Yohane 8
1 Yesu san kɔɔ Ngo Bepɔw no so.
But Jesus went [with us disciples] to Olive [Tree] Hill [and we stayed near there that night].
2 Ade kyee anɔpa no ɔsan baa hyiadan no mu. Nnipa bebree baa ne nkyɛn ma ofii ase kyerɛkyerɛɛ wɔn.
Early the next morning, we returned to the Temple [courtyard]. Many people gathered around Jesus, so he sat down to teach them.
3 Ogu so rekasa no, Yudafo mpanyin ne Farisifo de ɔbea bi a wɔkyeree no sɛ ɔrebɔ aguaman baa nʼanim.
Then men who taught the [Jewish] laws and some of [SYN] the Pharisee [religious group] brought a woman to him. She was seized {[They] had [arranged to] seize her} while she was having sex with a man who was not her husband. They made her stand up in front of the group [that was listening to Jesus].
4 Wɔka kyerɛɛ Yesu se, “Kyerɛkyerɛfo, yɛkyeree ɔbea yi sɛ ɔrebɔ aguaman,
Then they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was seized {[we] seized this woman} while she was having sex with a man who is not her husband.
5 nanso Mose mmara hyɛ yɛn sɛ, ɔbea biara a wɔbɛkyere no wɔ saa ɔkwan no so no, ɛsɛ sɛ wosiw no abo. Dɛn na woka wɔ ho?”
Moses commanded us in the laws that [he gave us] that we should throw stones at such women [and kill them]. So what do you say [we should do]?”
6 Wobisaa no eyi de sum no afiri sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wobenya asɛm bi agyina so atoto nʼano. Nanso Yesu bɔɔ ne mu ase de ne nsateaa kyerɛkyerɛw fam.
They asked this question as a trap so that they could accuse him. [If he said that they should not kill her, they would shame him for disobeying the law of Moses. If he said that they should kill her, they could accuse him to the Roman governor]. But Jesus bent down and wrote something on the ground with his finger.
7 Wogu so rebisabisa no nsɛm no, ɔmaa ne mu so ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mo mu biara a ɔnyɛɛ bɔne da no nni kan ntow ɔbo mmɔ no.”
While they continued to question him, he stood up and said to them, “Whichever one of you has never sinned can be the first one to start throwing stones at her.”
8 Ɔsan bɔɔ ne mu ase kyerɛkyerɛw fam.
Then he stooped down and wrote [some more] on the ground.
9 Nnipa no tee asɛm a Yesu kae no, wofii ase fii hɔ mmaako mmaako fii mpanyin no so. Ɛkaa Yesu ne ɔbea no nko ara.
After they heard what he said, those [who were questioning him] went away, one by one, the older ones first [and then the younger ones, knowing they were all sinners]. Finally only Jesus was there, along with the woman.
10 Yesu maa ne mu so no, obisaa ɔbea no se, “Nnipa a wɔde wo bae no wɔ he? Wɔn mu baako mpo nni ha a ɔbɛka asɛm bi atia wo?”
Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one said you must die for your sin?”
11 Ɔbea no buaa Yesu se, “Dabi, Owura.” Yesu ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sɛ saa na ɛte de a, ɛno de me nso minni asɛm biara a mɛka de atia wo. Kɔ, na nkɔyɛ bɔne bio.”
She said, “No, sir, no one.” Then Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go [home] now, and do not continue your sinful [life] any longer!”]
12 Yesu san toaa ne kasa no so ka kyerɛɛ nnipa no se, “Mene wiase hann no. Obiara a odi mʼakyi no rennantew sum mu da, na obenya hann a ɛkyerɛ nnipa kwan ma wɔkɔ nkwa mu.”
Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am [like] a light [MET] for [all the people in] [MTY] the world. [Just like a light reveals what has been in the darkness] [MET], [I reveal God’s truth to them]. Those who walk in the darkness [are unaware of what is around them]. But those who become my disciples will always be aware [of God’s truth] [MET]. They will have my light [which shows them how to have eternal] life.”
13 Farisifo no tee asɛm a Yesu kae no, wɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Asɛm a woreka yi de, yɛrennye nto mu, efisɛ wo ara na woredi wo ho adanse.”
So the Pharisees said to him, “You are just telling about yourself! [Since there is no one else to verify these things that you say about yourself], [we] do not [need to accept that] what you say is true.”
14 Yesu nso buaa wɔn se, “Sɛ me ara meredi me ho adanse mpo a, asɛm a meka no yɛ nokware, efisɛ minim faako a mifi bae ne faako a merekɔ. Na mo de, munnim faako a mifi bae ne faako a merekɔ nso.
