Luka 11
1 Da bi, na Yesu rebɔ mpae wɔ baabi. Owiei no, nʼasuafo no mu baako ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Awurade, kyerɛ yɛn mpaebɔ sɛnea Yohane kyerɛɛ nʼasuafo mpaebɔ no.”
One day Jesus was somewhere praying. When he finished [praying], one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us [what to say when] we [(exc)] pray, as John [the Baptizer] taught his disciples!”
2 Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Sɛ morebɔ mpae a, monka se, “‘Agya, wo din ho ntew, wʼahenni mmra.
He said to them, “When you pray, say [things like this]: ‘Father, we want you [(sg)] [MTY] to be honored/revered. [We want people to let you(sg)] [MTY, MET] rule over their lives.
3 Ma yɛn yɛn ano aduan daa.
Give us [(exc)] each day the food [SYN] that we need.
4 Fa yɛn bɔne kyɛ yɛn sɛnea yɛn nso, yɛde wɔn a wɔfom yɛn no bɔne kyɛ wɔn no. Na nnyaa yɛn mma yɛnnkɔ sɔhwɛ mu.’”
Forgive us [for] the wrong things that we have done, because we forgive people for the wrong things that they do to us. Do not let us do wrong things when we are tempted {[someone or something] tempts us}.’”
5 Yesu bisaa wɔn se, “Mo mu hena na ɔbɛkɔ ne yɔnko hɔ ɔdasu mu akɔka akyerɛ no se, ‘Me nua, fɛm me aduan kakra,
Then he said to them, “Suppose that one of you goes to the house of a friend at midnight. Suppose that you [(sg) stand outside and] call out to him, ‘My friend, please lend me three buns!
6 efisɛ ɔhɔho bi abefu me mu, na minni aduan biara a mede bɛma no,’
Another friend of mine who is traveling has just arrived [at my house], but I have no food [ready] to give to him!’
7 na ɔbɛma no mmuae afi ne dan mu se, ‘Nhaw me! Mato me pon mu ne me mma ada. Merentumi nsɔre mma wo biribiara.’
Suppose that he answers you from inside [his house], ‘Do not bother me! The door has been locked {[We(exc)] have locked the door} and all my family are in bed. [So] I cannot get up and give you [(sg)] anything!’
8 Mereka akyerɛ mo se, na ade asa no nti, ɔyɛ ne yɔnko koraa mpo a ɔrensɔre. Nanso esiane sɛ ɔkɔɔ so srɛɛ no no nti ɛbɛma wasɔre ama no nea ehia no no nyinaa.
I will tell you that even if he does not [want to] get up and give you [any food], to avoid being ashamed [for not helping you] because you are his friend (OR, if without being ashamed you continue asking him to do that), he certainly will get up and give you whatever you need.
9 “Ɛno nti mereka akyerɛ mo se; Mummisa, na wɔbɛma mo; monhwehwɛ na mubehu; mompem na wobebue mo.
So I tell you this: Keep asking [God for what you need]. If you do that, [he] will give it to you [(pl)]. Confidently keep expecting [God to give you the things that you need], and [he] will give them to you [MET]. [It will be like] looking for what you need and finding it. Keep on [praying urgently to God. Then God will answer you. It will be like] knocking [on a door] so that [God] will open [the way] for you [to get what you pray for].
10 Na obiara a obisa no, wɔma no; na obiara a ɔhwehwɛ no, ohu; na nea ɔpem no, wobue no.
Remember that [God] will give things to everyone who continues to ask [him for them]. [He] will give things to whoever confidently keeps asking. [He] will open [the way] for people [to get the things that they keep urgently praying for].
11 “Agya bɛn na ɔwɔ mo mu na ne ba bisa no brodo a ɔbɛma no ɔbo,
If one of you had a son who asked you [(sg)] for a fish [to eat], (you [(sg)] certainly would not give him a [poisonous] snake instead!/would you give him a [poisonous] snake instead?) [RHQ]
12 anaasɛ obisa no apataa a ɔbɛma no ɔwɔ, anaasɛ obisa nkesua a ɔbɛma no akekantwɛre?
