Maatewos 18
1 Yeruma sana barattoonni gara Yesuus dhufanii, “Yoos mootummaa samii keessatti kan hundumaa caalu eenyu?” jedhanii gaafatan.
About that time we disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who [among us will be] the most important when God [MTY/EUP] [makes you] king?”
2 Innis mucaa xinnaa tokko ofitti waamee isaan gidduu dhaabe.
Jesus called a child to come, and he placed that child in our midst.
3 Akkanas jedhe: “Ani dhuguman isinitti hima; isin yoo deebitanii akkuma ijoollee taatan malee gonkumaa mootummaa samiitti hin galtan.
He said, “Think about this: If you [(pl)] do not change [the way you(pl) think] and become [as humble] as little children, you [(pl)] will surely not go to the place where God [MTY/EUP] rules.
4 Kanaaf namni akka daaʼima kanaa gad of qabu kam iyyuu mootummaa samii keessatti nama hunda caala.
The people who become as humble as this child [or any child] is, will be the most important people among those over whom God rules.
5 Namni daaʼima akkanaa tokko maqaa kootiin simatu kam iyyuu na simata.
Also, when those who, [because they love] me, welcome [a] child like this one, [God considers] that they are welcoming me.”
6 “Namni kam iyyuu warra natti amanan xixinnaa kanneen keessaa tokko illee yoo gufachiise, dhagaan daakuu guddaan morma isaatti hidhamee tuujuba galaanaa keessa dhidhimuu isaaf wayya ture.
“If you cause someone who believes in me to sin, [even if it is someone who is socially unimportant like] this little child, [God will severely punish you]. If a heavy stone were fastened around your neck and you were thrown into the deep waters of the sea, [people would consider that you had been severely punished. But God will punish] you more severely [than that if you cause someone to sin]
7 Sababii wantoota akka namoonni gufatan godhan sanaatiif addunyaaf wayyoo! Wantoonni akkanaa dhufuu qabu; garuu nama wantoonni kunneen karaa isaatiin dhufan sanaaf wayyoo!
It will be terrible for those [MTY] who cause others to stop believing in me. [God will punish them eternally]. It is inevitable that there will be [those who] cause others to stop believing in me. But it will be horrible for everyone who does that.
8 Yoo harki kee yookaan miilli kee si gufachiise, of irraa kutii gati. Harka lama yookaan miilla lama qabaattee ibidda bara baraatti darbatamuu irra, dooluu taatee yookaan laamshoftee jireenyatti galuu siif wayya. (aiōnios g166)
So, if you [are wanting to use] one of your hands or feet to sin, [stop using that hand or foot! Even if you have to] cut it off [to avoid sinning, do it] [MET]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you are maimed or lame and do not have a hand or a foot. But it is not good that you continue to have your two hands and two feet [and do] [MTY] [the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown into [hell], where there is eternal fire burning. (aiōnios g166, questioned)
9 Yoo iji kee si gufachiise of keessaa baasii gati. Ija lama qabaattee ibidda gahaannamiitti darbatamuu irra ija tokko qabaattee jireenyatti galuu siif wayya. (Geenna g1067)
If what you see you [makes you want] to sin, [stop looking at those things! Even if you have to] gouge out one of your eyes and throw it away [to avoid sinning, do it] [HYP]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you have only one eye. But it is not good that you continue to have your two eyes [and do the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown {God throws you} into hell where there is eternal fire burning.” (Geenna g1067)
10 “Warra xixinnaa kanneen keessaa tokko illee akka hin tuffanneef of eeggadhaa. Ani isinitti nan hima; ergamoonni isaanii samii irratti yeroo hunda fuula Abbaa koo isa samii irraa ni arguutii. [
“Make an effort that you [(pl)] do not despise [even] one of these children. I tell you [(pl)] truly that [since] the angels [live] in heaven [in the presence of] my Father, [they will report to him if you mistreat the children].
11 Ilmi Namaa isa bade oolchuudhaaf dhufeetii.]
12 “Isin maal seetu? Namni tokko yoo hoolota dhibba qabaatee hoolota sana keessaas tokko bade, namichi sun sagaltamii sagallan hafan kaan tulluuwwan irratti dhiisee tokkicha bade sana barbaaduu hin dhaquu?
