1 Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. 2 They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. 3 So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, 4 I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.
An Angel Tells about the Birth of John
5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron. 6 Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded. 7 But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.
8 One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest. 9 According to the custom of the priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord's temple that day and to burn incense, 10 while the people stood outside praying.
11 All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. 12 Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. 13 But the angel told him:
Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John. 14 His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad. 15 Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.
16 John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. 17 He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. This is how John will get people ready for the Lord.
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”
19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. 20 You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”
21 The crowd was waiting for Zechariah and kept wondering why he was staying in the temple so long. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak, and they knew he had seen a vision. He motioned to them with his hands, but did not say a thing.
23 When Zechariah's time of service in the temple was over, he went home. 24 Soon after this, his wife was expecting a baby, and for five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself, 25 “What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.”
An Angel Tells about the Birth of Jesus
26 One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee 27 with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. 28 The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!”
38 Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. 42 Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. 43 Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. 45 The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
Mary's Song of Praise
46 Mary said:
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
47 and I am glad
because of God my Savior.
48 God cares for me,
his humble servant.
From now on,
all people will say
God has blessed me.
49 God All-Powerful has done
great things for me,
and his name is holy.
50 He always shows mercy
to everyone
who worships him.
51 The Lord has used
his powerful arm
to scatter those
who are proud.
52 God drags strong rulers
from their thrones
and puts humble people
in places of power.
53 God gives the hungry
good things to eat,
and sends the rich away
with nothing.
54 God helps his servant Israel
and is always merciful
to his people.
55 The Lord made this promise
to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his family
forever!
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 When Elizabeth's son was born, 58 her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad.
59 Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John.”
61 The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.” 62 So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. 64 At once, Zechariah started speaking and praising God.
65 All the neighbors were frightened because of what had happened, and everywhere in the hill country people kept talking about these things. 66 Everyone who heard about this wondered what this child would grow up to be. They knew the Lord was with him.
Zechariah Praises the Lord
67 The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:
68 Praise the Lord,
the God of Israel!
He has come
to save his people.
69 Our God has given us
a mighty Savior
from the family
of David his servant.
70 Long ago the Lord promised
by the words
of his holy prophets
71 to save us from our enemies
and from everyone
who hates us.
72 God said he would be kind
to our people and keep
his sacred promise.
73 He told our ancestor Abraham
74 that he would rescue us
from our enemies.
Then we could serve him
without fear,
75 by being holy and good
as long as we live.
76 You, my son, will be called
the prophet of God Most High.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to get everything ready
for him.
77 You will tell his people
that they can be saved
when their sins
are forgiven.
78 God's love and kindness
will shine upon us
like the sun that rises
in the sky.
79 On us who live
in the dark shadow
of death
this light will shine
to guide us
into a life of peace.
80 As John grew up, God's Spirit gave him great power. John lived in the desert until the time he was sent to the people of Israel.
1 Teopila ri:
Lidri amba ojote ta ŋgase ayebe ama lako ono tana egyine. 2 Ànya egyiyi ta tase iti tana be ämäri ànya se kondreyi ŋga kwoi be ṛo ni etovoya ago se kopeyi lazona be ono te. 3 Tana ta'doro, mise Fopara ono, tana metenyi tase cini kwoi zevona te liyaro ni etovo ànyaro ya, musu tavona be ni kado tana egyine sirosiro miri. 4 Ma oyena nonye tana mini taŋgye ta cini se emba mibe sina ono robe.
Ayo Uti Yoane Bapatisi'ba ro Tana te
5 Tuse Eroda be ni 'bädri'ba Yuda ro ana si, kohani aza orivoya äzite Zekaria, se ni zelevo Abija kohani ro yasi. Toko ndaro ävuruna Elizabeta; anya kpa ni katidri kohani Arona ro yasi. 6 Ànya riti riyi ori kado te Lu mile ago royi ota ndi ta cini Opi robe te kadoro. 7 Ànya teinye ŋgwai ako tana Elizabeta kondo yi, ago anya ndi Zekaria be riti dete.
8 Tu alo si oko Zekaria ka ugu losi ndaro kohani ro oyena Yekalu ya, ka ugu kama ndaro ruindu ro ondoalo oyena. 9 Oso la'bi kohanii ro ronye, anji nda te vodo ovo si ŋga tägyi tagyiri ro ozane vo tori oloro dri. Ago nda oyite Yekalu Opi roya, 10 ago lowa lidri ro tesi mätuyite saa ŋga tägyi tagyiri ro oza rosi.
