The Birth of Jesus
(Matthew 1.18-25)1 About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. 2 These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. 4 So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family.
5 Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, 6 and while they were there, 7 she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds
8 That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. 9 All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. 10 But the angel said, “Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. 11 This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”
13 Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said:
14 “Praise God in heaven!
Peace on earth to everyone
who pleases God.”
15 After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay.
17 When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. 18 Everyone listened and was surprised. 19 But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant.
20 As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.
21 Eight days later Jesus' parents did for him what the Law of Moses commands. And they named him Jesus, just as the angel had told Mary when he promised she would have a baby.
Simeon Praises the Lord
22 The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.
They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, 23 just as the Law of the Lord says, “Each first-born baby boy belongs to the Lord.” 24 The Law of the Lord also says parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did.
25 At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for him to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him 26 and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.
27 When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. 28 Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
29 “Lord, I am your servant,
and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept
your promise to me.
30 With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
to save your people,
31 and foreign nations
will also see this.
32 Your mighty power is a light
for all nations,
and it will bring honor
to your people Israel.”
33 Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. 34 Then he blessed them and told Mary, “This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, 35 and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking.”
Anna Speaks about the Child Jesus
36 The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. 37 And now she was 84 years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.
38 At this time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
The Return to Nazareth
39 After Joseph and Mary had done everything that the Law of the Lord commands, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. 42 And when Jesus was twelve years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration. 43 After Passover his parents left, but they did not know that Jesus had stayed on in the city. 44 They thought he was traveling with some other people, and they went a whole day before they started looking for him. 45 When they could not find him with their relatives and friends, they went back to Jerusalem and started looking for him there.
46 Three days later they found Jesus sitting in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was surprised at how much he knew and at the answers he gave.
48 When his parents found him, they were amazed. His mother said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried, and we have been searching for you!”
49 Jesus answered, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I would be in my Father's house?” 50 But they did not understand what he meant.
51 Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents and obeyed them. His mother kept on thinking about all that had happened.
52 Jesus became wise, and he grew strong. God was pleased with him and so were the people.
Ŋelŋe ŋǝthi Yǝcu Kwɔrɔstɔ.
(Maṯṯa 1:18-25)1 Ki-ŋwaamin-la ṯǝ ŋwa nǝ Imbraaṯɔɔr wǝni Ogosṯɔs alla waamira ethi iiɽǝthǝ lizi bǝlǝthǝ naana tatap kwǝthi Imbraaṯɔɔriya. 2 Nǝ ki-lɔɔmɔr limǝr-li iiɽǝthǝ lizi ṯaay-thi, nǝ Kiiriiniiyuus oro haakim wǝthi Suuriiyyǝ-ŋw. 3 E-ta nǝ lizi dindi tatap nǝr anditha ki-muḏun kweeŋen ethisi-gwɔ locce yiriny yeeŋen. 4 Nǝ Yuusuf diiɽǝ kinaŋw ki-mǝḏiinǝ-nǝ kwǝthi Naasira-ŋw kwɔnaana Jǝliil, nɔŋweele ki-mǝḏiinǝ-nǝ kwǝni Beit-lahm kwǝthi Yahuuḏiiyya-ŋw, kǝzir wǝthi ŋelŋe ŋǝthi mǝlik kwǝni Ḏaawḏ. Ṯaŋw nǝ Yuusuf ele kinana-ŋw kaka nɔrɔ-ŋgwɔ ṯɔvɔɔ ṯǝthi Ḏaawḏ-ŋǝ. 5 Nǝreele Mǝryǝm-gi ŋgwa kwimthiŋw nda ethi aagwɔ nǝreele ethi lɔɔthɔna. Nɔŋwɔni kwǝthigdǝzǝ-nnǝ tok, 6 nǝ kinaŋw a-naanir-ta kinnǝni Beiṯ-lahm, nǝ lɔɔmɔr iilicǝ lǝthi ŋelŋe ŋuuŋun. 7 Mindaŋ nɔŋw elŋe toŋwora tir nda, nɔŋw ippǝsi yirethi naana, nɔŋw kette ki-sonḏuug-nǝ kwǝthi ethne wǝthi ŋirel, kaka niira-gwɔ ǝzir ki-funḏug-nǝ ethi-gwɔ naani.
Nyaaɽa-ŋǝ limeleka-li.
