Mateo 21
1 Aka kakra na Yesu ne nʼasuafo no adu Yerusalem no, wɔbɛn kurow bi a wɔfrɛ no Betfage a ɛwɔ Ngo Bepɔw no so hɔ no. Ɛhɔ na Yesu somaa nʼasuafo no mu baanu se, wonni kan nkɔ.
As [we] approached Jerusalem, we came near Bethphage [village], near Olive [Tree] Hill. Jesus said to two [of his] disciples, “Go to the village just ahead of us. As soon as you enter [it], you will see a donkey and her foal that are {someone has} tied [up]. Untie them and bring them [here] to me.
2 Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Sɛ mudu hɔ a, mubehu sɛ wɔasa afurum bi ne ne ba hama. Monsan wɔn, na momfa wɔn mmrɛ me.
3 Sɛ obi ka asɛm bi kyerɛ mo a, monka nkyerɛ onipa ko no se, ‘Wɔn ho hia Awurade,’ na ntɛm ara ɔbɛma mo de wɔn aba.”
If anyone says anything to you [about your doing that], tell [him], ‘The Lord needs them.’ He will [then allow you to] lead them away.”
4 Wɔyɛɛ eyi de hyɛɛ tete nkɔmhyɛ a ɛka se,
When all this happened, what was written by a prophet {what a prophet wrote about} was fulfilled {happened}. The prophet wrote, “Tell the people who live in Jerusalem [SYN], ‘Look! Your king is coming to you! He will come humbly. He [will show that he is humble, because he will be] riding on a colt, the offspring of a donkey.’”
5 “Monka nkyerɛ Ɔbabea Sion se wo hene reba wo nkyɛn. Odwo, na ɔte afurum ne afurum ba so” no mu den.
6 Asuafo baanu no yɛɛ nea Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn no.
So the [two] disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do.
7 Wɔde mmoa no brɛɛ no no, wɔde wɔn ntama sesɛw afurum no so, maa Yesu tenaa no so.
They brought the donkey and its colt [to Jesus]. They placed their cloaks on them [to make something for him to sit on]. Then Jesus [mounted the colt] and sat on the cloaks.
8 Nnipadɔm a wɔwɔ hɔ no bi de wɔn ntama sesɛw ɔkwan a ɔde aboa no nam so no so. Ebinom nso bubuu nnua mman de sesɛw ɔkwan no mu saa ara.
Then a large crowd spread [some of] their clothing on the road, and other [people] cut off branches from [palm] trees and spread them on the road. [They did those things to decorate the road in order to honor Jesus].
9 Dɔm no tu teɛe de osebɔ teɛteɛɛ mu se, “Hosiana Dawid Ba!” “Nhyira ne nea ɔnam Awurade din mu reba no.” “Hosiana wɔ ɔsoro nohɔ!”
The crowds that walked in front of him and those who walked behind him were shouting things like, “Praise the [Messiah], the descendant of [King] David!” “May the Lord [God] bless [this one] who comes as [God’s] representative and with [God’s] authority [MTY].” “Praise God, who is in the highest [heaven]!”
10 Bere a oduu Yerusalem no, kurow no nyinaa bɔɔ twi. Ɛhɔfo no bisae se, “Na hena ni?”
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, a crowd of people [MTY] from all [over the city] became excited and were saying, “Why [are they honoring] this man [like that]?”
11 Nnipadɔm no buae se, “Ɛyɛ Yesu, Odiyifo a ofi Nasaret a ɛwɔ Galileaman mu no.”
The crowd [that was already following him] said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee!”
12 Yesu fii hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ hyiadan mu. Oduu hɔ no, ɔpam aguadifo a wɔwɔ hɔ no nyinaa, kaa sikasesafo apon nyinaa guu fam, bubuu pata a wɔtɔn mmorɔnoma wɔ mu no nyinaa gui.
Then Jesus went into the Temple [courtyard] and chased out all of those who were buying and selling things there. He also overturned the tables of those who were giving [Temple tax money in exchange for Roman] coins, and he overturned the seats of those who were selling pigeons [for sacrifices].
13 Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se, ‘Mʼasɔrefi yɛ beae a wɔbɔ mpae.’ Nanso mo de, mode hɔ ayɛ adwowtwafo atenae.”
Then he said to them, “It is {([Jeremiah/A prophet]) has} written [in the Scriptures that God said], ‘[I want] my house to be called a place where [people] pray’, but you bandits have made it [MET] your hideout!”