If he asked you for an egg, (you [(sg)] certainly would not give him a scorpion!/would you give him a scorpion?) [RHQ]
13 Na sɛ mo a moyɛ nnebɔneyɛfo mpo nim sɛnea moma mo mma nnepa a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mo Agya a ɔwɔ ɔsoro no remfa Honhom Kronkron no mma wɔn a wobisa no no?”
Even though you people are evil, you know how to give good things to your children. So your Father in heaven will certainly [give good things] to those who ask him, [including] giving the Holy Spirit, [who is the best gift].”
14 Bere bi Yesu tuu honhommɔne bi a ɛyɛ mum fii onipa bi mu. Honhommɔne no tu fii ne mu no, ɔkasa ma ɛyɛɛ nnipa a na wɔwɔ hɔ no nyinaa ahodwiriw.
[One day there was a man there who, because a demon controlled him] [MTY], was unable to speak. After [Jesus expelled] the demon, the man [began to] talk. [Most of] the people [there] were amazed.
15 Nanso ebinom kae se, “Ɔnam ahonhommɔne panyin Beelsebul tumi so na etu ahonhommɔne.”
But some of them said, “It is Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons, who enables [this man] to expel demons!”
16 Afoforo nso pɛe sɛ wɔsɔ no hwɛ nti, wɔka kyerɛɛ no se, ɔnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bi a efi ɔsoro nkyerɛ wɔn.
Other [people there] asked Jesus to perform a miracle [to prove (he was the Messiah/that he had come] from God) [MTY/EUP]. They wanted to trap him [into not being able to perform a miracle or into doing something ridiculous].
17 Nanso ohuu wɔn adwene maa wɔn mmuae se, “Kurow biara a emu akyekyɛ no dan amamfo. Saa ara nso na ofi biara a emu kyekyɛ no gu.
But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “If [the people in] one nation fight against each other, their nation will be destroyed {[they] will destroy their nation}. If [the people in] [MTY] one house are divided, they will cease to remain as one [family].
18 Na sɛ ɔbonsam nso ko tia ne ho a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na nʼahenni begyina? Nea enti a mereka saa asɛm yi ne sɛ, muse menam Beelsebul tumi so na mitu ahonhommɔne.
[Similarly], if Satan [and his demons] were fighting against each other, (his rule over them would [certainly] not last!/how would his rule over them last?) [RHQ] [I say this] because you are saying that I am expelling demons by [the power of] the ruler of [his own demons]
19 Na sɛ menam Beelsebul tumi so na mitu ahonhommɔne a, hena so na mo nkurɔfo nam tu ahonhommɔne? Saa na ɛte de a, mo nkurɔfo no ara na wobebu mo atɛn.
Furthermore, if [it is true that] Satan enables me to expel demons, [is it also true that] your disciples [who] expel demons [do so] by [Satan’s] power [RHQ]? [No, that is not true]. So they will show that you [are not thinking logically].
20 Nanso sɛ menam Onyankopɔn tumi so na mitu honhommɔne de a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn ahenni no aba mo so.
But because it is by the power [MTY] of God [that I expel demons], I am showing you [that the power of] God to [MET] rule [people’s lives] has come to you.”
21 “Sɛ ɔhoɔdenfo de akode wɛn ne fi a, obiara rentumi nkowia nʼagyapade;
Then, [to show that by expelling evil spirits he was making it clear that he was much more powerful than Satan, Jesus said] [MET], “When a strong man who has many weapons guards his own house, no one can steal the things in his house.
22 nanso sɛ nea ne ho yɛ den na ɔwɔ akode pa sen no kɔ ne so a, odi ne so nkonim, gye nʼakode a ɔde ne ho too so no, sesaw nʼagyapade no nyinaa kɔ.
But when someone else who is stronger attacks that man and subdues him, he is able to take away the weapons in which the man trusted. Then he can take from that man’s house anything he [wants to].
23 “Obiara a onni mʼafa no tia me, na nea ɔne me mmoaboa ano no, hwete mu.
[No one can be neutral]. Those who do not help me [are opposing] me, and those who do not gather [people to become] my [disciples] are causing [those people] to go away [from me].”