8 Nǝ nyaaɽa naani kinaŋw nyokwo ki-wuthǝr-nǝ nyigarna ŋirela ŋeeŋen kilkǝlu. 9 Nǝsi meleka kwǝthi Kweeleny ruwǝnnicǝ-lɔ, mindaŋ nǝsi ŋinith ŋǝthi Kweeleny irṯacalɔ. Mindaŋ nǝr ṯeenye beṯṯen, 10 laakin nǝsi meleka ǝccǝŋw, “Ǝṯi ṯiinya mac! Iisar-ṯi nyii-ŋgwɔ kwǝvicǝ-ŋǝsi ŋiɽaŋali wisaaw, ŋinḏi ethi ǝvicǝ lizi tatap ṯinyiŋlana ṯɔppa. 11 Ki-laamin-la ṯǝ kɔlɔ, limɔŋǝsi ilŋanyji Kwiglǝthǝ ki-mǝḏiinǝ-nǝ kwǝthi Ḏaawḏ-ŋǝ, kwǝni Kwɔrɔsṯa kwir Kweeleny! 12 Nyii kwɔŋǝsi andaci @alaama wǝthi-yi elŋe tɔɔrɔ kɔrɔ: ŋaaŋa linḏa tɔɔrɔ tippǝnnǝ yirethi naana tinḏiralɔ ki-sɔnḏuuŋ-nǝ, kwɔnaana kireny-na.” 13 Ŋwɔṯaŋw biḏaan nǝ jesh kwuuru kwǝthi limeleka lǝthi ki-leere-nɔŋw iirǝthǝ tɔc meleka naana, nǝr ɔrtatha Allah rilŋa-ri nǝraarɔŋw, 14 “Ŋinith ŋǝthi Allah ŋǝṯi naani ki-leere-na kider, nǝ a ṯaama naana naani kwurǝyu-lu, ki-lizi-nǝ lǝṯɔŋw-li aamina!” 15 Mǝsi limeleka ɔrlacci ŋwɔdoŋw mindaŋ mǝr aaɽiṯha ki-leere-na, nǝ nyaaɽa andasi-na wɔɽe-wɔɽeny nǝraarɔŋw, “Ǝrṯi ele manɔ Beiṯ-lahm ethiisa kwomne ŋgwala kwɔmǝ ǝrrini, ŋgwala kwugmǝcǝ-nyji-gi Kweeleny.” 16 Nǝreele liviɽigathɔ mindaŋ nǝr kaṯṯasi Mǝryǝm-ŋwɔsi Yuusuf-gi nǝ tɔr tok tinḏralɔ ki-sonḏuug-nǝ kwɔnaana kireny-na. 17 Mǝ nyaaɽa ese ŋunduŋw, nǝrsi andaci ŋa ŋandicasi meleka ŋǝthi tɔr kɔrɔ. 18 Nǝ kila tatap limǝsi neŋne, nǝr liŋɽi ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋandicasi nyaaɽa. 19 Ǝṯi Mǝryǝm ṯiŋaayini kwomne-ŋgwɔ tatap, ǝṯɔŋw-ŋgi urtutuninǝ ki-ṯɔgwor-na ṯuuŋwun. 20 Nǝ nyaaɽa aaɽi nyiniyǝ Allah-na nǝ wɔrtathir tok rilŋa-ri ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝthi kwomne-ŋgwa tatap kwɔniŋnar nǝ kwiisar tok, kaka-ṯǝ ŋa dap-dap ŋandicasi-ŋi meleka.
Yǝcu mǝr-gwɔ ǝnyjici yiriny.
21 Mǝ ŋwaamin dɔvokwɔppa ere, mǝ lɔɔmɔr iila kila lǝthi-li uɽu tɔɔrɔ lɔthrɔnya, nǝr ǝnyjici yiriny yǝni Yǝcu, kiya yǝnyjicǝsi meleka iti iithar-ŋwɔ ŋunduŋw kinnǝni mac.
Yǝcu mǝrgeele ki Heikal-na.
22 Mǝ lɔɔmɔr iila lǝthi-li Yuusuf-ŋǝ Mǝryǝm-gi suuɽunni, kaka nǝllicǝsi-gwɔ Muusǝ waamira Sherii@a-gi kwuuŋwun, nǝ ŋwɔṯaŋw nǝr dimmǝ tɔɔrɔ nǝr-ri ele Urshaliim ethi inḏǝthǝ Kweelenyi, 23 kaka lɔɔthɔnar-gwɔ ki Sherii@a-na kwǝthi Kweeleny ŋaarɔŋw, “Mǝr elŋe tɔŋwɔra tir nda tǝ, ǝri rillici Kweelenyi-lɔ ṯer.” 24 Nǝreele tok ethi kitta kiraama kǝthi lɔrrɔ ndǝn ya yɔɔthɔr yiɽǝn yir ŋwurgwudu, kaka-ṯǝ ŋa ŋandisasi Kweeleny ki Sherii@a-nǝ kwuuŋwun.
