Marko 4
1 Bere a ogu so rekyerɛkyerɛ no, nnipadɔm san betwaa ne ho hyiaa wɔ mpoano hɔ. Eyi nti ɔkɔtenaa ɔkorow mu toaa ne kyerɛkyerɛ no so.
Another time Jesus began to teach [people] alongside Lake [Galilee. As he was doing that, a very large crowd gathered around him. Because people were jostling him], he got into a boat in the lake [so that he could speak to the crowd better. Then he sat in it and began to teach the crowd from the boat]. At the same time, the crowd was on the shore close to the lake.
2 Na sɛnea ɔyɛ daa no, ɔnam mmebu so kyerɛɛ wɔn nneɛma bebree se:
Then he taught them many parables. While he was teaching them, he told them [this]:
3 “Muntie! Okuafo bi kɔɔ nʼafum koguu aba. Ogu so regu aba no,
“Consider [well the meaning of this illustration]: A man/farmer went out [to his field] to sow [some seeds].
4 Ogu so regu aba no, aba no bi guu kwankyɛn maa nnomaa bɛsosɔw ne nyinaa dii.
As he was scattering them [over the soil], some [of the] seeds fell on the path. Then some birds came and ate those seeds.
5 Ebi nso koguu ɔbotan a dɔte a ɛwɔ so no nnɔɔso so.
Other [seeds] fell on ground where there was not much soil [on top of] rock. Very soon the [seeds] sprouted because [the sun warmed] the moist soil quickly where it was not deep.
6 Ankyɛ na efifii, nanso esiane sɛ dɔte a ɛwɔ ɔbotan no so no nnɔɔso no nti owia bɔɔ so, na ne nyinaa hyewee.
But after the sun shone [on those young plants], they became scorched. Then they withered because they did not have [deep] roots.
7 Aba no bi nso guu nsɔe mu maa nsɔe no kyekyeree no nti antumi ansow aba.
As the farmer sowed, other [seeds] fell on [ground that contained roots of] thorny plants. [The] seeds [grew, but] the thorny plants also grew up and crowded out [the] good [plants. So the plants] produced no grain.
8 Aba no bi nso guu asase pa mu maa bi nyin sow mmɔho aduasa, ebi aduosia, na afoforo nso mmɔho ɔha.”
But as the farmer sowed, other [seeds] fell on good soil. As a result, they sprouted, they grew well, and then they produced [plenty of] grain. [Some] plants bore 30 [grains]. [Some] bore 60 [grains]. [Some] bore 100 [grains].”
9 Na Yesu kae se, “Nea ɔwɔ aso no ntie!”
Then Jesus said, “If you want to understand this [MTY], you should consider [carefully what I have just said].”
10 Akyiri no a ɛkaa ɔne dumien no ne asuafo afoforo bi no, wobisaa no se, “Asɛm a wokae no ase ne dɛn?”
[Later], when only the twelve [disciples] and a few [other] people were with him, they asked him about the parables.
11 Obuaa wɔn se, “Mo de, wɔada Onyankopɔn Ahenni ho ahintasɛm adi akyerɛ mo. Nanso afoforo de, wɔka no abebu mu na ɛkyerɛ wɔn.
He said to them, “People have not understood before [the new message] about how God wants to rule people’s lives. It is to you that this is being made known {that I am making this known}. But I tell about this [only] (in parables/figuratively) to those who have not [yet invited God to rule their lives].
12 Esiane saa nti, “‘Wohu na wɔte, nanso wɔrente nea wɔte no ase, na wɔrennan mma Onyankopɔn nkyɛn, na wɔremfa wɔn bɔne nso nkyɛ wɔn.’
As a result [it is true what a prophet has written], Although they see [what I do], they do not perceive [what it means] [DOU]. Although they hear [what I say], they do not understand [what it means] [DOU]. So they do not (repent/turn away from their sinful behavior) in order that they would be forgiven {[God] would forgive them}.”
13 “Na sɛ moante saa bɛ yi ase a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na moate mmɛ ahorow a merebebu no ase?
He also said to them, “([I am disappointed that] you do not understand this illustration!/Can you not understand this illustration?) [RHQ] [If you do not understand] this, (you will certainly not understand any of the [other] illustrations!/how will you understand any of the [other] illustrations?) [RHQ] [Nevertheless, I will explain it to you].
14 Okuafo no asɛm no.
[In the illustration that I told you], the man who sows [seeds represents someone who] declares God’s message [DOU].