24 “Sɛ wotu honhommɔne fi onipa bi mu a, ekyinkyin hwehwɛ homebea, nanso ennya bi. Na sɛ wannya homebea a ɔka se, ‘Mɛsan akɔ onipa a mifii ne mu bae no mu bio.’
[Then Jesus said this]: “[Sometimes when] an evil spirit leaves someone, it wanders around in desolate areas seeking [someone in whom it can] rest. If it does not find anyone, it says [to itself], ‘I will return to the person in whom I used to live!’
25 Na sɛ ɔsan kɔ onipa no mu a, obehu sɛ ɛhɔ tew a efi biara nni mu na biribiara yɛ pɛpɛɛpɛ.
So it goes back and finds that [the Spirit of God is not in control of that person’s life. The person’s life is like] a house that has been {that someone has} swept clean and everything put {put everything} in order, [but a house that is empty].
26 Afei, ɔsan nʼakyi kɔfa ahonhommɔne afoforo ason a wɔyɛ den kyɛn no ba ma wɔn nyinaa bɛtena hɔ. Eyi ma onipa no sɛe koraa sen sɛnea anka na ɔte kan no.”
Then [this evil spirit] goes and gets seven other spirits that are [even] more evil than it is. They [all] enter [that person] and [begin] living there. [So], [although] that person’s condition [was bad] before, it became much worse.”
27 Yesu gu so rekasa no, ɔbea bi fi nnipadɔm no mu kae se, “Nhyira nka ɔyafunu a ɛwoo wo ne nufu a wunum ano no!”
When Jesus said that, a woman who was listening called out [to him], “[God is] pleased with the woman who gave birth to you [(sg)] and let you nurse [at her breasts]!”
28 Yesu ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ɛwɔ mu de, nanso nhyira ne wɔn a wɔte Onyankopɔn asɛm na wodi so.”
But he replied, “God [is] much more pleased with those who hear his message and obey it!”
29 Nnipa no kyeree Yesu so no, ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Nnɛ mma yi yɛ nnebɔneyɛfo. Wɔhwehwɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bi ahu nanso wɔrenhu nsɛnkyerɛnne biara sɛ Yona nsɛnkyerɛnne no.
When the group of people around [Jesus] got larger, he said, “[Many of] you people who have been observing my ministry are evil. You want [me to perform] a miracle [to prove that I have come from God], but the only miracle that [I] will perform for you is one [like happened to] Jonah.
30 Na sɛnea Yona si yɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne maa Ninewefo no, saa ara na Kristo nso bɛyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne ama nnɛ mma yi.
[After Jonah was inside a huge fish for three days, God performed] a miracle [to restore] Jonah. [Jonah then went and testified about that] to the people in Nineveh [city. God will perform] a similar miracle [for me], the one who came from heaven. [When you people have seen that miracle, you will believe my message].
31 Atemmuda no, Sebahemmea ne nnɛmma bɛsɔre ayi ɔman yi atɛn efisɛ ofi asase ano nohɔ betiee Salomo nyansa nsɛm. Nanso nea ɔsen Salomo no wɔ ha.
[Long ago the] queen from [Sheba], [far] south [of Israel, traveled a long distance to hear Solomon speak many] wise things. But now [I, a man] who [is much] greater [and wiser] than Solomon, am here, [but you have not listened to what I have told you]. Therefore, at the time when [God] judges [all people], the queen from [Sheba] will stand there, [along] with you people, and will condemn you.
32 Atemmuda no Ninewe mmarima ne nnɛmma bɛsɔre ayi ɔman yi atɛn, efisɛ bere a Yona kaa asɛmpa no, wɔsakraa wɔn adwene. Nanso nea ɔsen Yona wɔ ha.
The people who lived in Nineveh [city] turned from their sinful ways when Jonah preached to them. But now I, who am greater than Jonah, have come [and preached to you], [but you have not turned from your sinful ways]. Therefore, at the time when God judges [all people], the people who lived in Nineveh will stand there with you and condemn you.”
