Ba-Efeso 2
1 Bozalaki bakufi mpo na mabe mpe masumu na bino,
Formerly, because you were habitually sinning [DOU], you were ([spiritually] dead/[as unable to please God as a] corpse [MET] is).
2 oyo bozalaki kosala na kala mpo na kobika bomoi na bino tango bozalaki kotambola kolanda baposa ya mokili oyo, mpe tango bozalaki kolanda mokonzi ya milimo mabe, molimo oyo ezali kosala sik’oyo kati na bato oyo bazangi botosi epai ya Nzambe. (aiōn g165)
You were acting in the same [evil] way as those who oppose Christ [MTY] act. That is, you were behaving in the [evil] ways [that Satan wanted you to behave]. He rules over evil spiritual beings that no person can see [MTY]. He is the spirit who now powerfully controls the people who disobey God. (aiōn g165)
3 Biso nyonso mpe, na kala, tozalaki elongo na bango, tozalaki kotambola kolanda baposa na biso ya nzoto, tozalaki kokokisa nyonso oyo nzoto mpe makanisi na biso ezalaki kotinda biso kosala. Lokola bato mosusu, kanda ya Nzambe esengelaki kokweyela biso mpo na mabe ya bomoto na biso.
Formerly, we all used to disobey God as they do. We did the things that our self-centered nature wanted us to do. We habitually did those [evil] deeds that our bodies and our minds wanted to do. When we were acting like that, it was certain that [God] would punish [MTY] us, just like he will certainly punish all other [evil people].
4 Kasi mpo ete Nzambe atondi na mawa mpe alingaki biso na bolingo monene,
But God always acts very mercifully, and he loves us very much.
5 atako tozalaki bakufi mpo na masumu na biso, akomisaki biso bato ya bomoi elongo na Klisto. Bobikisami nde na ngolu…
As a result, even when we were ([spiritually] dead/[as unable to please God as] a corpse [MET] is) because we were habitually sinning, he enabled us to receive [spiritual]/[eternal] life because of our relationship with Christ. [Do not forget this: It is only] because God has acted so kindly toward you, in a way that you did not deserve, that you are saved {that [he] saved you} [from the guilt of your sin]
6 Kati na Yesu-Klisto, Nzambe asekwisaki biso elongo na Klisto mpe avandisaki biso elongo na Ye na bisika ya Likolo
And [it is as though] God gave us spiritual life when he caused Christ Jesus to be alive again after he died [MET]. And [it is as though] God caused us to sit [and rule] [MTY] with him in heaven,
7 mpo na kotalisa na bato ya bikeke oyo esengeli koya na sima, bomengo monene ya ngolu na Ye, oyo alakisaki kati na Yesu-Klisto na nzela ya boboto na Ye epai na biso. (aiōn g165)
in order that he might show to everyone at all times in the future that he has acted toward us in an extremely kind way because of what Christ Jesus [did for us]. (aiōn g165)
8 Pamba te bobikisami nde na ngolu, na nzela ya kondima—mpe yango ewuti na bino te, kasi ezali nde likabo kowuta na Nzambe—
It is [only] by [God] acting [PRS] [toward you] in a way that you did not deserve that you have been saved {that he has saved you} as a result of your trusting [in Christ]. You did not save yourselves. His saving you was his gift to you.
9 ezali na nzela ya misala na bino te mpo ete moko te akoka komikumisa.
He did not save any of you because of anything you yourselves did. Because you have done nothing [to save yourselves], you cannot be proud of your efforts to save yourselves.
10 Solo, tozali mbuma ya mosala ya Nzambe: Akelaki biso kati na Yesu-Klisto mpo ete tosala misala ya malamu oyo Nzambe abongisa wuta kala mpo ete tokokisa yango.
It is God who has made us what we are now. Because of our relationship with Christ Jesus, he has enabled us to receive [spiritual/eternal] life in order that we should conduct our lives habitually doing the good deeds that God previously planned for us to do.
11 Yango wana, bobosanaka te ete na kala, bozalaki Bapagano kolanda mbotama na bino; mpe bato oyo bamibengaka « bato bakatama ngenga » bazalaki kobenga bino « bato bakatama ngenga te, » atako bazalaki bato bakatama ngenga kati na banzoto na bango na nzela ya mosala ya maboko ya bato.
You [Ephesians] have been non-Jews from the time that you were born. The Jews ([insult you/say that you are not God’s people]) [by] calling you ‘those who are not circumcised’. They [proudly] call themselves ‘we [(exc)] who are circumcised’. [They have allowed people to] circumcise [them to indicate that they are God’s people, but] that has [only] changed their bodies, [not their] ([inner beings/hearts]).