14 Afei anifuraefo ne mmubuafo baa ne nkyɛn wɔ hyiadan mu hɔ ma ɔsaa wɔn nyinaa yare.
After that, [many] blind [people] and lame [people] came to Jesus in the temple [in order that he would heal them], and he healed them.
15 Nanso bere a asɔfo mpanyin ne Yudafo mpanyin bi huu anwonwade yi na wɔtee nso sɛ mmofra nkumaa a wɔwɔ hyiadan mu hɔ reteɛteɛ mu se, “Nhyira nka Dawid Ba no” no, anyɛ wɔn dɛ.
The high priests and the men who taught the people the [Jewish] laws saw the wonderful deeds that Jesus did. [They also saw and] heard the children shouting in the Temple, “We praise the [Messiah], the descendant of [King] David!” The religious leaders were indignant [because they did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah].
16 Enti wobisaa Yesu se, “Wote nsɛm a mmofra no reka no ana?” Yesu bua se, “Yiw. Na monkenkan saa Kyerɛwsɛm a ɛka se, “‘Mmofra ne nkokoaa mpo de wɔn ano kamfo wo’ no da, ana?”
[They thought that Jesus should not be allowing the children to say that], so they asked him, “[How can you tolerate] this [RHQ]? Do you hear what these [children] are shouting?” Then Jesus said to them, “Yes, I [hear them, but] if you [remembered what] you have read [in the Scriptures about children praising me, you would know that God is pleased] [RHQ] [with them]. [The psalmist] wrote, [saying to God], ‘You have taught infants and other children to praise you perfectly.’”
17 Afei ofii hɔ san kɔɔ Betania kɔdaa hɔ.
Then Jesus left the city. We [disciples] went [with him] to Bethany [town], and we slept there [that night].
18 Ade kyee anɔpa a ɔresan akɔ Yerusalem no, ɔkɔm dee no.
Early [the next morning], when we were returning to the city, [Jesus] was hungry.
19 Ohuu sɛ borɔdɔma dua bi si ɔkwan ho baabi. Ɔkɔɔ hɔ kɔhwɛɛ sɛ borɔdɔma no bi wɔ so, nanso oduu hɔ no, ohuu sɛ nhaban nko ara na ɛwɔ so. Ɔdomee borɔdɔma dua no se, “Efi nnɛ, worensow aba bio!” Ɛhɔ ara borɔdɔma dua no wui. (aiōn g165)
He saw a fig tree near the road. [So he went over to it to pick some figs to eat]. But when he got close, he saw that there were no [figs on the tree]. There were only leaves on it. So [to illustrate how God would punish the nation of Israel], he said to the fig tree, “May you never again produce figs!” As a result, the fig tree withered that night. (aiōn g165)
20 Asɛm yi yɛɛ Yesu asuafo no nwonwa ma wobisaa no se, “Na ɛyɛɛ dɛn nti na borɔdɔma dua no so nhaban poo ntɛm saa?”
[The next day] when we disciples saw [what had happened to the tree], we marveled, and we said [to Jesus], “(It is astonishing that the fig tree withered so quickly!/How is it that the fig tree dried up so quickly?)” [RHQ]
21 Yesu nso buaa wɔn se, “Nokware, sɛ mowɔ gyidi na munnhinhim a, mubetumi ayɛ ade koro yi ara bi, anaa nea ɛkyɛn saa mpo. Anka mubetumi aka akyerɛ Ngo Bepɔw yi se, ‘Tutu kogu po mu,’ na ebetutu akogu mu nso.
Jesus said to us, “Think about this: If you believe [that God has power to do what you ask him to] and you do not doubt [that], you will be able to do [things like what I have] done to this fig tree. You will even be able to do [marvelous deeds like] saying to a nearby hill, ‘Uproot yourself and throw yourself into the sea’, and it will happen!
22 Biribiara a mode gyidi bebisa wɔ mpaebɔ mu no, mo nsa bɛka.”
In addition [to that], whenever you ask [God for something] when you pray [to him, if you] believe [that he will give it to you], you will receive [it from him].”
23 Yesu san kɔɔ hyiadan mu hɔ a ɔrekyerɛkyerɛ no, asɔfo mpanyin ne Yudafo mpanyin baa ne kyɛn bebisaa no tumi ko a ogyina so pam aguadifo ne sikasesafo no fii hyiadan mu hɔ no.
After that, Jesus went into the Temple [courtyard]. While he was teaching [the people], the chief priests and the elders of the Jewish Council approached him. They asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who authorized you to do what you did [here yesterday] [DOU]?”