Jesus replied, “Even if I were the [only one to] say these things about myself, what I say is true, because I know that I came from [heaven], and I know that I am going [back to heaven]. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.
15 Mo ankasa mode mo adwene na ebu atɛn na me de, mimmu obiara atɛn.
You judge people according to human standards. [The reason] that I am [here is] not (to condemn people/to say that I will punish people) [for their sins].
16 Nanso sɛ ɛba sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ mibu atɛn a mʼatemmu bɛyɛ atɛntrenee, efisɛ ɛnyɛ me nko na mebu atɛn; Agya a ɔsomaa me no ka me ho.
But if I did judge [people], what I decided would be correct, because I am not the [only] one [who will decide those things]. I and the one who sent me will both decide.
17 Wɔakyerɛw wɔ mo mmara mu se sɛ nnansefo baanu adanse hyia a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ wɔn adanse no yɛ nokware.
It is written {[Moses] wrote} in your law that if [at least] two people testify that [some event has happened], [people should consider] that what they say is true.
18 Midi me ho adanse na mʼAgya a ɔsomaa me no nso di me ho adanse.”
I am telling you about myself, and the other one who is telling you about me is [my] Father who sent me. [So you should believe that what we declare is true].”
19 Nnipa no bisaa no se, “Ɛhe na wʼAgya no wɔ?” Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Munnim me na munnim mʼAgya no nso. Sɛ munim me a, anka mubehu mʼAgya no nso.”
Then they asked him, “[If you have a] father whom [we can question about you], where is he?” Jesus replied, “You do not know [who] I [really am]. If you knew who I [really am], you would know who my Father is also.”
20 Yesu kaa eyinom nyinaa wɔ bere a na ɔrekyerɛkyerɛ wɔ asɔredan no mu sikakorabea hɔ no. Obiara antumi amfa ne nsa anka no, efisɛ na ne bere a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔkyere no no nnu ɛ.
He said these things when he was in the Temple [courtyard], near the place where the people put their offerings. [This was also very close to the place where the Jewish council met]. But no one seized him to arrest him, because it was not yet time [MTY] [for him to suffer and die].
21 Yesu san ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mefi mo nkyɛn akɔ; mobɛhwehwɛ me na morenhu me. Na mo de, mubewu wɔ mo bɔne mu. Faako a merekɔ no morentumi mma hɔ bi.”
Jesus also said to them, “I [will soon be] going away. Then [at the end of your life] you will seek me, but you will die [without God forgiving] your sins. Where I will go, you will not be able to come.”
22 Yudafo no bisabisaa wɔn ho wɔn ho se, “Ɛhe na ɔrekɔ a ose ‘obi rentumi nkɔ hɔ bi no?’ Gyama ɔrekokum ne ho?”
So the Jewish [leaders] said among themselves, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that the reason that he said, ‘Where I go, you will not be able to come’?”
23 Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Mo de, mufi asase so ha nanso me de, mifi ɔsoro na mebae. Mo de, mufi wiase nanso me de, mimfi wiase,
But Jesus continued by saying to them, “You were born here in this world, but I came from heaven. You belong to those who are opposed to God [MTY]. I do not belong to them.
24 Ɛno nti na meka kyerɛ mo se mubewu wɔ mo bɔne mu no. Na sɛ moannye anni sɛ, mene nea mene a, mubewu wɔ mo bɔne mu.”
I told you that you will die [without God forgiving] your sins. If you do not believe that I am [who I say that I am], you will die [without God forgiving] your sins.”
25 Wobisaa no se, “Wo koraa wone hena?” Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Mene nea daa meka kyerɛ mo se meyɛ.
So they said to him, “You! Who do you think you are?” Jesus said to them, “Ever since I began [teaching], I have been telling you who I am!
26 Mewɔ mo ho nsɛm pii a anka mɛka atia mo. Nanso nea ɔsomaa me no yɛ ɔnokwafo na asɛm a meka no yɛ nea mate afi ne nkyɛn.”
I could judge you and say that [you are guilty of] many things. But instead, [I will say only] what the one who sent me tells me to say. [What he says] is true, and I tell the people in the world [MTY] what I have heard from him.”
27 Nnipa no ante no ase sɛ nʼagya ho asɛm na ɔreka akyerɛ wɔn no.
They did not understand that he was talking about his Father [in heaven].
28 Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Sɛ munya ma Onipa Ba no so wɔ asennua no so a na mubehu sɛ mene nea mene no, na afei mubehu bio sɛ mimfi me ara me pɛ mu nyɛ biribiara, na mmom nea Agya no somaa me sɛ menka no nko ara na meka.
So Jesus said, “I am the one who came down from heaven, but when you lift me up [on a cross to kill me], you will know who I am. You will also know that I do not do anything with my own [authority]. Instead, I say just what [my] Father has taught me.