12 Bobosanaka mpe te ete na tango wana, bozalaki ya kokabwana na Klisto, bozangaki makoki ya bana mboka kati na Isalaele, bozalaki bapaya liboso ya boyokani oyo Nzambe alakaki, bozalaki bato bazanga elikya mpe bazanga Nzambe kati na mokili.
You should constantly remember these things: Formerly you did not have any relationship with Christ. You did not belong to the people of Israel, [the people whom God chose]. You did not know about the things God promised in his agreements [with his people]. You did not confidently expect to go to heaven after you die (OR, [that God would save you]). You [lived] in this world without knowing God.
13 Kasi sik’oyo, kati na Yesu-Klisto, bino oyo na kala bozalaki mosika, bokomi pene na nzela ya mbeka ya makila ya Klisto.
But now, because of your relationship with Christ Jesus, God has brought you, who had no relationship with him [MET], into his family [MET]. He did that because [you trusted in what Christ accomplished when] his blood [MTY] [flowed from his body when he died on the cross].
14 Solo, azali Ye moko kimia na biso: atiaki bomoko kati na Bayuda mpe bato ya bikolo ya bapaya, akweyisaki mir ya bonguna oyo ezalaki kokabola bango,
Christ himself [has caused us Jewish and non-Jewish believers] to have peace [with each other]. He has made both [of our groups] to become one [group]. [Just like people] (tear down/demolish) a wall that separates [groups of people] [MET], he has destroyed the hatred [between Jews and non-Jews].
15 alongolaki Mobeko elongo na mitindo mpe malako na yango mpo na kokela, kati na Ye moko, moto ya sika na nzela ya Bayuda mpe bato ya bikolo ya bapaya, na kotia kimia,
By dying [MTY] [for us on the cross] he made it no longer [necessary for us to obey] all the [Jewish] laws and rituals [in order to be saved]. He did that in order to enable the two [groups] to become one new group because of our relationship with him. The result was that he has caused us to have peace [with each other].
16 mpe mpo na koyokanisa, kati na nzoto se moko, masanga nyonso mibale elongo na Nzambe na nzela ya ekulusu oyo abomaki na yango bonguna oyo ezalaki kati na bango.
By [dying on] the cross [MTY] he caused both Jews and non-Jews to have a peaceful relationship with God. That is how he caused us to no longer be [MET] enemies [with God] (OR, [with each other]).
17 Ayaki mpe ateyaki kimia epai na bino oyo bozalaki mosika, mpe kimia epai na bato oyo bazalaki pene.
He came [to earth] and proclaimed that you [non-Jews], who did not have a relationship with [MET] [God], and [us(exc) Jews], who [considered that we(exc) belonged to] [MET] God’s [family], can [all] now have peace [with God].
18 Pamba te na nzela na Ye, biso mpe bango tokotaka epai ya Tata kati na Molimo moko.
[We know that he has done that] because we both, [Jews and non-Jews], are [now] able to approach God the Father in prayer by the help of his Spirit, because of what Christ [has done].
19 Boye bozali lisusu te bapaya to baleki nzela, kasi bozali nde bankolo mboka elongo na basantu, bozali mpe bato ya libota ya Nzambe.
So [God no longer treats] you [non-Jews] as [people treat] [MET] foreigners and strangers [who live among them] [MET]. Instead, along with all God’s people, [it is as though] you have become citizens of a country that he rules over, and [as though you have become] members of the family [of which he is the father] [MET].
20 Nzambe akotisi bino kati na ndako oyo moboko na yango ezali bantoma mpe basakoli, mpe Ye moko Yesu-Klisto azali libanga na yango ya motuya mpo na kosimba ndako mobimba.
[Just like] a building is built {[as someone] builds a building} on a foundation, [God has joined you into one group that originated/began] from what the apostles and prophets [taught]. Christ Jesus is the [most important one in that group, just like a] cornerstone [is the most important part of a building]. And
21 Kati na Yesu-Klisto, ndako mobimba esangani malamu mpe ezali kokola mpo ete ekoma Tempelo ya bule kati na Nkolo.
just like [a builder might] join together all the parts of a building to make it a temple that [people will] dedicate to the Lord [MET], [Christ is continually causing all of] you who have a relationship with [him to be united, in order that you will become one holy group].
22 Mpe kati na Ye, bino mpe bozali kotongama lisanga mpo ete bokoma Ndako oyo Nzambe avandaka kati na yango na nzela ya Molimo na Ye.
And because of your relationship with Christ, [God] is joining you [non-Jews] together with [Jewish believers] to be [like] one building [MET] in which his Spirit lives.