What do you [(pl)] think [you would do in the following situation]? If you had 100 sheep and one of them got lost, you would surely leave the 99 sheep [that are] on the hill and go and search for the lost one [RHQ], would you not?
13 Ani dhuguman isinitti hima; inni yoo hoolaa sana argate, hoolota sagaltamii sagallan hin badin irra hoolaa tokkicha sanatti caalaa ni gammada.
If you found it, I affirm to you [(pl)] that you would rejoice very much. You would be happy that 99 sheep did not stray away, but you would rejoice even more [because you had found] the sheep that had strayed away.
14 Akkasuma immoo isaan xixinnoo kanneen keessaa tokko iyyuu akka badu fedhii Abbaa keessan isa samii irraa miti.
In the same way [that shepherds do not want one of] their [sheep to stray away], so [God], your Father in heaven, does not want [even] one of these children to go to hell.” (questioned)
15 “Yoo obboleessi kee cubbuu sitti hojjete, dhaqiitii iddoo isin lamaan qofti jirtanitti balleessaa isaa itti himi. Yoo inni si dhagaʼe ati obboleessa kee deebifatteerta.
“If a fellow believer sins [against you], go [to him], and when you two are alone, reprove him [for sinning against you]. If that person listens to you [and feels sorry that he has sinned against you], you will have restored [your friendship with] that person.
16 Yoo si dhagaʼuu baate garuu ‘dubbiin hundinuu dhuga baatota lamaan yookaan sadiin waan mirkaneeffamuuf’ nama biraa tokko yookaan nama lama fudhadhuu dhaqi.
If that person will not listen to you [nor feel sorry that he has sinned against you], go get one or two other people [who will listen to what you both have to say]. Have them go with you so that [what is written] {[Moses wrote]} [in the Scriptures might happen: ] ‘[When one person accuses another in some matter], it should be confirmed by [at least] two or three people {[at least] two or three people should confirm it} [before that person can be declared] guilty {[before they declare that person guilty]}.’
17 Yoo inni jara dhagaʼuu dide waldaa kiristaanaatti himi; yoo inni waldaa kiristaanaa iyyuu dhagaʼuu dide akka nama ormaattii fi akka qaraxxuutti isa fudhadhu.
If the one who has sinned against you will not listen to them [or does not feel sorry that he has sinned against you], tell that to the congregation [so that they can rebuke him]. If that person will not listen to the congregation [or feel sorry that he has sinned against you, exclude him from being a member of your congregation, just like] you [would exclude] pagans, tax collectors, [and others who do not believe in God and sin greatly].
18 “Ani dhuguman isinitti hima; wanni isin lafa irratti hiitan kam iyyuu samii irratti ni hidhama; wanni isin lafa irratti hiiktan kam iyyuu samii irrattis ni hiikama.
Keep this in mind: Whatever you decide on earth [about punishing] or [not punishing a member of your congregation] is what has also been decided by [God] in heaven {what [God] in heaven has also decided}.
19 “Ammas ani isinitti nan hima; isin keessaa yoo namoonni lama lafa irratti waaʼee waan kadhatan kamii iyyuu walii galan Abbaan koo inni samii irraa isaaniif taasisa.
Also note this: If [at least] two of you [who live] here on earth agree together about something you ask [God] for [DOU], [God], my Father [who is] in heaven, will give you what you ask for.
20 Iddoo itti namoonni lama yookaan sadii maqaa kootiin walitti qabamanitti ani gidduu isaaniitti nan argamaatii.”
[This is true], because wherever [at least] two or three of you assemble because you believe in me [MTY], I am [spiritually] present with you. I [will hear what you ask for and I will ask God to do it for you].”
21 Ergasii Phexros gara Yesuus dhufee, “Yaa Gooftaa, yoo obboleessi koo cubbuu natti hojjete ani yeroo hammam dhiisaaf? Hamma yeroo torbaattii?” jedhee gaafate.
Then Peter approached [Jesus] and said to him, “How many times must I forgive a fellow believer who [keeps on] sinning against me? [If he keeps asking me to forgive him, must I forgive him] as many as seven times?”