15 Aba a eguu kwankyɛn no gyina hɔ ma wɔn a wɔte Onyankopɔn asɛm, nanso sɛ wɔte asɛm no a ntɛm ara na ɔbonsam ba wɔn nkyɛn ma wɔn werɛ fi nea wɔate no nyinaa.
[Some people are like] the path on which [some of] the seeds fell. When they hear [the message], Satan comes at once and causes them to forget what they have heard.
16 Aba a eguu ɔbotan so no gyina hɔ ma nnipa a wɔde anigye tie asɛm no.
[Some people are like the ground where the soil was not very deep over] rock. When they hear [God’s] message, they immediately accept it with joy.
17 Nanso wɔte sɛ aba a afifi foforo a ne ntin nkɔ fam. Mfiase no wɔkɔ so fɛfɛɛfɛ, nanso sɛ ɛba sɛ asɛm no nti ɔtaa anaa amanehunu bi to wɔn pɛ a na wɔapa abaw.
But, because [the message does not penetrate deeply] [MET] [into their hearts/inner beings, they] believe it for [only a short time. They are like the plants that] did not have deep roots. When others treat such people badly or cause them to suffer because [they believe], those people [who are suffering] soon stop believing God’s message.
18 Aba a eguu nsɔe mu no nso gyina hɔ ma nnipa a wɔte asɛmpa no,
[Some people are like] the [soil that had roots of] thorny weeds in it. [Although] those people hear [God’s] message,
19 nanso ɛnkyɛ koraa na wiase yi mu afɛfɛde ne ahonyade ne ɔbra yi mu dadwen, nnaadaa ne nneɛma bi ho akɔnnɔ abɛhyɛ wɔn koma mu. Eyi nti asɛm no ntumi nsow aba biara. (aiōn g165)
they desire to be rich, and they desire to own many other things. So they worry [only] about material things. The result is that they forget [God’s] message and they do not do [the things that God wants them to do]. (aiōn g165)
20 Nnipa no bi te sɛ aba a wogu wɔ asase pa mu, wɔte asɛm no, wogye, na wɔsow aba— bi mmɔho aduasa, bi nso sow aduosia, na afoforo nso sow ɔha.”
[But some people] are like the good soil. They hear [God’s] message and they accept it [and they believe] it. [Then they do the things that God wants them to do. They are like the good plants that produced] 30, 60 or 100 [grains].”
21 Afei Yesu bisaa wɔn se, “Moahu obi a ɔsɔ kanea na ɔde hyɛ mpa ase, anaasɛ ɔde ahina butuw so? Mmom mommfa nsi ne dua so ana?
He also told them [another parable], saying, “(People certainly do not [light] an oil lamp and then bring it [in the house] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed./Would anyone [light] an oil lamp and then bring it [in the house] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} under a container or under a bed?) [RHQ] (No, [they light it] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place [where it lights the house].[/Wouldn’t they light it] in order that it may be put {someone may put it} in a place [where it lights the house]?) [RHQ]
22 Wɔbɛda nea ahintaw biara no adi, na nea wɔakata so biara no wɔde bepue gua.
[Similarly], there are some [parts of God’s message] that people do not know. [But he intends that] people will understand all the things that they do not know [now].
23 Nea ɔwɔ aso a obetie no, ma ontie!
If you want to understand this, you should consider [carefully] what you [have just heard].”
24 “Momfa asɛm a mote no nyɛ adwuma. Wɔde mo susukuruwa besusuw ama mo, na ama aboro so mpo.
Then he said to them, “Consider carefully what you hear [me say to you], for [God] will let you [understand] to the same degree that you [consider what I say]. [He] will let you [understand] even more than that.
25 Nea ɔwɔ no, wɔbɛma no bi aka ho; nea onni no, kakraa bi a ɔwɔ no mpo, wobegye afi ne nsam.”
Those who [consider what I say] and understand it, [God] will enable them to understand more. But those who do not [consider carefully what I say], they will forget even what they already know.”
26 Ɔkaa bio se, “Sɛnea Onyankopɔn Ahenni no te ni: Okuafo bi gu aba wɔ asase bi so.
Jesus also said, “God [has the power to change] people who let him rule their lives. I [will illustrate how that can happen] [MET]. A man planted seeds in the ground.
27 Awia ne anadwo, sɛ ɔda o, sɛ onyan o, aba no fifi a onnim sɛnea ɛyɛɛ a enyinii.
Afterwards he slept each night and rose each day [without worrying about the seeds]. [During that time] the seeds sprouted and grew in a way that he did not understand, because by itself the soil [caused the plants to grow and produce grain].
