Ba-Ebre 4
1 Yango wana, lokola elaka ya kokota kati na bopemi ya Nzambe ezali nanu, tosala keba ete moko kati na bino akanisa ete azangeli.
[The Israelites did not enter the place where they would rest]. But [God] has still promised us that we can enter the place of resting [in heaven eternally]. So we must beware [of the possibility] that [God] may consider that some of you have failed to enter the [place of] resting [eternally as the Israelites did not enter the place where they would rest].
2 Pamba te, biso mpe toyokaki Sango Malamu lokola bango; kasi mateya oyo bayokaki esungaki bango ata na likambo moko te mpo ete bato oyo bayokaki yango bayambaki yango na kondima te.
We have heard the message [about Christ], just like [the Israelites] heard [what God promised]. But [just like] the message did not benefit [most of] those who heard it because they did not believe it as [Joshua and Caleb did, it] will not [benefit us eternally if we do not keep believing it].
3 Sik’oyo, biso oyo tondimi, tozali kokota kati na bopemi yango kolanda ndenge Nzambe alobaki: « Yango wana, kati na kanda na ngai, nakataki seleka oyo: ‹ Bakotikala kokota te kati na bopemi na ngai! › » Nzambe alobaki bongo, atako misala na Ye emonanaki wuta na tango oyo akelaki mokili.
We who have believed [in Christ] are able to enter the place of resting [eternally. We know there is a place where we will rest eternally] because God said, Because I was angry with them, I solemnly declared, “They will not enter [the land where] I would let them rest.” [God said that] even though he ceased his work [of creating things] after he created the world.
4 Pamba te, na esika moko, elobami boye na tina na mokolo ya sambo: « Boye, na mokolo ya sambo, Nzambe akataki mosala nyonso oyo azalaki kosala. »
What someone wrote somewhere [in the Scriptures] about the seventh day [after he had spent six days creating the world], supports that: Then, on the seventh day, God rested from his work [of creating everything].
5 Mpe, kati na eteni oyo esili koleka, alobi: « Bakotikala kokota te kati na bopemi na ngai! »
But note again what God said about the Israelites [in the] passage that I quoted previously: They will not enter [the land where] I would let them rest.
6 Boye, lokola emonani polele ete ezali nanu na bato oyo basengeli kokota kati na bopemi yango, mpe ete bato oyo bazalaki bato ya liboso mpo na koyoka Sango Malamu bakotaki te mpo ete batosaki Nzambe te,
Some people experience entering that [place of resting eternally. But] those [Israelites] who first had the good message preached to them {first heard the good message} [about what God promised them] did not enter [that place of resting], because they refused to believe [God].
7 yango wana Nzambe abongisi lisusu mokolo moko oyo azali kobenga « lelo, » tango alobaki, sima na mikolo, na nzela ya Davidi: « Lelo, soki boyoki mongongo na Ye, boyeisa mitema na bino mabanga te. »
[But God] appointed another time [when we may enter that place of resting]. That time is now! [We know that is true because] much later than when [the Israelites rebelled against God in the desert], he caused [King] David to write what I have already quoted, Now, when you understand what God is saying [to you], do not stubbornly disobey him.
8 Pamba te, soki Jozue alonga penza kopesa bango bopemi, Nzambe alingaki lisusu te koloba na tina na mokolo mosusu.
If Joshua had led the Israelites to enter the place of resting, God would not have spoken later about another [time when we could rest] [MET]. [So we know God was speaking about another time when some people would enter that place of resting eternally].
9 Boye, mpo na bato ya Nzambe, etikali na bopemi moko oyo ezali lokola mokolo ya sambo oyo Nzambe apemaki.
So, just like [God rested on] the seventh day [after he finished making everything], there remains a time when God’s people will rest eternally.
10 Pamba te moto oyo akoti kati na bopemi ya Nzambe apemi na misala na ye, ndenge kaka Nzambe apemaki na misala na Ye.
Specifically, whoever enters God’s place of resting has ceased doing things [to gain God’s favor], just like God ceased doing his work [of creating everything].
11 Yango wana, tosala makasi mpo na kokota kati na bopemi yango mpo ete tokweya te kati na bozangi botosi lokola bana ya Isalaele.
God severely punished the [Israelites because they disbelieved his message]. So we must strive to experience entering that [place of] resting [eternally], in order that he will not severely punish any of us for not believing [his message].
12 Pamba te Liloba na Nzambe ezali na bomoi mpe na nguya, ekotaka koleka kutu mopanga oyo ezali na minu na bangambo nyonso mibale, ekomaka kino kokabola elimo mpe molimo, mikuwa mpe mafuta oyo ezalaka kati na mikuwa, mpe esosolaka malamu makanisi mpe mikano ya motema ya moto.
[Beware of being insincere about doing this], because the message God [has given us] very powerfully penetrates our thinking more than a two-edged sword [penetrates flesh] [MET]. It penetrates [deeply] into our souls and spirits, as [a sharp sword can penetrate] into our joints and marrow. That [is, by his message God] [PRS] discerns all that we think about, and he discerns all that we desire [to do] [MTY] (OR, [His message] exposes [to us] all our thoughts and all our desires).
13 Kati na bikelamu nyonso, moko te ezali ya kobombama na miso ya Nzambe: nyonso ezali polele, mpe ezali ya kobombama te na miso ya Ye oyo akosambisa biso.
God knows everything about everyone. Everything is completely exposed [DOU] to him, [and he is] the one [SYN] who will say whether he approves of what we have done.
14 Yango wana, lokola tozali na Mokonzi ya Banganga-Nzambe, oyo akatisa Likolo, Ye Yesu, Mwana na Nzambe, tosimba makasi kondima oyo totatolaka.
We have a great Supreme Priest who ascended through the heavens [when he returned to God’s presence]. He is Jesus, (God’s Son/the man who is also God). So let us firmly profess [what we believe about him].
15 Pamba te tozali na Mokonzi ya Banganga-Nzambe, oyo akoki kosangana na bapasi na biso; amekamaki kutu na makambo nyonso, ndenge biso mpe tozali komekama, kasi asalaki masumu te.
Our Supreme Priest can indeed [LIT] compassionately deal with us who tend to sin easily, because he also was tempted [to sin] in every way that we are [tempted to sin], and yet he did not sin.
16 Boye, topusana na elikya nyonso pene ya Kiti ya Bokonzi ya ngolu mpo ete Nzambe ayokela biso mawa mpe tozwa ngolu, oyo ekosunga biso na tango oyo ekoki.
So, let us come boldly to [Christ] [MTY], who rules [MET] [from heaven] and does for us what we do not deserve, in order that we might experience [his acting] mercifully [toward us], and in order that we might experience his helping us in a kind way whenever we need [help].