25 Ki-lɔɔmɔr-la-ṯǝ kila, nǝ kwɔr naani kwette Urshaliim kwǝni Sim@aan kwirllalɔ kwǝṯi iiɽi Allah-na, nǝ ǝṯɔŋw ǝkkici ŋiglǝthǝ kizǝn ŋǝthi Israa-iil. Nǝ ǝṯi-gwɔ Ṯigɽim Ṯirllinǝlɔ ter ɔmina. 26 E-ta nǝ Ṯigɽim Ṯirllinǝlɔ ter ruwǝcci ŋunduŋw ŋiɽaŋali-lɔ ŋǝniŋw, kwiti kweese ŋiɽany kinnǝni mac mindaŋ mɔŋweese Kwɔrɔstɔ-ŋwɔ kwǝthi Kweeleny. 27 Nǝ Ṯigɽim iili Sim@aan-ŋwɔ ki Heikal-na, nǝ Yuusuf-ŋǝ Mǝryǝm-gi aava Yǝcu-ŋwɔ kwir tɔr ki Heikal-na ethi ǝrrici ǝthiyǝ wirga wandisa-yi Sherii@a, 28 nǝ Sim@aan dimmǝthǝ tɔɔrɔ kiriny nɔŋw ɔrtatha Allah nɔŋwɔccǝŋw,
29 “Kweeleny a kwɔmǝ ṯimmasi wa@ḏa wɔɔŋa aŋwɔnɔ,
ṯaŋw a duŋgwǝci khaḏaama kɔɔŋa ŋweele kaami naana.
30 Nyii kwɔmǝ ese ŋiglǝthǝ ŋɔɔŋa yǝy-yi yiinyi.
31 Ŋa ŋidaɽimica-ŋǝsi lizi tatap kiyǝnǝ yeeŋen.
32 Fɔɔri kwinḏi ethi ruwǝnnici Umama-lɔ ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝthi
ṯɔgwor ṯɔɔŋwa,
ethi ǝvicǝ lizi lɔɔŋwa lir Israa-iil ŋinithi.”
33 Nǝ ṯǝrnyin-ŋǝ lǝnyin-gi liŋɽi ŋiɽaŋali-ŋi ŋandisasi Sim@aan ŋǝni ŋundu. 34 Nǝsi Sim@aan ɔrtatha, mindaŋ nɔŋwɔccǝ Mǝryǝm-ŋwɔ kwir lǝnyin, “Iisa-ṯi tɔr kɔrɔ tǝlli Allah-na ethisi kiirasalɔ luuru, nǝ ethisi kilǝthi luuru tok lǝthi Israa-iil. Ŋworo @alaama wǝthi Allah winḏi lizi littǝzir ethi andindisa naana ṯuwǝnu-ṯuwǝnu. 35 Mindaŋ ŋwɔsi ruwǝcci ŋejmeth-lɔ ŋǝthi ǝfkǝr wǝthi rɔgwor reeŋen. Ǝŋǝ ṯɔrɔɔnyɔna ṯir kaka kaalala kiiraana ovece ŋaaŋwɔ ṯɔgwori-na ṯɔrɔṯ.” 36 Nǝ kwiɽii naani kwette kwir kwaaw kwir kimǝyǝŋ kwir kweeṯhel kwǝni Hanna kwir tɔr ṯǝthi Fanuu-iil kwǝthi gabiilǝ kǝthi Ashiir-ŋǝ. Kwǝginǝ yithlǝyu dɔvokwɔɽony dak, 37 nǝ kire-kirem-ŋgwɔ ŋɔŋworo yithlǝyu ruɽi-kwaɽiŋan-la kwaɽiŋan. Nɔŋweere rucci Heikala-na mac; ǝṯɔŋw kwogwɔcce Allah-la kaŋwɔn-kaŋwɔn, kulu-kulu, kwimthi arminḏaani nǝ ṯaara kiyiiriny tok. 38 Nǝ ki-saa@-la ṯǝ ŋgwa nɔŋw ɔppatha mindaŋ nɔŋwɔccǝ Allah shukran, nɔŋwsi andaci lizi tatap ŋǝthi tɔr, kila lǝkkicǝ Allah kizǝn ethi alla Urshaliim-ŋwɔ ki-ŋɔwaay-na.
