Mataayi 23
1 Pe u Yesu akalivuula ilipugha lila palikimo na vavulanisivua vaake. Akati,
Then Jesus said to the crowd and to us his disciples,
2 “Avavulanisi va ndaghilo sa Moose na Vafalisayi vali nu vutavulilua uvwa kuvavulanisia avaanhu indaghilo sa Moose.
“Moses was the [renowned] teacher who taught [the people the laws that God gave him] [MTY]. Now, the Pharisees and the men who teach our [Jewish] laws have made themselves the ones who interpret those laws [IDM].
3 Lino mugadililaghe na kuvomba sino nikuvavula, Neke namungavingililaghe amaghendele ghaave, ulwakuuva sino vivulanisia nase sino vivomba.
Consequently, you should do whatever they tell you that you must do. But do not do what they do, because they themselves do not do what they tell [you that you must do].
4 Aveene vipinya amasigho amasitona kukuvatwika avange neke aveene navighela nambe padebe kutanga kupinda.
They [require you to obey many rules that are difficult to obey]. But they themselves [do not help anyone obey those rules. It is] as if they are tying up loads that are hard to carry and putting them on your shoulders [MET] [for you to carry. But they] themselves [do not desire to help anyone obey those laws. They are like] people who do not want to lift [even the slightest load] that they [could lift] [MET]
5 Imbombo sooni sino vivomba, vivomba mulwa kuhufia pamaaso gha vaanhu. Vipinya pa vweni na mu mavoko ififuko ifya ng'hwembe ifikome kukila ifya vange kange vikwongelesia uvutali uvwa filundo ifya salavua mu menda ghaave.
[with] one finger. Whatever they do, they do it to be seen by other people {so that other people will see them doing that}. [For example], they make extra wide the tiny boxes containing portions of Scripture that they wear on their arms. They enlarge the tassels on their robes, [to make others think that they are pious].
6 Mu fikulukulu vilonda kukukala ku fitengo ifya voghopua na mu masinagogi vilonda kukukala kuvulongolo,
[They want people to honor them. For example], at dinner parties they sit in the seats where the most important people sit. In the places of worship [they want to sit] in the seats where the most honored people sit.
7 Kange vilonda avaanhu vavahungilaghe nu vwoghofi mu mapuulo, Vihovoka fiijo pano avaanhu vikuvatambula viiti,”M'bulanisi.”
Also, [they want people to] greet them [respectfully] in the marketplaces and to honor them by calling them ‘Teacher’.
8 Neke umue namungatambuluaghe “M'bulanisi,” Ulwakuva u M'bulanisi ghwinu alijumo mwene umue mweni mulivavingilili.
But you [who are my disciples] should not allow people to address you [honorably] as ‘Rabbi’, [which means ‘teacher]’. I [am the] only one who is [really] your teacher, which means that you are all [equal, like] brothers and sisters, [and none of you should act superior to another, as the Pharisees do].
9 Kange namungatambulaghe umuunhu mu iisi Nhaata ulwakuuva uNhaata ghwinu, alijumo mwene, alikukyanya.
Do not [honor anyone] on earth [by] addressing him as ‘Father’, because God, your Father in heaven, is the only [spiritual] father of all of you.
10 Kange namungatambulwaghe 'Valongosi ulwakuuva umulongosi ghwinu alijumo mwene ghwebKilisite.
Do not [allow people to] call you ‘Instructors’, because I, the Messiah, am the one instructor who [teaches all of] you.
11 Umuunhu ghweni juno ilonda kuuva m'baha ghwinu avisaghe m'bombi ghwinu.
In contrast, everyone among you who wants [God to consider them] to be important must serve others as servants do.
12 Ulwakuva umuunhu ghweni juno ikughinia u Nguluve alamwisila. Neke umuunhu juno ikujisia u Nguluve alamughinia.
[God] will humble those who exalt themselves. And [he] will exalt those who humble themselves.”
