Obey Those in Authority
1All of you must obey those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God. 2So whoever opposes the authorities opposes leaders whom God has appointed. Those who do that will be judged. 3If you do what is right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But watch out if you do what is wrong! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what is right, and you will be praised. 4The one in authority serves God for your good. But if you do wrong, watch out! Rulers don’t carry a sword for no reason at all. They serve God. And God is carrying out his anger through them. The ruler punishes anyone who does wrong. 5You must obey the authorities. Then you will not be punished. You must also obey them because you know it is right.
6That’s also why you pay taxes. The authorities serve God. Ruling takes up all their time. 7Give to everyone what you owe them. Do you owe taxes? Then pay them. Do you owe anything else to the government? Then pay it. Do you owe respect? Then give it. Do you owe honor? Then show it.
Love Fulfills the Law
8Pay everything you owe. But you can never pay back all the love you owe one another. Whoever loves other people has done everything the law requires. 9Here are some commandments to think about. “Do not commit adultery.” “Do not commit murder.” “Do not steal.” “Do not want what belongs to others.” (Exodus 20:13–15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17–19,21) These and all other commands are included in one command. Here’s what it is. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) 10Love does not harm its neighbor. So love does everything the law requires.
The Day Is Near
11When you do these things, keep in mind the times we are living in. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. The full effects of our salvation are closer now than when we first believed in Christ. 12The dark night of evil is nearly over. The day of Christ’s return is almost here. So let us get rid of the works of darkness that harm us. Let us do the works of light that protect us. 13Let us act as we should, like people living in the daytime. Have nothing to do with wild parties, and don’t get drunk. Don’t take part in sexual sins or evil conduct. Don’t fight with each other or be jealous of anyone. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ as if he were your clothing. Don’t think about how to satisfy sinful desires.
Momfa Nidie Mma Tumi
1Ɛsɛ sɛ obiara brɛ ne ho ase ma tumi a ɛwɔ ɔman no mu, ɛfiri sɛ, tumi biara nni hɔ a ɛmfiri Onyankopɔn pɛ mu. Tumi biara a ɛwɔ hɔ no firi Onyankopɔn. 2Obiara a ɔne tumi a ɛwɔ hɔ no di asie no tia deɛ Onyankopɔn ahyehyɛ. Na obiara a ɔbɛyɛ saa no de atemmuo ba nʼankasa ara so. 3Wɔn a wɔyɛ papa no nsuro atumfoɔ, na mmom wɔn a wɔyɛ amumuyɛ no na wɔsuro atumfoɔ. Wopɛ sɛ woyɛ obi a ɔnsuro deɛ tumi wɔ ne nsam anaa? Ɛnneɛ, yɛ deɛ ɛtene na ɔbɛkamfo wo. 4Ɛfiri sɛ, ɔyɛ Onyankopɔn ɔsomfoɔ a wo yiedie mu enti na ɔyɛ adwuma. Na sɛ woyɛ bɔne a, suro no ɛfiri sɛ, ne tumi a ɔde twe aso no da hɔ fann. Ɔyɛ Onyankopɔn ɔsomfoɔ, enti ɔnam Onyankopɔn abufuo so twe wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne no aso. 5Esiane saa enti, ɛsɛ sɛ wobrɛ wo ho ase ma tumi, a ɛnyɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn abufuo no enti, na mmom, ɛsiane nim a wonim sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ woyɛ no enti.
6Yei enti na ɛsɛ sɛ wotua toɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, sɛ atumfoɔ no yɛ wɔn adwuma a, wɔyɛ ma Onyankopɔn. 7Enti, tua ka a wode wɔn; tua ka a wode; sɛ ɛyɛ wo honam mu ka anaasɛ ɛyɛ agyapadeɛ ho ka, na fa obuo ne anidie ma wɔn nyinaa.
Asɛdeɛ
8Nne obiara ka. Ɛka a ɛsɛ sɛ wode ara ne sɛ wobɛdɔ afoforɔ. Obiara a ɔdɔ ne yɔnko nnipa no adi mmara no so. 9Mmaransɛm a ɛka sɛ, “Nsɛe awadeɛ, nni awu, mmɔ korɔno, mma wʼani mmere adeɛ,” yeinom ne deɛ ɛkeka ho nyinaa tiawatwa ara ne sɛ, “Dɔ wo yɔnko sɛ wo ho.” 10Obiara a ɔdɔ ne yɔnko no nyɛ no bɔne. Sɛ wodɔ wo yɔnko a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ woadi mmara no nyinaa so.
11Ɛsɛ sɛ woyɛ yei, ɛfiri sɛ, wonim mmerɛ a wowɔ mu. Ɛberɛ aduru sɛ wosɔre firi wo nna mu. Ɛfiri sɛ, ɛberɛ a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔgye yɛn nkwa no abɛn sene ɛberɛ a yɛgye dii kane no. 12Adesaeɛ retwam, na adekyeeɛ reyɛ abɛn yɛn. Enti, momma yɛnnyae nneɛma a ɛyɛ sum deɛ no yɛ, na momfa akodeɛ a wɔde ko hann mu no. 13Momma yɛmmɔ yɛn bra yie te sɛ nnipa a wɔte hann no mu a agobɔne anaa nsãborɔ, adwamammɔ anaa ahohwie, ɔko anaa anibereɛ nni mu. 14Momma Awurade Yesu Kristo mmɛn mo te sɛ ntoma a mofira, na morempɛ sɛ mobɛyɛ deɛ ɔhonam pɛ.