33 “Obiara nsɔ kanea mfa nsie, na mmom ɔde si petee mu na ahyerɛn ama wɔn a wɔba mu no nyinaa.
[Then, to show them that they did not need more miracles, but that they needed only to understand better what he had already told them, he said to them] [MET], “People who light a lamp do not then hide it, or put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so that those who enter [their house] can see [things from] its light. [Similarly, I have not concealed God’s truth. I have revealed it to you].
34 Wʼani yɛ wo nipadua kanea. Ɛno nti sɛ wʼani ye a na wo nipadua nso yɛ hann. Nanso sɛ enye a, ɛma wo nipadua no dan sum tumm.
Your eyes [MET] are like a lamp for your body, because they enable you to see things. If your eyes are healthy, you are able to see everything well [MET]. [Similarly, if you(sg) accept my teaching, you will be able to know all that God wants you to know]. But if your eyes are bad, you are not able to see anything. It is like being in darkness [MET]. [And similarly, if you(pl) do not accept what I teach, you will not be able to know all the things that God wants you to know].
35 Enti hwɛ yiye na hann a ɛwɔ wo mu no annan sum.
Therefore, [you(pl) do not need to see more miracles. You need to think carefully about what I have already] told you, so that the things that you have heard from others do not cause you to remain in spiritual darkness [MET].
36 Sɛ wo nipadua yɛ hann a sum nni fa baabiara a, onipadua no bɛhyerɛn sɛnea kanea hyerɛn gu wo so no.”
If you [live completely according to God’s truth, you will be able to know everything that God wants you to know. It will be like] being in a room with a lamp shining brightly, enabling you to see everything clearly.”
37 Yesu kasa wiee no, Farisini bi hyiaa no adidi enti ɔkɔe se ɔne no rekodidi.
While Jesus finished saying those things, a Pharisee invited him to eat a meal with him. So Jesus went to [his house] and ate with him.
38 Farisini no huu sɛ Yesu anhohoro ne nsa ansa sɛnea wɔn amanne kyerɛ ansa na ɔredidi no, ɛyɛɛ no nwonwa.
The Pharisee was surprised when he saw that Jesus did not follow the Pharisees’ ritual by washing his hands before eating. [The Pharisees washed their hands in a certain way to be cleansed from anything that might have contaminated them. They were afraid that God might reject them if they] had [touched something unacceptable to God].
39 Yesu huu Farisini no adwene ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Mo Farisifo de, mohohoro nkuku nsanka ne mprɛte ho, nanso fi, anibere ne nnebɔne ahyɛ mo ma tɔ!
The Lord [Jesus] said to him, “You Pharisees are [concerned about things that are outside your bodies, not with what is in your] ([inner beings/hearts]) [MET]. You wash the outside of cups and dishes [before you eat because you think that doing that will make you acceptable to God], but within yourselves you are very greedy and wicked.
40 Adwenharefo! Ɛnyɛ nea ɔyɛɛ akyi no ara na ɔyɛɛ mu nso?
You foolish people! [God] is concerned about things that are outside [our bodies], but (he is certainly also concerned about our inner [beings]!/isn’t he also concerned about our hearts?) [RHQ]
41 Monyɛ ahiafo adɔe na biribiara ho bɛtew ama mo.
Give [money] to those who are poor. [Give according to what you know within] your (inner [/heart]) [that you should give]. Then you [will be surprised to realize that] you will be acceptable [to God without having to perform all those rituals about washing].
42 “Mo Farisifo, munnue! Moma mo nnɔbae so ntotoso du du, nanso mototo adetreneeyɛ ne ɔdɔ a mode dɔ Onyankopɔn no ase. Sɛ mokɔ hyiadan mu a, mpanyin tenabea na mopɛ. Saa ara nso na sɛ mokɔ bagua mu a mopɛ sɛ nnipa hu mo kyia mo.
But there will be terrible punishment for you Pharisees! You give to God a tenth of [all you produce, even] the various herbs that you grow, but you do not [remember that you must act] justly [toward others] and love God! It is good to [give a tenth of your income to God], but you ought to do these other things also!