13 Iga umue mwe vavulanisi va ndaghilo sa Moose na jumue mwe Vafalisayi, muli vakedusi! Mukuvasigha avaanhu kukagula isila ija kwingila mu vutwa uvwa kukyanya. Jumue mwe veene namukwingila kange vano vilonda kukwingila namukuvitikisia.
[Then Jesus said to the religious leaders], “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! There will be terrible punishment for [you, because by teaching what is false], you [prevent people] [MTY/HYP] [who are thinking about letting] God rule their lives [from doing that] [MET]. [What you are doing is like] closing a gate [MET] [so that people who] are wanting to enter [a city cannot go in]. As for you, [you do not let] God [rule your lives. Neither do you allow] other people [to let God rule their lives. What you do is like] not going into a [house] yourselves, and not allowing others to enter it [either] [MET].”
14 (Iga umue mwe vavulanisi va ndaghilo isa Moose na jumue mwe Vafalisayi muli vakedusi! Mukuvafumba avafwile ifiinu fyave neke mukufuunya inyifuunyo inhali pamaaso gha vaanhu kuuti muvoneke mulivagholofu! Ikighono ikya vuhighi mulupila ulukwegho lwa Nguluve.
15 Iga umue mwe vavulanisi va ndaghilo isa Moose na jumue mwe Vafalisayi, mulivakedusi! Musyuta syuta mu iisi na kuloka inyanja neke mum'bangule nambe umuunhu jumo juno na Muyahudi kuuti aave Muyahudi. Neke kyande avangwike kuuva ghwinu mukum'biika upile kavili kukila umue ulupumuko ulwa mwooto ghuno naghusima lusiku. (Geenna g1067)
“You are hypocrites, you men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees! Your punishment will be terrible, because you exert yourselves very much to get [even] one person to believe what you teach. For instance, you travel across seas and lands [to distant places] in order to do that. And [as a result], when one person [believes what you teach], you make that person much more deserving to go to hell than you yourselves [deserve to].” (Geenna g1067)
16 Iga umue mwe valongosi mwe vabofu amaaso, mukuvavulanisia avaanhu mwiiti. Umuunhu angajiighe vwimila inyumba inyimike ija Nguluve, nalutalamu. Looli umuunhu angajiighe vwimila isahabu jino jili mu nyumba inyimike ija Nguluve ujuo ilondua kuvomba ndavule ajighile.
“You [Jewish leaders], your punishment will be terrible! You are [like people who are] blind [MET] who are trying to lead others. You say, ‘[In the case of] those who promise to [do] something and then ask the Temple [to affirm what they have promised], it means nothing [if they do not do what] they have promised. But if they ask the gold that is in the Temple [to affirm what they have promised], they must do what they promised.’
17 Umue mulivajasu, kange muli vabofu amaaso kiliku ikivaha kukila? Asi, isaabu au inyumba inyimike ija Nguluve jino jipelela isahabu kuuva nyimike?
You are fools, and you are [like people who are] blind [MET]! The gold [that is in the Temple] is important, but [the Temple] is even more important [RHQ], because it is the Temple that the gold is in that sets the gold apart for a special use for God.
18 Kange muvulanisia avaanhu mwiti, Umuunhu angajiighe vwimila ikitekelelo nalutalamu. Looli angajiighe vwimila ilitekelo lino vavikile pa kitekelelo ujuo ilondua kuvomba ndavule ajighile.
Also [you say], ‘In the case of those who promise to [do] something and then ask [the altar to affirm what they have promised], it means nothing [if they do not do what they have promised]. But if they ask the gift [that] they have put on the altar [to support what they have promised], they must do [what they promised].’
19 Umue muli vabofu, kiluki ikivaha kukila, ilitekeo au ikitekelelo kino kipelela ilitekelo liive lyimike?
[You are like people who are] blind [MET]. The gift [that is offered] on the altar is important, but the altar is even more important [RHQ] because it is the altar on which the offering is offered that sets it apart for a special use for God.
20 Umuunhu juno ijigha vwimila ikitekelelo iiva ijiigha vwimila ikitekelelo ni fiinu fyoni fino fivikua pa kyene.
So, those who promise to do something, and then ask the altar [to affirm what they have promised] are asking everything on the altar [to support what they promised].