11 Malaika Opi ro ka'darute ndäri edrete telesi drígwo vo tori oloro ro se aza ŋga tägyi tagyiri robe kigye ana ya. 12 Ondro Zekaria kondre nda te oko, nda larote ago a'dote turituri ro. 13 Oko malaika atate ndäri ekye: “Nyuturi ko, Zekaria! Lu eri mätu miro te, ago toko miro Elizabeta utina ŋgwa agoro 'da miri, ago mizina ävuru ndaro 'da Yoane. 14 Nya'dona yai'dwesi ago riyä si ago 'di azaka amba a'dona kpa yai'dwesi ondro äti nda te owo! 15 Nda a'dona 'da mano 'desi ro Opi mile. Beṛo ko ndäri vino ndi wa osoekye be umvune. Ṛo ni uti ndaro si nda a'dona 'da twi Tori Alokado be, 16 ago nda ezina amba lidri Yisaraele ro ro 'da Opi Lu ànyaro re. 17 Nda oyina 'da Opi mile, mbara be ago aṛi be oso nebi Eliya ronye. Nda ezina täpii ndi ŋgwai be 'da voaloya kpa to'di, nda ezana mi lidri taoroako'bai ro 'da kovole liti tavousu ro ŋgyero ya, nda edena lidri Opi ro 'da nja ndäri.”
18 Zakaria atate malaika ri ekye: “Ondro ka'do ta ono ka'do ndi endaro mänina eŋwanye ya? Yauono made te, ago toko maro de kpate.” 19 Malaika zatadrite ekye: “Ma Gaberiele, ma edre Lu kandra, nda ezo ma te ta opene miri ago lazo kado ono tana itine miri. 20 Oko mima kote lazo maro ya, se a'dona 'da endaro tu ŋgyena ya. Tana mima kote nya'dona te mbaraako atane, mirina te titiro madale tuse tao'ba maro miri a'dona lutu endaro.”
21 Lidri rite madaro Zakaria kotevoya ago laroyite tu ori ndaro madaro Yekalu ya tana ro. 22 Ondro nda kefote tesi oko, nda ni kote atane ànyari, ago 'dooko ànya niyite anjioko nda ndre rulofo te Yekalu ya. Nda te mbaraako ta atane, nda ye taka'daro te ànyari drí ndaro si.
23 Ondro tu ndaro ruindu ro Yekalu ya kokyete oko, Zekaria oyite kovole 'bäru. 24 Tu fere vosi oko toko ndaro Elizabeta kwo ŋgwa te ago efo kote ni zo yasi imba na nji. 25 Anya atate ekye: “Yauono Opi pa ma te. Nda ana driupi maro se azi mile ono te.”
Ayo Uti Yesu ro Tana te
26 Imba njidrialo Elizabeta ro a'doro kovoro rosi oko Lu zo malaika Gaberiele te 'ba'desi aza Galilaya roya se äzibe Nazareta. 27 Nda lazo be ŋguti se a'be te mano se äzibe Yosepa ana ri, se ni zelevo 'Bädri'ba Dawidi ro yasi. Ävuru ŋguti ro ni Maria. 28 Malaika ikyite anya re ago atate ekye: “Taliatokpe ka'do mibe! Opi orivoya mibe ago äṛu mite ndra!” 29 Maria a'dote rritiro tusuro lazo malaika ro tana ro, ago anya larote lo'bemite ata ndaro takacina ro. 30 Malaika atate anya ri ekye: “Nya'do ko turituri ro, Maria; Lu a'dote yauni be miri. 31 Mikwona ŋgwa 'da ago mitina ŋgwaagoro 'da, ago mizina ävuru ndaro 'da Yesu. 32 Nda a'dona 'da 'desi ro ago äzina 'da Ŋgwa Lu Fopara Ndra ro. Opi Lu o'bana nda 'da 'bädri'ba ro, oso zutu ndaro Dawidi ronye, 33 ago nda a'dona 'da 'bädri'ba ro, zelevoi Yakoba ro ri äduako, miri 'bädri'ba ndaro ro okyena ko alona!”
34 Maria atate malaika ri ekye: “Ma drigba ŋguti kodroŋwa ro, oko 'do a'dona eŋwanye ya?”
35 Malaika zatadrite ekye: “Tori Alokado ikyina 'da midri ago mbara Lu Fopara Ndra ro orina 'da midri. Tana ta ono ro ŋgwa alokado ono äzina 'da Ŋgwa Lu ro. 36 Miyi ta diri miro Elizabeta ro. Atate ekye anya unina ko te a'done ŋgwà be, oko andivo anyaro te kovoro ro yauono imbana te njidrialo; anya gica odeodero pari owo. 37 Tana ŋga aza i'do se Lu unina ko oyene.”
38 Maria atate ekye: “Ma ni ruindu'ba Opi ro owo, mi'ba ka'do ndi märi oso nyatabe ronye.” Ago malaika oyite ni anya resi.
Maria Täkyi Elizabeta te
39 Ono vosi Maria ŋgate dori ago oyite foroforo 'ba'desi 'bädri lutu ro Yuda roya. 40 Anya oyi cite zo Zakaria roya ago ye mede te Elizabeta ri. 41 Ondro Elizabeta keri mede oye Maria rote oko ŋgwa ŋgate anya ya, ago Elizabeta a'dote twi Tori Alokado be, 42 ago trete amba ekye: “Äṛu mi te ndrani 'ditoko cini ri, ago ŋgwa se nya oyebe utine ono äṛute! 43 Tase 'desi ro ono a'dote märi etaya, tana e'di endre Opi maro ro ikyite ma täkyine niya? 44 Tana meri mede miro te dori oko, ŋgwa maya ŋgate yai'dwesi. 45 Opi äṛu mite tana mimate anjioko lazo ndaro miri a'dona ndi endaro.”