22 Yesuusis akkana jedhee deebiseef; “Ani sitti nan hima; yeroo torbaatamii torba malee yeroo torba miti.
Jesus said to him, “I tell you [that the number of] times [you must forgive someone is] not just up to seven, but [you must] ([forgive him] 77 times/never stop forgiving him).
23 “Kanaafuu mootummaan samii mootii herrega garboota isaa harka jiru toʼachuu barbaade tokko fakkaata.
[In order to illustrate] why [you should do this], I [will tell you a story in which] God [MTY/EUP], [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over, is compared {I compare God, [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over} to a king [and his officials]. That king told [some of his servants that he wanted] his officials to pay what they owed him.
24 Akkuma inni herrega isaa toʼachuu jalqabeenis nama mootichi taalaantii kuma kudhan irraa qabu tokko itti fidan.
[So those officials were brought to the king to] settle [their accounts with him]. [One of the officials who were brought] owed the king several million dollars.
25 Namichi sun waan baasu dhabnaan gooftaan isaa akka inni, niitiin isaa, ijoolleen isaatii fi wanni inni qabu hundinuu gurguramanii gatiin sun kaffalamu ajaje.
But because he did not have [enough money] to pay [what he owed], the king demanded that he, his wife, his children and all he possessed be sold [to someone else, and that the king] be repaid [with] {receive} [the money that was paid for them].
26 “Garbichi sunis miilla isaatti kufee, ‘Yaa gooftaa, naaf obsi; hunduma isaa iyyuu siif nan kaffalaa’ jedhee isa kadhate.
Then that official, [knowing that he did not have the money to pay that huge debt], fell on his knees [in front of the king] and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’
27 Gooftaan garbicha sanaas garaa laafeef; gatii isa irraa qabus dhiiseefii gad isa lakkise.
The king, [knowing that the official could never pay all that huge debt], felt sorry for him. So he canceled his debt and released him.
28 “Garbichi sun garuu akkuma achii baʼeen garbicha akka isaa kan gatii diinaariidhibbaa irraa qabu tokko arge. Innis morma namichaa hudhee qabee, ‘Waan ani sirraa qabu naa kaffali’ jedheen.
Then this official went to another one of the king’s officials who owed him a bit less than a year’s wages. He grabbed him [by the throat], started choking him, and said to him, ‘Pay back what you owe [me]!’
29 “Garbichi akka isaa sunis miilla isaatti kufee, ‘Naaf obsi; waan narra jiru siif nan kaffalaa’ jedhee isa kadhate.
That official fell on his knees and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’
30 “Inni garuu ni dide; qooda kanaa hamma inni gatii isaa kaffalutti mana hidhaatti isa galchisiise.
But this official kept refusing [to cancel that small debt that the man owed him]. Instead, he [caused that official to be] put in prison [and to stay there] until he could pay back all the money that he owed him.
31 Garboonni kaan yommuu waan taʼe sana arganitti akka malee gaddan; dhaqaniis waan taʼe hundumaa gooftaa isaaniitti himan.
When the other officials [of the king] learned that this had happened, they felt very distressed. So they went to the king and reported in detail what had happened.
32 “Gooftichis garbicha sana ofitti waamee akkana jedheen; ‘Yaa garbicha hamaa! Ani sababii ati na kadhatteef gatii sirra ture hunda siif dhiise.
Then the king summoned the official [who had owed him several million dollars]. He said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I canceled that huge debt [that you owed me] because you begged me [to do so]
33 Akkuma ani garaa siif laafe sana atis garbicha akka keetiitiif garaa laafuu hin qabduu?’
You should have been merciful [and canceled your fellow official’s debt], just like I was merciful to you [and canceled your debt] [RHQ]!’
34 Gooftaan isaas aariidhaan hamma inni gatii sana hunda kaffalutti warra isa dhiphisanitti dabarsee isa kenne.
The king was very angry. He handed this official over to some jailers who would torture him severely until he paid all of the debt that he owed.”
35 “Isinis yoo garaa keessan guutuudhaan obboleessa keessaniif dhiisuu baattan Abbaan koo inni samii irraa tokkoo tokkoo keessan akkanuma godha.”
[Then Jesus continued by saying], “That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if you do not [feel merciful and] sincerely forgive a fellow believer [who sins against you].”
