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.
Ŋen ŋəɽənda egad̶am
1 Ya Đawufilus, led̶a lwaiña lid̶u ŋen ŋəŋəra ldəwërd̶i ŋen iŋi ŋəfo ŋid̶ənu inëndr, 2 garno led̶a ildi ləseicu ŋen ananoŋ na lad̶uɽəd̶ənṯu ŋen ŋə-Rəmwa nələndənaicr. 3 Ŋen ŋafəṯia ya eləŋ Đawufilus, ŋen ŋanṯa egaləŋeṯo ŋen pred̶ ŋopia ananoŋ egaṯa ṯa ŋen ŋaŋəra ndə igënəñi com igəwërd̶ia ŋen iŋi igəṯərria ŋopia ŋen ŋanṯa ŋa, 4 ṯa ŋaləŋeṯe ŋen iŋi agəno ŋopia ŋaɽo d̶eṯəm agërrəŋeinu.
Ŋen ŋəlwaɽənu id̶ələŋənia d̶e-Yuanna igi gənanaid̶ia mamuḏiya
5 Iliga ildei Iruḏus gaɽo eləŋ galo Yuḏiya, maje gafo gənəŋ gəbërnia Sakariya igi gəɽo kana eled̶a l-Abiyya. Wasen galəŋənu eled̶a l-Arun d̶urri na gënəŋu gəbërnia Alisabaṯ. 6 Lënəŋulu ndəm lad̶urwaṯo eŋen Rəmwa nëiñua na lafo mənna gero eŋen pred̶ ŋ-Alganun na eŋen pred̶ ŋ-Eləŋ Rəmwa. 7 Orn lënəŋulu lero ŋere ŋen ŋanṯa Alisabaṯ gaɽo ltəm, na loɽra ndəm.
8 Ŋen Sakariya gəbəd̶ia ŋəmëɽria ŋalkana Rəmwa nëiñua ig-Alekəl iliga ləled̶a l-Abiyya, 9 eŋen ŋəŋəmëɽria ŋalkana, ŋen ŋiɽəṯəma nano ṯa gënəŋu gəbënṯia egeɽa gə-Rəmwa ṯa aŋənaid̶e ŋela iŋi ŋuɽənia ŋəmwad̶a gəñəla. 10 Na led̶a pred̶ lafo labekeɽəd̶ia Rəmwa ndëuwərano iliga ŋela ŋuɽənia. 11 Iliga ildei malaiyəka d̶-Eləŋ Rəmwa d̶eṯəma nano nḏəd̶uri nḏəŋ d̶əŋaicəba ad̶una nano eŋela ŋuɽənia. 12 Na Sakariya nəŋgərd̶e ndə gəseicu malaiyəka na ŋəd̶aiña nəŋəmëndi. 13 Orn malaiyəka nḏəmeiṯi ṯa, “Ŋerṯe agəd̶əñialo ya Sakariya! Rəmwa rano d̶eɽəd̶ia d̶əlaɽəŋa na wasalo Alisabaṯ gid̶i aŋələŋəṯi ŋere na ñagid̶i ñamenəci Yuanna. 14 Na ñagid̶i ñaŋəreṯe nano kaiñ, na led̶a lwaiña lid̶i aləŋəreṯe nano ndə gënəŋu gələŋənu! 15 Gënəŋu gid̶i aŋoɽreṯe Rəmwa nëiñua, na aŋerṯe gəṯia ŋuɽu kwai kwai, na aŋunḏeini Usilaga Gətəɽe ŋen gəfo ləŋgen egare məldin, 16 na gid̶i aŋoɽəbaice led̶a lwaiña l-Israyil Eləŋ nano igi gəɽo Rəmwa eren. 17 Gënəŋu gid̶i ṯaŋerldo Eləŋ Rəmwa nëiñua, igusila na eŋabəɽa ŋ-Iliya, ṯa aŋoɽəbaice nara nəlṯenia eñere eñen, na ṯa aŋərid̶i led̶a ildi ləned̶o lənna ṯa aləŋeṯe ŋen nəsi garno led̶a ildi ləd̶urwaṯo eŋen, na ṯa aŋəṯoɽaṯe led̶a ŋen ŋanṯa Eləŋ Rəmwa ildi ləṯuɽeinu ŋopia.” 18 Sakanya nəŋeɽəd̶e malaiyəka nəŋaṯa. “Fəṯau igid̶i eləŋeṯe ŋen iŋi ṯa ŋad̶eṯəm? Egaɽo uṯëɽi na wasaiñ goɽra com.” 19 Na malaiyəka nḏəmuɽəbiṯi eŋen ṯa, “Igəbernia Jabraiyil ñiŋgi igəṯurwa Rəmwa nëiñua Igad̶weinu ṯa iŋalwaɽəṯi, na ṯa eŋanaice ŋen iŋi ŋəŋəra. 20 No ŋen iŋi, liga ŋen iŋi ŋəmulu ŋəɽiñad̶einia, agid̶i ŋabwame ŋəma, na ŋaijəbeṯe agəɽwata, ŋen ŋanṯa agero agəbëndia ŋen ŋəlëɽəñi iŋi ŋid̶i aŋəɽiñad̶eim iliga lëɽənu.” 21 Led̶a laṯurṯu Sakanya ldirəwano ŋen ŋanṯa gënəŋu gafo gaɽaŋa egeɽa gətəɽe liga lwalano. 22 Na ndə gəməño nəŋerṯe gəɽwad̶aṯa gəlwaɽəṯia, na led̶a ldələŋeṯe ṯa ŋen ŋamiñiṯəma ŋə-Rəmwa ig-Alekəl na gënəŋu ṯaləɽwatiṯu rəŋəra nəŋaŋəbeṯe gəɽwata. 23 Nda ñoman ñəŋəmeɽria ŋəlëɽəŋu ñəɽiñad̶einu, gënəŋu nəŋoɽəbaṯe eɽa gəlëɽəŋu.