Yuusuf-ŋǝ Mǝryǝm-gi mǝr-gwɔ aaɽitha Naasira.
39 Mǝ Yuusuf-ŋǝ Mǝryǝm-gi ṯimmasi ǝthiyǝ wǝthi Sherii@a kwǝthi Kweeleny, nǝr aaɽitha ki-mǝḏiinǝ-nǝ kweeŋen kwǝni Naasira kwɔnaana Jǝliil. 40 Nǝ tɔr peŋe mindaŋ nɔŋw ferlle, nɔŋw urǝnni-nǝ ṯǝthinǝ-ṯhi yǝnǝ deddep, nǝgwɔ ne@ma kwǝthi Allah naanina.
Tɔr tǝni Yǝcu a-naana-ŋgwɔ ki Heikal-na.
41 Ǝṯi ṯǝrnyin ṯǝthi Yǝcu-ŋǝ lǝnyin-gi ṯaaŋi Urshaliim yithlǝyu tatap ethi kitta @iiḏǝ wǝthi Fis-ha. 42 Na mǝ Yǝcu oro yithlǝyu wrii-kwuɽǝn nǝreele ki-@iiḏ-nǝ kaka nɔrɔ-gwɔ ǝthi weeŋen. 43 Mindaŋ mǝ @iiḏ ernene tǝ nǝraari ibṯǝḏi ethaaɽitha dɔɔnɔ. Laakin nǝ tɔr tǝni Yǝcu ṯathinaɔlɔ Urshaliim-na. Nǝ ṯǝrnyin-ŋǝ lǝnyin-gi ere elŋece ŋiɽaŋali ŋɔ mac; 44 nǝraarɔŋw ŋgwana-ta kǝzinni ki-lɔdɔŋw-na, ŋwɔṯaŋw nǝreele aaŋwɔnɔ min-min, mindaŋ nǝraari ibṯǝḏi ethi naŋna-lɔ ki-lizi-nǝ leeŋen nǝ limethgen tok. 45 Mindaŋ mǝreere kaṯṯasi mac tǝ nǝr aaɽitha Urshaliim ethi naŋnalɔ. 46 Nǝ mǝ ŋwaamin ṯoɽol ere nǝr kaṯṯasi ki Heikal-na, kwɔnaanalɔ mɔ@allimiin-gi kwǝthi Yahuuḏ, lakkica-ŋwsi kizǝn, nǝ ǝṯɔŋwsi uṯicǝlɔ tok; 47 nǝ kila tatap liniŋnaca liŋɽi elŋeṯṯe-ŋgi kwuuŋwun ŋiɽaŋali-na, nǝ ŋa ŋǝṯiŋwsi-ǝi aǝnici tok. 48 Nǝ ṯǝrnyin-ŋǝ lǝnyin-gi liŋɽi mǝreese, mindaŋ nǝ lǝnyin ǝccǝŋw, “Tɔr, a kwotho kwǝrricǝ-nyji ŋiɽaŋali ŋɔrtɔŋw? Iisa-ṯi nyuŋwsi ṯarnyalɔ-thi abiyinyii-gwɔ ṯurvǝ biɽe-biɽeṯ ethi naŋni ŋaaŋwɔ-lɔ.” 49 Noŋwsi ǝŋnici nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Aatha kworo kwɔnǝŋnicǝr-nyii-lɔ? A liti lilŋithi mac ethaarɔŋw, kwinḏi laazim ethi naani ki-dɔɔnɔ kwǝthi Papa kwiinyi mac-a?” 50 Laakin ŋa ŋǝŋnicǝŋwsi-ŋi nǝrseere elŋe mac. 51 Mindaŋ nǝ Yǝcu aaɽitha Naasira ŋundu-ŋǝli, nɔŋwsi-gwɔ iinyici naana. Nǝ lǝnyin aanitha ŋiɽaŋali ŋɔ tatap ki-ṯɔgwor-na ṯuuŋwun. 52 Ǝṯi Yǝcu duŋgwɔ-ŋgwatha ṯǝthinǝ-thi yǝnǝ, nǝ aŋna-yi tok, nǝ Allah ǝmminici nǝ lizi tok ṯikikiɽǝnnǝ-thi.