Barome 4
1 Toloba nini na tina na Abrayami, koko na biso? Azwaki nini na bomoto?
What shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh.
2 Soki Abrayami atangamaki lokola moto ya sembo na nzela ya misala, akokaki solo komikumisa; kasi liboso ya Nzambe, ezali bongo te!
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God.
3 Makomi elobi nini? « Abrayami azalaki na kondima epai ya Nzambe, yango wana Nzambe atangaki ye lokola moto ya sembo. »
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.
4 Soki moto asali mosala, batangaka lifuti na ye lokola likabo te, kasi lokola motoki na ye.
Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt.
5 Nzokande, soki moto asali mosala te, kasi andimeli Nzambe oyo atangaka bato ya masumu lokola bato ya sembo, kondima na ye ekokomisa ye moto ya sembo.
But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.
6 Davidi mpe alobaki bongo tango atatolaki esengo ya moto oyo Nzambe akomisi sembo na kozanga misala:
As David also termeth the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputeth justice without works:
7 « Esengo na bato oyo mabe na bango elimbisami, mpe masumu na bango elongwe!
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Esengo na moto oyo Nkolo atangelaka lisumu te! »
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.
9 Boni, esengo yango ezali kaka mpo na bato oyo bakatisa ngenga to ezali mpe mpo na bato oyo bakatisa ngenga te? Solo, tozali koloba: Mpo ete Abrayami azalaki na kondima, Nzambe atangaki ye lokola moto ya sembo.
This blessedness then, doth it remain in the circumcision only, or in the uncircumcision also? For we say that unto Abraham faith was reputed to justice.
10 Esalemaki tango nini? Esalemaki liboso na ye kokatisa ngenga to sima na ye kokatama ngenga? Esalemaki te sima na ye kokatama ngenga; esalemaki nde liboso na ye kokatisa ngenga.
How then was it reputed? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 Nzambe apesaki ye elembo ya kokatama ngenga lokola kashe ya bosembo oyo azwaki na nzela ya kondima, wana azalaki akatama nanu ngenga te. Boye akoma na mbala moko tata ya bato nyonso oyo bandimaka, wana bazali bakatama ngenga te mpo ete bango mpe bakoma bato ya sembo,
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the justice of the faith, which he had, being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, being uncircumcised, that unto them also it may be reputed to justice:
12 mpe tata ya bato oyo bakatisa ngenga, ba-oyo bakatama ngenga kaka te, kasi balandaka mpe ndakisa ya kondima oyo Abrayami, tata na biso, azalaki na yango liboso ete bakata ye ngenga.
And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.
13 Ezali na nzela ya Mobeko te nde Abrayami mpe bakitani na ye bapesamelaki elaka ya kozwa mokili lokola libula, kasi ezali nde na nzela ya bosembo oyo ewutaka na kondima.
For not through the law was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world; but through the justice of faith.
14 Pamba te soki ezali bato oyo batosaka mibeko nde bakozwa libula yango, wana kondima ezali lisusu na tina te mpe elaka ezali te,
For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, the promise is made of no effect.
15 pamba te Mobeko ebendaka kanda ya Nzambe. Nzokande, esika oyo Mobeko ezali te, kobuka Mobeko mpe ezalaka te.
For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
16 Yango wana, elaka eyaka na nzela ya kondima, mpo ete ezala na nzela ya ngolu mpe mpo ete ezala mpo na bakitani nyonso ya Abrayami: kaka te mpo na ba-oyo babengami bakitani na nzela ya Mobeko, kasi mpe mpo na ba-oyo bazali na kondima ya Abrayami oyo azali tata na biso nyonso,
Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17 kolanda ndenge ekomama: « Nakomisaki yo tata ya bikolo ebele. » Azali tata na biso na miso ya Nzambe oyo ye andimaki, Nzambe oyo apesaka bomoi epai ya bakufi mpe azalisaka biloko oyo etikala kozala te.
(As it is written: I have made thee a father of many nations, ) before God, whom he believed, who quickeneth the dead; and calleth those things that are not, as those that are.
18 Atako Abrayami akokaki lisusu te kotia elikya, kasi atiaki kaka elikya mpe andimaki; boye akomaki tata ya bikolo ebele, kolanda ndenge Nzambe aloba mpo na ye: « Bakitani na yo bakozala ebele. »
Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be.
19 Abrayami akomaki na mibu pene nkama moko, kasi kondima na ye elembaki te atako atalaki nzoto na ye, oyo ezalaki lisusu na makasi te, mpe nzoto ya Sara oyo akokaki lisusu kobota te.
And he was not weak in faith; neither did he consider his own body now dead, whereas he was almost an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sara.
20 Nzokande, na esika ete atia tembe na elaka ya Nzambe mpe aboya kondima, kasi kondima na ye epesaki ye lisusu makasi koleka mpe azalaki kopesa Nzambe nkembo,
In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God:
21 wana andimisamaki makasi ete Nzambe azali na makoki ya kokokisa elaka na Ye.
Most fully knowing, that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform.
22 Yango wana, mpo na kondima na ye, Nzambe atangaki ye lokola moto ya sembo.
And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.
23 Nzokande, ezali mpo na ye moko kaka te nde ekomama: « Nzambe atangaki ye lokola moto ya sembo; »
Now it is not written only for him, that it was reputed to him unto justice,
24 ezali mpe mpo na biso oyo Nzambe akotanga lokola bato ya sembo mpo ete tondimelaka Ye oyo asekwisaki, kati na bakufi, Yesu, Nkolo na biso,
But also for us, to whom it shall be reputed, if we believe in him, that raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead,
25 oyo akabamaki mpo na masumu na biso mpe asekwaki mpo ete tokoma bato ya sembo.
Who was delivered up for our sins, and rose again for our justification.
