nyakapụrụ ụfọdụ alaka osisi a, werekwa unu bụ alaka osisi oliv ọhịa nyapagide nʼọnọdụ ha. Ya mere, unu esorola keta oke na ngọzị sitere na mgbọrọgwụ osisi oliv ahụ.
[God has rejected] many of [the Jews] [MET], [like] branches [of a tree] are broken off {[like people] break off [dead] branches [of a tree]}. And each of you [non-Jews whom God has accepted is like] [MET] [a branch of] a wild/uncultivated olive tree [that] was {[that someone]} grafted among the branches (OR, onto one of the branches) [that were left on a cultivated olive tree]. [God has caused] you [to benefit from how he blessed our(exc) first Jewish ancestors, as branches] benefit from the nutritious sap from the roots of a [cultivated] olive tree [MET].
18 Ma unu ekwesighị ịnya isi na a dọkapụrụ alaka ndị ọzọ were unu dochie nʼọnọdụ ha. Ihe unu na-aghaghị ịmata bụ nke a: unu bụ naanị alaka dị nʼosisi. Ọ bụghị unu na-ebu mgbọrọgwụ osisi, kama ọ bụ mgbọrọgwụ osisi na-ebu unu.
However, you [non-Jews] must not despise [the Jews whom God rejected] [MET], [who are like] the branches that [were broken off from the tree] If any of you [wants to] boast [about having received blessings from God], [remember this: Branches] do not nourish the roots. Instead the roots nourish [the branches] [MET]. [Similarly, you are blessed by God because of what] you [have received from the Jews! It is not what the Jews have received from] you [that blesses them] [MET]!
19 Ma eleghị anya unu nwere ike kwuo, “Ma a nyakapụrụ alaka ụfọdụ e nwee ohere ebe a ga-anyapagide anyị.”
If one of you then says, “[God rejected the Jews] [MET] [like] branches [MET] that are broken {that people broke} off [a tree and rejected], in order that [he might accept us non-Jews, as] branches [MET] of a tree are grafted in {[as people] graft in branches of a tree},”
20 Nke ahụ bụ eziokwu. Ma chetakwanụ na a nyakapụrụ ha nʼihi ekweghị ekwe ha, ma unu nọ naanị site nʼokwukwe. Ya mere anyala isi, kama na-atụ egwu.
[I would reply that] this is true. However, it is because the Jews did not believe [in Christ] that they were rejected [MET] {that [God] rejected [MET] them}. As for you, it is [only] because you believe [in Christ] that [God has accepted] you! [So] do not [any of you] become proud, but instead beware [of what could happen to you]
21 Nʼihi na ọ bụrụ na Chineke emereghị alaka nke osisi ahụ wapụtara nʼonwe ya ebere, ọ gaghị emekwara gị ebere.
Since God did not spare [the unbelieving Jews] [MET] [who were like a tree’s] natural branches, he will not spare any of you [if you do] not [keep trusting in him]!
22 Ya mere, tulee obiọma na aka ike Chineke, aka ike nʼebe ndị dara ada nọ, ma obiọma nʼebe unu nọ, naanị mgbe unu na-anọgideghị nʼobi ebere ya, ma ọ bụghị ya, ọ ga-anyakapụkwa unu.
Note then, that God acts kindly, but he also acts severely. He has acted severely toward [the Jews] who have stopped trusting in him. On the other hand, he acts kindly toward each of you [non-Jews only] if you continue [to appreciate his acting] kindly [toward you]. However, you will be rejected {[he] will reject you} if you do not [keep trusting in him].
23 Ma ọ bụrụ na ha anọgideghị na-ekweghị ekwe, a ga-anyapagidekwa ha nʼihi na Chineke pụrụ ịnyapagide ha ọzọ.
And if the Jews believe [in Christ] [LIT], God also will [reunite them to himself as] branches are grafted {[as people] graft branches} into [a tree again], because God is able to do that.
24 Nʼihi na asị na e gbupụtara unu site nʼalaka osisi oliv ọhịa, nyapagide unu nʼosisi oliv ọma ahụ nʼụzọ na-abụghị usoro ndụ, gịnị kwanụ ga-egbochi ịnabata alaka ndị ya, bụ ndị si na ya, mee ka ha laghachi azụ nʼosisi oliv ahụ e si nyakapụ ha.
Each of you [non-Jews who were previously separated from God has benefited from the ways in which God blessed the Jews] [MET]. [That is like taking branches] that have been cut {that someone has cut} from a wild olive tree that just grew [without being planted] {[someone planting it]} and, contrary to what people usually do, grafting them into a cultivated olive tree. So God will much more readily [receive back the Jews because they belonged to him before] [MET]! [That will be like] the original branches [that had been cut off] being grafted {like grafting the original branches [that someone cut off], } back into the olive tree to which they [originally belonged]!