29 Nea ɔsomaa me no ka me ho daa. Onnyaw me da efisɛ meyɛ nea ɛsɔ nʼani.”
He is the one who sent me, and he helps me. Because I always do the things that please him, he has never abandoned me.”
30 Nnipa a wɔtee nea Yesu kaa no mu dodow no ara gyee no dii.
As Jesus was saying these things, many people believed that he [was] ([from God/the Messiah]).
31 Yesu ka kyerɛɛ Yudafo a wogyee no dii no se, “Sɛ mudi me nsɛm so a, moyɛ mʼasuafo.
Then Jesus said to the Jews who now said they believed in him, “If you continue to [live in accordance with] my message, you will truly be my disciples.
32 Ɛno ansa na mubehu nokware no na nokware no bɛma moade mo ho.”
Then you will know [God’s] truth, and as a result of [your believing his] truth, he [PRS] will free you [from being controlled by the one who has made you his slaves].”
33 Nnipa no buaa no se, “Yɛn de, yɛyɛ Abraham asefo. Yɛnkɔɔ nkoasom mu da, na adɛn nti na woka se wobɛma yɛade yɛn ho?”
They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham. We have never been anyone’s slaves. So why do you say [we will] be freed [from being someone’s slaves]?”
34 Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Mereka nokware akyerɛ mo se obiara a ɔyɛ bɔne no yɛ bɔne akoa.
Jesus replied, “Listen carefully to what I am going to tell you. All those who continue to sin are [forced to obey] their sinful desires [MET], [just like] a slave [is forced to obey his master].
A slave is not a permanent member of a family. But a son is a member of a family forever. [Similarly, you say you are members of God’s family because you are descendants of Abraham, but really, because you are like slaves of your sinful desires, you are no longer permanent members of God’s family]. (aiōn g165)
36 Ɛno nti sɛ ɔba no ma mode mo ho a mobɛde mo ho ampa.
So if you allow me to free you, you will truly be free.
37 Migye to mu sɛ moyɛ Abraham asefo, nanso morehwehwɛ me akum me, efisɛ munni ne nkyerɛkyerɛ so.
I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. But you are trying to kill me because [you are not] allowing [PRS] my message to continue [to change] your inner being.
38 Nea mʼAgya ayi akyerɛ me no na meka ho asɛm, na mo de, nea mo agya aka akyerɛ mo no na mudi so.”
I am telling you what I saw when I was with [my] Father. But you do the things that you have heard from your father.”
39 Nnipa no kae se, “Yɛn agya ne Abraham.” Yesu nso ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Moyɛ Abraham asefo ampa a anka ne nnwuma a ɔyɛe no bi pɛpɛɛpɛ na mobɛyɛ.
They replied to him, “Abraham is our ancestor.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s descendants, [your character would be like Abraham’s character, and] you would do [good] things like Abraham did.
40 Nea mayɛ ne sɛ maka nokware a mote fii Agya no nkyɛn akyerɛ mo, nanso mohwehwɛ me akum me. Abraham anyɛ biribi a ɛte sɛ eyi.
I have been telling you the truth that I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham did not do things like that.
41 Moreyɛ nea mo agya yɛe.” Nnipa no san kae se, “Onyankopɔn nko ara ne Agya a yɛwɔ na yɛyɛ ne mma ankasa.”
No! You are doing the things that your [real] father does.” They said to him, “[We do not know about you, but] we are not illegitimate children. And [spiritually], we have only one Father. That is God, and you do not know who your father is!”
42 Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Sɛ Onyankopɔn yɛ mo Agya ampa ara a anka mobɛdɔ me, efisɛ ne nkyɛn na mifi bae na mewɔ ha. Mamfi me pɛ mu na mebae; ɔno na ɔsomaa me.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, because I came from God, and now I have come here [to this world]. My coming was not (because I [appointed] myself/with my own [authority]). He sent me.
43 Adɛn nti na monte nsɛm a mereka yi ase? Efisɛ mompɛ sɛ mote ase.
(And I will tell you why you do not understand what I say./Do you know why you do not understand what I say?) [RHQ] It is because you do not want to accept my message.
44 Mo de, ɔbonsam ne mo agya na mopɛ sɛ moyɛ nneɛma a ɔyɛ no nso bi. Ɔyɛ owudifo fi mfiase. Onni nokware da efisɛ ɔnyɛ ɔnokwafo. Sɛ odi atoro a, ɛnyɛ nwonwa efisɛ ɔyɛ ɔtorofo ne atoro agya.
You belong to your father, (the devil/Satan), and you desire to do what he wants. He has [caused people to become] murderers from the time when [people] first [sinned]. He has abandoned [God’s] truth because he is a liar by his nature. Whenever he lies, he is speaking according to his [nature], because he is a liar and is the one who originates [MET] all lies.