21 Kange umuunhu ghweni juno ijigha vwimila inyumba inyimike, ija Nguluve iiva ijiigha vwimila inyumba ijio na kwa Nguluve juno ikukala mu nyumba ijio.
Those who promise to do something, and then ask the Temple [to affirm what they promised], are asking that [God], to whom the Temple belongs, [will affirm what they have promised].
22 Ghwope juno ijiigha vwimila kukyanya ijiigha vwimila ikitengo kya Nguluve na kwa Nguluve juno ikukala pa kitengo ikio.
Those who promise to do something and then ask heaven [to affirm what they promised] are asking the throne of God and [God], who sits on that throne, [to affirm what they promised].”
23 Iga umue, mwe vavulanisi va ndaghilo sa Moose, najumue mwe Vafalisayi, muli vakedusi! Mughina kukuntavulila u Nguluve ilitekelo ilya saka mu fiinu ifya ndalama indebe ndavule inyungu ni filungo ifingi ifya kyakulia. Neke namuvikila mwojo kuvomba imbaha sino silungikua mu ndaghilo ndavule kuuva mu vwakyang'haani, kuuva vanyalusungu na kuuva nu lwitiko. Isio se munoghile kuvomba, palikimo na madebe aghuo ghano muvomba.
“You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites because, [even though] you give [to God] a tenth of [the herbs you produce, such as] mint, dill, and cummin, you do not [obey God’s] laws that are more important. [For example, you do not act] justly toward others, you do not act mercifully toward people, and you are not trustworthy. It is good to [give a tenth of your herbs] to God, but you should also [obey] these other [more important laws].
24 Umue mwe valongosi vabofu amaaso! Muhuuja ifiinu ifidebe mu fino munyua neke mugulubika ingamila!
You [leaders are like] blind people [who are trying to lead others. According to your laws you say that touching gnats and camels makes you unacceptable to God. What you are doing is like] straining a gnat [out of a jar of water so that you do not swallow it and thereby become unacceptable to God], and [at the same time] swallowing a camel [with the water] [MET]!”
25 Iga umue, mwe vavulanisi na Vafalisayi, mulivakedusi! Mukuviika vagholofu pamaaso gha vaanhu neke ifiinu fino muli nafyo fya vulyasi nu vugholofu Mulindavule umuunhu juno isuka ikikombe ni sahani, kunji kwene neke ileka munkate muno munyalile uvunyali vuno vuli papinga.
“You men who teach people the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites! You are greedy and selfish, but you [make yourselves appear holy. You are like] cups and plates that have been cleaned on the outside, but on the inside [they are very filthy].
26 Uve ghwe Mfalisayi ghwe m'bofu amaaso, valasia taasi uvuhosi vuno mwevule munkate mulyuve neke imbombo jaako jiiva nofu.
You blind Pharisees! First you must [stop being greedy and selfish]. [Then you will be able to do what] is [righteous. That will be like] cleaning the inside of a cup first. Then when you clean [MET] the outside [of the cup], [the cup will truly be clean].”
27 Iga umue, mwe va vulanisi na Vafalisayi, muli vakedusi! Muli ndavule imbiipa sino vimata ilikeeji, sivoneka nofu, kunji neke munkate simemile amafupa gha vafue nu vunyali uvunge.
“You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites! You are like tombs [SIM] that are painted white [so that people can see them and avoid touching them]. The outside surfaces are beautiful, but inside they are full of dead people’s bones and filth.
28 Fye lulivuo na jumue kunji muvoneka muli vagholofu neke nkate mu moojo ghinu mumemile uvukedusi nu vuhosi.
You are [like those tombs]. When people look at you, they think that you are righteous, but in your (inner beings/hearts) you are hypocrites and you disobey [God’s] commands.”
29 Iga umue, mwe vavulanisi na Vasalisayi, muli vakedusi! Ulwkuuva mujenga imbiipa isa vavili va Nguluve na kulava imbiipa isa vagholofu.