Maria ka Lu Räṛu
46 Maria atate ekye:
“Ya maro ka Opi räṛu;
47 lindri maro yai'dwesi ta Lu Opa'ba maro rota,
48 tana nda yi ta ma ruindu'ba ndaro mäyuro rote.
Etoni yauono le kovole'bai se cini kabe ikyi ya lidri atana 'da ekye äṛu ma te,
49 tana ŋgase 'desi ro Lu Mbarapara koyebe märi ono ta.
Ävuru ndaro ni alokado;
50 ni kovole'bai alo ya le vona cini ya
nda ka yauni ka'da ànya se koroyi nda be kai ri.
51 Nda pere kufu mbaraekye ndaro te
ago pere driuŋgyi'bai te tavoora cini ànyaro be.
52 Nda lofo 'bädri'bai mbaraekye te vuru ni gitii ànyaro drisi,
ago eŋga 'di mäyuro te kuru 'desiro.
53 Nda 'ba ya 'dise täbiri be ro gate ŋga kado si,
ago nda zo ŋgaamba'bai te drí awiro.
54 Nda äti tao'ba ndaro se nda ko'babe zutui amaro ri te,
ago ikyite ruindu'ba ndaro Yisaraele opane.
55 Nda yitate yauni ka'dane Abarayama ri
ndi zelevoi cini ndaro be äduako!”
56 Maria rite Elizabeta be oso imba nätu ronye ago 'dooko anya gote kovole 'bäru.
Uti Yoane Bapatisi'ba ro
57 Tu esate Elizabeta ri ŋgwa anyaro utiza, ago anya ti ŋgwaagoro te. 58 Oriazii anyaro ndi 'didiri anyaro be eriyi tase kado laroro Opi koyebe anyari ono tana te, ago ànya yeyi riyä te anya be.
59 Ondro u'du ŋgwa rote njidrieri oko ànya ikyiyite nda olone ŋbiṛiro, ago ànya leyi nda uzine Zakaria, täpi ndaro dri. 60 Oko endre ndaro atate ekye: “Hwa! Ävuru ndaro a'done Yoane.”
61 Ànya atayite anya ri ekye: “'Didiri miro aza i'do ävuru 'do be!” 62 'Dooko ànya ejiyi täpi ndaro te drí si ävuru se nda lebe ŋgwa ri a'done sina uzine.
63 Zakaria ejitate ŋga taegyiro taegyiza driigye ta ago egyite ekye: “Ävuru ndaro ni Yoane.” Ànya cini a'dote larolaro ro. 64 Ago dori Zakaria eto atate, ago eto Lu räṛu te. 65 Oriazii cini a'dote twi turi be, ago lazo tase kwoi ro larirute 'bädri cini lutu ro Yuda ro yasi. 66 'Dicini se keri tana be usu tavona te ago ejitate ekye: “Ŋgwa ono a'dona eŋwanye ya?” Endaro mbara Opi ro teṛo orivoya ŋbelero nda dri.
Zakaria ka Lu Räṛu
67 Täpi Yoane ro Zakaria a'dote twi Tori Alokado be, ago nda äŋgu tate ekye:
68 “Mì'de märäṛu Opi, Lu Yisaraele ro!
Nda ikyite lidri ndaro opane ri ago 'ba ànya te dritai ro.
69 Nda ozo Opa'ba aṛiekye te ämäri,
ni zelevo Dawidi ruindu'ba ndaro ro yasi.
70 Nda 'batate ṛo kyeno nebii alokado ndaro si,
71 anjioko nda opana ama 'da ni kyila'baazii amaro risi,
ago ni mbara ànya se cini yana kabe oso ama lomvo ro yasi.
72 Nda atate nda ka'dana yauni 'da zutui amaro ri
ago oyina tao'baro alokado ndaro tana 'da.
73 Ruäṛu lämu'duro si zutu amaro Abarayama ri
74 nda 'batate ama opane ni kyila'baazii amaro ri,
tana mìnduru robe ndäri teinye turi ako,
75 tana ma'do robe alokado ago taŋgye'bai ro nda mile
tu cini ori amaro rosi.
76 “Mi, ŋgwa maro, äzina mi 'da nebi Lu Fopara Ndra ro.
Nyoyina 'da käti Opi mile
liti ndaro edene ndäri,
77 ta itine lidri ndaro ri apana ànya 'da
takozi ànyaro e'bena si.
78 Lu amaro yauni amba be ago yai'dwe be
Nda o'bana voeyi 'buzevoosiro ŋgaoparo 'da itune ämädri.
79 Voeyine ni vo'buyakuru yasi, vona se cini kabe ori lindri uniro odra roya kai dri,
aba amaro lepene liti taliatokpe roya.”
80 Ŋgwa mbate ago a'dote mbararo lomvo ya ago tori ya. Yoane rite vocowa ya madale tuse nda ka'dayite ŋbelero lidri Yisaraele ro ri.