24 Yesu kae se, “Merebebisa mo asɛm baako bi, na mummua me ansa.
Jesus said to them, “I also will ask you a question, and if you answer me, I will tell you who authorized me to do these things.
25 Onyankopɔn na ɔsomaa Osuboni Yohane anaa ɛnyɛ ɔno?” Wodwinnwen ho kae se, “Sɛ yɛka sɛ ‘Efi Onyankopɔn’ a, wobebisa yɛn nea enti a yɛannye nea Yohane kae no anni?
Where did John [the Baptizer] get [his authority to] baptize [those who came to him]? [Did he get it] from God or from people? [MTY/EUP]” The chief priests and elders debated among themselves [about what they should answer]. [They said to each other], “If we say, ‘[It was] [MTY/EUP] from God’, he will say to us, ‘Then (you should have believed his [message]!/why did you not believe [John’s message]?) [RHQ]’
26 Na sɛ yɛka se, ‘Ɛnyɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔsomaa no’ nso a, dɔm no bɛhaw yɛn efisɛ, wɔn nyinaa nim sɛ Yohane yɛ odiyifo.”
If we say, ‘It was from people’, we are afraid that the crowd [will react violently], because all [the people] believe that John was a prophet [sent by God].”
27 Enti wɔn mmuae a wɔmae ara ne sɛ, “Yennim!” Ɛhɔ ara na Yesu nso kae se, “Sɛ munnim de a, me nso meremmua mo.”
So they answered Jesus, “We do not know [where John got his authority].” Then he said to them, “[Because you did not answer my question], I will not tell you who authorized me to do the things I did [here yesterday].”
28 Yesu kae se, “Saa asɛm a merebɛka yi mudwen ho dɛn? Ɔbarima bi wɔ mmabarima baanu. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn mu panyin no se, ‘Me ba, nnɛ kɔ mʼafum na kɔyɛ adwuma wɔ hɔ.’
[Then Jesus said to the chief priests and elders], “Tell me [RHQ] what you think [about what I am about to tell you]. There was a man who had two sons. He went to his older son and said, ‘My son, go and work in my vineyard today!’
29 “Ne ba no kae se, ‘Merenkɔ,’ nanso akyiri no, ɔsesaa nʼadwene na ɔkɔe.
But the son said [to his father], ‘I do not want to [go and work in your vineyard today]!’ But later he changed his mind, and he went to the vineyard [and worked].
30 “Afei agya no ka kyerɛɛ akumaa no se, ‘Wo nso kɔ.’ Ɔno nso kae se, ‘Agya, mate, mɛkɔ.’ Nanso wankɔ.
Then the father approached his younger son and said what he had said to his older son. That son said, ‘Sir, I will [go and work in the vineyard today.’] But he did not go there.
31 “Saa mmofra baanu yi mu hena na otie nʼagya asɛm?” Wobuae se, “Ɛyɛ ne ba panyin no.” Yesu see wɔn se, “Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ abɔnefo ne nguamanfo bɛkɔ Ɔsoro Ahenni mu ansa na moakɔ.
So which of the man’s two sons did what their father desired?” They answered, “The older son.” Jesus [explained to them what that parable meant] by saying, “Think about this: [It is more likely that other people, including] tax collectors and prostitutes, [whom you think are very sinful], will enter where God rules, than it is that you [Jewish leaders] will enter.
32 Efisɛ Yohane baa mo nkyɛn sɛ ɔrebɛkyerɛ mo trenee kwan, na moannye no anni. Nanso towgyefo ne nguamanfo gyee no dii. Na muhuu eyi mpo no, moansakra mo adwene, na moannye no anni.”
I [say this to you] because, even though John [the Baptizer] explained to you how to live righteously, you did not believe his message. But tax collectors and prostitutes believed his [message, and they turned away from their sinful behavior]. In contrast, you, even though you saw what they did, refused to turn away from your sinful behavior, and you did not believe [John’s message].”
33 Yesu buu wɔn bɛ foforo bi se, “Da bi, ɔbarima bi a ɔwɔ bobeturo a wagye ban afa ho, na watu amoa a wokyi nsa wɔ mu, de afuw no gyaw akuafo bi. Eyi akyi no, otuu kwan kɔɔ ɔman foforo bi so.
“Listen to another parable [that I will tell you]. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He built a fence around it. He dug a hole in the ground [inside the fence]. He placed [in the hole] a stone tank to [collect the juice that would be] pressed out of the grapes. He also built a tower [inside that fence that someone would sit in to guard that vineyard]. He arranged for some men [to care for] the vineyard [and to give him some of the grapes in return]. Then he went away to another country.