“You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! Your punishment will be terrible! You rebuild the tombs of the [prophets whom others killed long ago]. You decorate the monuments [that honor] righteous [people].
30 Pe mujova mwiiti, Pwetusavisagha amasiki gha vakuulu viitu, natwale tukuvatanga kukuvabuda avavili va Nguluve.
You say, ‘If we had [lived] when our ancestors [MET] [lived], we would not have helped [MET] those who killed [MTY] the prophets.’
31 Mu njovele ijiomuvonia kuuti umue mulivahosi ndavule avakuulu viinu vano valyavabudile avavili va Nguluve.
Thus [you recognize that you should honor the prophets, but you disregard the word of God that other men whom God has sent teach you. In that way] you testify against yourselves that you are descendants and disciples [MET] of those who killed the prophets.
32 Lino, mukwilanisie uvuhosi vuno avakuulu viinu valyatengwile.
You are as ready to murder people as [MET] your ancestors were!
33 Umue mwe kisina ikihosi, mulindavule injoka, inyasumu ing'haali, Nde pobu mupunga ndaani uvuhighi vwa Nguluve uvwa kuvataanga ku lupumuko lwa mwoto ghunobnaghusima lusiku? (Geenna g1067)
[You people are so wicked] You are [as dangerous as poisonous] snakes [DOU, MET]! (You [foolishly] think that you will escape being punished in hell!/Do you [foolishly] think that you will escape when [God] punishes [wicked people] in hell?) [RHQ] (Geenna g1067)
34 Pulikisia, lino, nikuvasung'ha kulyumue avavili, na vaanhu avanya luhala, na vavulanisi vandaghilo sa Moose neke umue mulikuvabuda ni mijeledi mu masinagogi ghiinu na kukuvadagha kuhuma ilikaaja ni likaaja.
Take note that this is why I will send prophets, wise men, and other men who will teach you [my message]. You will kill some of them by nailing them to crosses, and you will kill some in other ways. You will whip some of them in the places where you worship, and [you will] chase them from city to city.
35 Mu uluo u Nguluve ilikuvahigha umue vwimila kukuvabuda avaanhu vooni avagholofu, kuhuma ibudua u Abeli juno nalyahokile kiinu kuhanga ibudua uSakalia unkina Balakia, juno alyabudilue pakate pa nyumba inyimike ija Nguluve na pa kitekelelo.
As a result, God will consider that you are guilty for killing [SYN] all the righteous [people], including killing [MTY] [Adam’s son] Abel, who was a righteous man [SYN], and Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you [are guilty of] killing [in the holy place] between the Temple and the altar, and for killing [all the prophets] who lived between [the times that those two men lived].
36 Kyang'haani nikuvavuula avaanhu ava kisina iki valupila ulukwegho lwa Nguluve vwimila uvuhosi uvuo vwoni.
Think about this: You people who have observed my ministry, it is you whom [God] will punish [for killing all] those [prophets]!”
37 Pe pano u Yesu akati, Yelusalemu, Yelusalemu! Ghubuda avavili na vaanhu vanovvisung'hua kulyuve ukuvatova na mavue! kekinga nilondile kukuvakong'hania avaanhu vaako ndavule ing'uku vule jikong'hania na kughumbatila ifyanaake neke namukunda!
“O [people of] Jerusalem [MTY, APO], you killed the prophets [who lived long ago], and you killed others whom [God] sent to you. You killed them by throwing stones at them [DOU]! Many times I wanted to gather you together [to protect you], like a hen gathers her young chicks under her wings [MET]. But you did not want [me to do that].
38 Lolagha! u Nguluve ikujeleka inyumba jiinu kuuva mahaame.
So listen to this: Your city [SYN] will [soon] become an uninhabited place.
39 Kyang'haani nikuvavuula kuuti, kutengulila lino namunganyaaghe, kange kuhanga unsiki pano muliiti,'Afunyilue juno ikwisa mulitavua lya Mutwa u Nguluve.”'
Keep this in mind: You will see me again only when I [return], and you say [about me], ‘[God] is truly pleased with this man who comes with God’s authority [MTY].’”