45 Nanso me de, esiane sɛ meka nokware nti na munnye me nni no.
But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!
46 Mo mu hena na obetumi aka se midi bɔne bi ho fɔ? Sɛ meka nokware a adɛn nti na munnye me nni?
[Since I have never sinned], (none of you can show that I have sinned./can anyone among you show that I have sinned?) [RHQ] So, since I tell you the truth, (there is no good reason for your not believing me!/why is it that you do not believe me?) [RHQ]
47 Obiara a ofi Onyankopɔn mu no tie Onyankopɔn asɛm. Na mo de, esiane sɛ mumfi Onyankopɔn mu no nti na muntie nʼasɛm no.”
Those who belong to God habitually obey God’s message. You do not belong to God, so you do not obey his message.”
48 Yudafo no bisaa Yesu se, “Sɛ yɛka se woyɛ Samariani a honhommɔne ahyɛ wo ma a na yɛboa ana?”
The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] replied to him, “(We are certainly right by saying that you [believe what is false as] the Samaritans [do]!/Are we not right by saying that you [believe what is false as] the Samaritans [do]?) [RHQ] And that (a demon/an evil spirit) [controls] you!”
49 Yesu buae se, “Minni honhommɔne. Midi mʼAgya ni na mo de, munni no ni.
Jesus replied, “A demon does not [control] me! I honor my Father, and you do not honor me!
50 Memmpere nhwehwɛ anuonyam mma mʼankasa me ho. Obi wɔ hɔ a ɔhwehwɛ ma me na ɔno nso na odi ma me.
I am not trying to honor myself. There is someone else who desires [to honor me], and he is the one who will judge [whether it is I who am telling the truth or whether it is you who are telling the truth].
But the truth is that anyone who obeys what I say will never die!” (aiōn g165)
52 Yudafo no nso ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Afei na yɛahu ampa sɛ wowɔ honhommɔne! Abraham wui. Adiyifo no nso wuwui. Nanso wo de, woka se, ‘Obiara a odi mʼasɛm so no renwu da.’ (aiōn g165)
Then the Jewish [leaders] [SYN], [thinking that he was talking about ordinary death and not about spiritual death], said to him, “Now we are sure that a demon [controls] you! Abraham and the prophets died [long ago]! But you say that anyone who obeys what you teach will never die! (aiōn g165)
53 Woyɛ ɔkɛse sen yɛn agya Abraham ana? Owui; saa ara nso na adiyifo no wuwui. Wususuw sɛ woyɛ hena?”
(You are certainly not greater than our ancestor Abraham!/Do you think you are greater than our ancestor Abraham?) [RHQ] He died, and all the prophets died, so who do you think you are [by saying something like that]?”
54 Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Sɛ mʼankasa mehyɛ me ho anuonyam a, mʼanuonyam no nka hwee. MʼAgya a mo nso moka se ɔyɛ mo Nyankopɔn no, ɔno na ɔhyɛ me anuonyam.
Jesus replied, “If I were honoring myself, that would be worthless. My Father is the one who you say is your God. He is the one who honors me.
55 Mo de, munnim no, nanso me de, minim no. Sɛ meka sɛ minnim no a na meyɛ ɔtorofo sɛ mo ara. Minim no na madi nʼasɛm nso so.
Although you do not know him, I know him [and have a close relationship with him]. If I said that I did not know him, I would be a liar like you are. But I know him, and I obey what he says.
56 Mo agya Abraham ani gyee sɛ obehu me ba a mɛba no. Ohui na nʼani gyei.”
Your ancestor Abraham was happy when he thought about what I would [do during] my life [MTY]. [It was as though] he saw that, and was happy.”
57 Yudafo no nso bisaa no se, “Wunnii mfe aduonum koraa na woyɛɛ dɛn na wuhuu Abraham?”
Then the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] said to him, “You are not 50 years old yet! So (you certainly did not see him!/how could you have seen him?) [RHQ] [Because he died long ago]!”
58 Yesu buae se, “Mereka nokware pefee akyerɛ mo se, ansa na wɔrebɛwo Abraham no, na mete ase.”
Jesus said to them, “The truth is that I existed before Abraham was born!”
59 Yudafo no tasee abo sɛ anka wɔde rebesiw no, nanso Yesu hintawee. Eyi akyi no, ofii asɔredan no mu hɔ kɔe.
So, [because they were very angry about Jesus thus saying that he] ([had eternally existed/was equal with God]), they picked up stones to throw at him [to kill him]. But [Jesus] caused them not to be able to see him, and he left the Temple courtyard.