34 Eduu bere a bobe no beree a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔtew no, ɔsomaa ne ho nnipa baa akuafo no hɔ sɛ wommegye ne kyɛfa mmrɛ no.
When it was time to harvest the grapes, the landowner sent some of his servants to the men who were taking care of the vineyard to get his share of the grapes [that the vineyard had produced].
35 “Woduu hɔ ara pɛ na akuafo no tow hyɛɛ nnipa no so, boroo ɔbaako, kum ɔbaako na wosiw ɔbaako nso abo.
But the renters seized the servants. They beat one of them, they killed another one, and [killed] another one of them [by throwing] stones at him.
36 Afei ɔsan somaa nnipa a wɔn dodow sen wɔn a ɔsomaa wɔn kan no se wɔnkɔ akuafo no nkyɛn, nanso asɛm koro no ara bi na esii.
[So the landowner] sent more servants than [he had sent] the first [time]. The renters treated those servants the same way that [they had treated the other servants].
37 Eyi akyi no ɔsomaa ɔno nʼankasa ne ba kɔɔ akuafo no nkyɛn susuwii sɛ, wɔde nidi bɛma no.
Later, [knowing this], [the landowner] sent his son to [the renters to get his share of the grapes]. When he sent him, he said [to himself], ‘They will certainly respect my son [and give him some of the grapes].’
38 “Nanso akuafo no huu sɛ ne ba no apue reba pɛ, wɔfaa ne ho adwene kae se, ‘Ɔdedifo no na ɔreba no; momma yenkum no, na yɛmfa afuw no!’
But when the renters saw his son [arriving], they said to each other, ‘This is the man who will inherit [this vineyard]! Let’s kill him and divide the property [among ourselves].’
39 Ɛhɔ ara na wɔtwee no fii afuw no mu, kokum no too baabi.
So they grabbed him, dragged him outside the vineyard, and killed him.
40 “Sɛ afuw wura no san ba a, mugye di sɛ dɛn na ɔbɛyɛ saa akuafo no?”
[Now I ask you], when the landowner returns to his vineyard, what [do you think] he will do to those renters?”
41 Yudafo mpanyin no buae se, “Ɔno nso bekum saa atirimɔdenfo no na ɔde afuw no ama akuafo foforo a wɔde ne kyɛfa bɛma no bere a ɛsɛ mu.”
[The chief priests and elders] replied, “He will thoroughly destroy those wicked [renters]! Then he will rent the vineyard to others. They will give him [his share of] the grapes when they are ripe.”
42 Yesu bisaa wɔn bio se, “Monkenkan Kyerɛwsɛm no mu da sɛ, “‘Ɔbo a adansifo apo no ɛno ara na abɛyɛ ɔdan no twea so tibo. Awurade na wayɛ eyi, na ɛyɛ nwonwa wɔ yɛn ani so?’
Jesus said to them, “[That is right, so you need to think carefully about these words which] you have read [RHQ] in the Scriptures: The builders rejected a certain stone. [But others put] that same stone [in its proper place, and it] has become the most important stone [of the] building [MET]. The Lord has done this, and we marvel as we look at it.
43 “Nea mereka ara ne sɛ, wobegye Onyankopɔn Ahenni no afi mo nsam de akɔma ɔman foforo a wobebu ne nnɔbae no ho nkontaa pa akyerɛ no.
So, [because you reject me], I am going to tell you this: God will no longer let you [Jews] be the people over whom he rules. Instead, he will let [non-Jews] be the people over whom he rules, and they will do [IDM] what he asks them to do.
44 Wɔn a wɔbɛhwe saa ɔbotan yi so no mu bebubu, na nea ɔbo no bɛhwe ne so no nso bɛpɛtɛw.”
[The important stone in the building represents me, the Messiah, and those who reject me are like people who fall on this stone]. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken into pieces {This cornerstone will break into pieces anyone who falls on it}, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
45 Bere a asɔfo mpanyin ne Yudafo mpanyin no tee ase sɛ Yesu asɛm a ɔreka no fa wɔn ho no,
When the chief priests and the [elders who were] Pharisees heard this parable, they realized that he was accusing them [because they did not believe that he was the Messiah].
46 wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔyɛ no bɔne, nanso na wosuro dɔm no efisɛ na wɔagye Yesu ato mu sɛ ɔyɛ Odiyifo.
They wanted to seize him, but [they did not do so] because they were afraid of what the crowds [would do if they did that], because [the crowds] considered that Jesus was a prophet.