43 “Mo Farisifo, munnue! Sɛ mokɔ hyiadan mu a, mpanyin tenabea na mopɛ.
There will be terrible punishment for you Pharisees, because you like [to sit in] the best seats in our worship places [so that people will think highly of you], and you like people to greet you [respectfully] in the marketplaces.
44 “Munnue! Efisɛ mote sɛ nna a ɛso asram na nnipa nantew so a wonnim sɛ wɔnam nna so.”
There will be terrible punishment for you, because you are like ground where there is no marker [to indicate that there is a] grave [underneath]. People walk there, but they cannot see [what is rotten down below] [MET]! [Similarly, people who see you do not realize how polluted you are within yourselves].”
45 Mmaranimfo no mu baako ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Kyerɛkyerɛfo, sɛ woka saa a na woakasa atia yɛn nso.”
One of those who taught the [Jewish] laws replied, “Teacher, by saying this you [(sg)] are criticizing us [also]!”
46 Yesu buaa no se, “Mo mmaranimfo nso munnue! Mohyɛ nnipa ma wodi mmara a ɛyɛ den so pɛpɛɛpɛ, nanso mo de, munni so sɛ sɛnea ɛsɛ.
Jesus said, “It will be terrible also for you who teach the [Jewish] laws! You require people [to obey many rules that are difficult to obey] [MET]. [That is like making them] carry heavy burdens on their backs. But you yourselves do not obey the laws [that you require others to obey]. (OR, you do not do anything to help [others to obey the laws].)
47 “Munnue! Efisɛ, moatoto adiyifo a mo ankasa anaa mo agyanom kum wɔn no nna so.
There will be terrible punishment for you! You decorate the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed, [but you do not live according to what the prophets taught].
48 Mo nneyɛe yi di adanse sɛ mopene nea mo agyanom yɛe no so. Ne nkyerɛase ne sɛ mo agyanom kunkum adiyifo no na mo nso mototoo wɔn nna so maa wɔn.
So you are declaring that you approve of what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you [are not honoring the prophets! You just] decorate their tombs!
49 Eyi ne nea Onyankopɔn aka afa mo ho: ‘Mɛsoma adiyifo ne asomafo aba mo nkyɛn na mubekunkum bi na moataa wɔn a aka no.’
So God, who is very wise [PRS], said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles [to you Jews]. [You] will kill some of them and cause some of them to suffer greatly.
50 Mereka akyerɛ mo se, adiyifo no mogya a wɔka gu fii wiase mfiase no,
[As a result, I] will consider that many of you people [who have observed my Son’s ministry] will be guilty [MTY] [of murder, as if you had] killed all the prophets that other people have killed, from the time I created the world,
51 efi Habel kum so kosi Sakaria, a wokum no wɔ afɔremuka ne kronkronbea ntam hɔ no so, wobebisa ɛho asɛm afi mo nkyɛn.
starting from [Adam’s son Cain] killing [his brother] Abel and continuing until they killed the prophet Zechariah [in the holy place] between the altar and the temple.’ Yes, what I am saying [is true] [MTY]. [God] will punish you people who have observed my ministry, you people whom [he] considers to be guilty [MTY] for [killing] all those prophets!
52 “Mo, mmaranimfo, munnue! Mode nokware hintaw mo nkurɔfo. Mo ankasa munni so, na mommma wɔn a wɔpɛ sɛ wodi so no kwan mma wonni so.”
There will be terrible punishment for you men who teach the [Jewish] laws, because you have [not let people] know [God’s truth] [MET]! [It is as though you are] taking away a key [to a house]. You are not going into [the house] yourselves, and you are not letting other people enter it, either.”
53 Ofi Farisini no fi hɔ a ɔrekɔ no, mmaranimfo ne Farisifo no dii nʼakyi de nsɛmmisa guan ne ho,
After Jesus finished saying those things, he left there. Then the men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the Pharisees began to act in a very hostile way toward him. They tried to make him say what he thought about many things.
54 pɛɛ sɛ ɔka biribi a wobegyina so anya no akyere no.
They kept waiting for him to say something [wrong] for which they could accuse him.