25 Ụmụnna m, achọrọ m ka unu mata ihe omimi a, ka unu ghara ịnya isi. Nnupu isi ụfọdụ ụmụ Izrel agaghị adịgide kama ọ ga-adị ruo nʼoge ọnụọgụgụ ndị mba ọzọ a ga-anabata zuru.
My [non-Jewish] fellow believers, I certainly want you to understand [LIT] this truth that God has now revealed [about my fellow Jews who are refusing to believe]. You should not proudly think [that] God [now favors you] more [than the Jews] (OR, [that you understand God’s further plans for the Jews]). Many [people of] Israel will continue to be stubborn until all the non-Jews [whom God has chosen have believed in Jesus].
26 Mgbe ahụ, a ga-azọpụta Izrel niile. Dịka e dere ya, “Onye nzọpụta ga-esite na Zayọn bịa. Ọ ga-eme ka Jekọb site na ndụ asọpụrụghị Chineke chigharịa.
And then all [HYP] [the people of] Israel will be saved {[God] will save all [HYP] [the people of] Israel}. Then these words that are written {that [a prophet] wrote} [in the Scriptures will] ([become true/be fulfilled]): The one who sets [his people] free will originate from [the place where] God dwells (OR, from the Jews) [MTY]. Then he will remove the guilt of the Israelite people (OR, descendants of Jacob) [MTY].
27 Nke a bụ ọgbụgba ndụ m nke dị nʼetiti mụ na ha, mgbe m wepụrụ mmehie ha niile.”
And [as God says], The contract that I will make with them is that I will forgive their sins.
28 Nʼihe banyere oziọma, ha bụ ndị iro nke Chineke nʼihi unu. Ma a bịa nʼihe gbasara nhọpụta, ha bụ ndị nke a hụrụ nʼanya nʼihi ndị nna nna ha.
With regard to [the Jews rejecting] the good message [about Christ, God treats] them as enemies, which has benefited you [non-Jews]. But in regard to [their being the people whom God] chose, [God still] loves them because of [what he promised] their ancestors.
29 Nʼihi na enye anarakwa adịghị nʼonyinye nakwa ọkpụkpọ Chineke.
[He still loves them], because he never changed his mind about the privileges/blessings he [gave to them] and about his choosing [them to be his people].
30 Unu onwe unu ndị na-enupuru Chineke isi na mbụ, anatala ebere ya ugbu a, nʼihi nnupu isi ha.
You [non-Jews] once disobeyed God, but now he has acted mercifully towards you because the [Jews] disobeyed him.
31 Otu a ka ọ dịkwa, ha bụ ndị na-enupu isi ugbu a ka ha nwe ike soro unu keta oke site nʼebere Chineke meere unu.
Now the Jews have disobeyed God. The result is that by the very same way in which he acted mercifully towards you, he will act mercifully towards them [again].
32 Nʼihi na Chineke enyefeela onye ọbụla nʼaka nnupu isi, ka o si otu a gosi mmadụ niile obi ebere ya. (eleēsē g1653)
God has declared and proved that all people, [both Jews and non-Jews] [MET], disobey ([him/his laws]). He has declared that because he wants to act mercifully towards us all. (eleēsē g1653)
33 Leenụ ka o si dị omimi bụ akụ ahụ Chineke nwere! Lee ka ịba ụba nke amamihe ya na ihe ọmụma ya siri dị ukwuu! Apụghị ịchọpụta ikpe ya niile, ụzọ ya niile bụkwa ihe apụghị ịchọpụta.
[I marvel how] vast and great are the wise things that God [has done] and what he has [always] known [DOU]! We are completely unable to understand the things that he has decided and the ways [in which he acts toward us] [DOU]!
34 “Onye maara uche Onyenwe anyị? Ma ọ bụ onye bụ onye ahụ na-enye ya ndụmọdụ?”
[I remember the Scriptures that say], (No one has known what the Lord thinks./Who has known what the Lord thinks?) [RHQ] (Absolutely no one has given him advice [about what he should do!]/Who has advised him [about what he should do]?) [RHQ]
35 “Onye burula ụzọ nye Chineke ihe, nke ga-eme ka Chineke kwụghachi ya?”
And, (No one has given anything to God that [he did not previously receive from God!]/Has anyone given anything to God that [he did not previously receive from God]?) [RHQ] So God (is not obligated to/does not have to) pay back anything to anyone!
36 Nʼihi na ihe niile sitere nʼime ya, sitekwa nʼaka ya, dịkwara ya. Ọ bụ ya ka otuto dịrị ruo mgbe niile ebighị ebi! Amen. (aiōn g165)
God [is the one who created] all things. He is also the one who [sustains all things]. The reason that he created them was that [everything he created might praise] him. May [all people] honor him forever! (May it be so!/Amen!) (aiōn g165)