28 Asase no ankasa bɔ nʼaduan, dua no na edi kan, afei etu mɛpɛsɛe na abɔ ama aba no anyin.
First the stalks [appeared]. Then the heads [appeared]. Then the full kernels in the heads [appeared].
29 Sɛ aba no nyin wie a, okuafo no fa ne dade kotwa, efisɛ otwa bere adu.”
As soon as the grain was ripe he sent [people] [MTY] to harvest it because it was time to harvest [the grain].”
30 Ɔsan kae se, “Dɛn ho na yɛde Ɔsoro Ahenni no bɛto, anaa mmebusɛm bɛn na yɛde bɛkyerɛkyerɛ mu?
[Jesus told them] another [parable. He] said, “I will tell you [RHQ] how the [number of people] whose lives God rules in a new way [will continue to grow] (OR, each continue to have more and more influence in this world). I hope [RHQ] that this illustration will show this [to you].
31 Ɛte sɛ onyaa aba, a ɛyɛ ketewaa wɔ aba a wodua nyinaa mu.
[You know what happens to] mustard seeds when we plant them. Though mustard seeds are among the smallest of seeds, [here in Israel] they become large plants.
32 Na sɛ wodua a enyin yɛ kɛse sen nnua a aka no nyinaa, eyiyi mman akɛse ma wim nnomaa besisi ne nwini mu.”
After they are planted, they grow up and become larger than the other garden plants. They put out big branches so that birds are able to make nests in their shade.”
33 Mmebu a ɛtete sɛ eyinom na Yesu de kaa asɛm no kyerɛɛ wɔn, sɛnea wobetumi ate ase.
Jesus used many such illustrations when he talked to the people about God. If they were able to understand [some, he kept telling them more].
34 Ɔnam mmebu so na ɔkasa kyerɛɛ wɔn a wobetiee no no nyinaa, na sɛ ɛka ɔne nʼasuafo no nko a, ɔkyerɛ wɔn ne nyinaa ase.
He always used parables when he spoke to them. But he explained all [the illustrations] to his own disciples when he was alone with them.
35 Eduu anwummere no, Yesu ka kyerɛɛ nʼasuafo no se, “Momma yentwa nkɔ asuogya nohɔ.”
On that same day, when the sun was setting, Jesus said to [his disciples], “Let’s cross over to the opposite side of [Lake Galilee in the boat].”
36 Ɔkaa saa no, wogyaw nnipadɔm no hɔ na ɔne wɔn kɔe a akorow afoforo di wɔn akyi.
So they left the crowd, [got in] the boat where Jesus [already] was, and left. [Other people] went with them in other boats.
37 Prɛko pɛ, ahum kɛse bi tu maa asorɔkye bu bɛkataa ɔkorow no so ma ɛyɛɛ sɛ ɛremem.
A strong wind came up and the waves started coming into the boat! The boat was soon nearly full [of water]!
38 Saa bere no, na Yesu wɔ ɔkorow no to de ne ti ato sumii so ada. Asuafo no de ahopopo ne nteɛteɛ mu konyan no kae se, “Kyerɛkyerɛfo, yɛreyɛ amem yi ɛmfa wo ho?”
Jesus was in the back part of the boat. He was sleeping, [with his head] on a cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! (You ought to be concerned that we are about to die!/Are you not concerned that we are about to die?) [RHQ]”
39 Ɔsɔre teɛteɛɛ mframa no ka kyerɛɛ po no se, “Yɛ komm!” Mframa no gyaee, na po no yɛɛ komm!
So Jesus got up and rebuked the wind. Then he said to the lake, “Be quiet! Be still! [DOU]” The wind [immediately] blowing and then [the lake] became very calm.
40 Yesu bisaa wɔn se, “Adɛn na moyɛ ahufo sɛɛ? Moda so nni gyidi ara?”
He said to the disciples, “([I am disappointed that] you are afraid [like that]!/Why are you afraid [like that]?) [RHQ] Do you not yet believe [that I can protect you]?”
41 Na wɔn ho dwiriw wɔn yiye, bisabisaa wɔn ho wɔn ho se, “Onipa bɛn ni a mframa ne po mpo tie no yi?”
They were very awestruck. They said to one another, “[Not only do the demons obey this man, but] even the wind and the waves obey him! “(What kind of man is he?/This man is [not like ordinary] people!) [RHQ]”