24 Na ŋen liga ildei ləŋgaṯo d̶əge, wasen gəbërnia Alisabaṯ nəŋwonḏaice, nəŋələbijəni nubwa d̶enəŋ nəŋaṯa, 25 “Fəŋen iŋi Rəmwa nṯiñi liga rënəŋu rəseicəñi ṯa arəŋgeici d̶əd̶ama d̶əlëɽəñi eled̶a!”
Ŋen ŋəlwaɽənu id̶ələŋənia d̶ə-Yesu
26 Ndə nubwa nəɽo d̶enəŋ nəŋəməñe gonto, Rəmwa rad̶waṯo malaiyəka Jabraiyil irnuŋ gənəŋ gəbërnia Nasəraṯ alo yi-Jalil. 27 Rad̶waṯəma eŋere ŋənəŋ ŋəɽo ŋowa iŋi ŋəwërd̶ənṯu maje gənəŋ gəbërnia Yusif igi gəled̶a lə-Ḏawuḏ liga ləmulu ləldəgəndra. Na ŋere ŋəbërnia Mariam. 28 Malaiyəka d̶ënṯu eɽa nḏəmeṯa nano nəd̶aṯa, “Ŋere bəṯau! Agabuŋənṯu i-Rəmwa, Eləŋ Rəmwa ñagafəldəga!” 29 Na ŋere nəŋgərd̶e ndə ŋəno ŋen iŋi nəŋaṯa egare, “Đənna ëiñua id̶i d̶aɽo ṯau?” 30 Malaiyəka ndəmeiṯi ṯa, “Ŋerṯe agəd̶əñialo ya Mariam, agabuŋənṯu i-Rəmwa. 31 Agid̶i ŋwonḏaice na ŋaləŋe id̶ia na agid̶i ŋamënəci Yesu. 32 Gënəŋu gid̶i aŋoɽreṯe na gid̶i aŋënəjəni Id̶ia gə-Rəmwa irri roɽra rəməñaṯo laŋge pred̶, na Eləŋ Rəmwa rid̶i arəmanaice ŋələŋe ŋarno ŋeṯen Ḏawuḏ. 33 Gënəŋu gid̶i aŋəɽeṯe eləŋ gəled̶a lə-Yagub bəɽəbəte. Ŋələŋe ŋəlëɽəŋu ŋaber ŋid̶i aŋəməndëd̶əni kwai kwai!”
34 Na Mariam nəŋeiṯi malaiyəka ṯa, “Ŋen iŋi ŋid̶i aŋəfeṯe ṯau? Egaijəba ed̶a gəɽorra kwai kwai.” 35 Malaiyəka nḏəmuɽəbiṯi eŋen ṯa, “Usila Gətəɽe gid̶i aŋeṯa nano na ŋabəɽa ŋə-Rəmwa irri roɽra rəməñaṯo laŋge pred̶ ŋid̶i aŋeṯa nano. Ŋen ŋafəṯia id̶ia igi gid̶i aŋələŋəni gid̶i aŋënəjəni gətəɽe Id̶ia gə-Rəmwa. 36 Oralo Alisabaṯ com gwonḏaico id̶ia ŋen goɽra, na gënəŋu igi led̶a laṯa gaɽo ltəm gaɽiñad̶aṯo nubwa d̶enəŋ nəŋəməñe gonto. 37 Wagero gənəŋ kwai kwai igi gaijəbinṯu Rəmwa.” 38 Mariam nəŋaṯa, “Igënəñi egaɽo ebai g-Eləŋ Rəmwa. Ŋgiṯu ŋen aŋəfeṯe iñi ŋarno agəlwaɽo.” Oro malaiyəka nḏəmaṯad̶e nḏabəla.
Ŋen Mariam gabəṯa Alisabaṯ nano
39 Iliga lakəl Mariam nəŋətwod̶e gëɽəd̶iaŋəno na gabəṯa naiyən nwaldaŋ irnuŋ gənəŋ galo Yuḏiya. 40 Nəgabəṯa eɽa gə-Sakariya nəŋəne Alisabaṯ ëiñua. 41 Ndə Alisabaṯ gəno d̶ənna ëiñua d̶ə-Mariam, ŋere nəŋərəd̶uni egare gəlëɽəŋu na Alisabaṯ nəŋwunḏeini Usilaga Gətəɽe. 42 Na gënəŋu nəŋəraice olia nəŋeiṯi Mariam ṯa, “Agabuŋənṯu eled̶a əɽəlda, na id̶ia igi egare gəlaɽəŋa gəbuŋənṯu. 43 Ŋen ŋeṯəñe nano ŋoɽra ed̶a, ṯa ləŋgen g-Eləŋ gəlëɽəñi geṯəñe nano? 44 Ŋen ŋanṯa ndə egəno olia gəd̶ənna ëiñua d̶əlaɽəŋa ŋere nəŋərəd̶uni egare gəlëɽəñi, ŋen ŋanṯa ŋaŋəra nano. 45 Gënəŋu gabuŋənṯu igi gëndu ŋen ṯa gid̶i aŋəfeṯe ŋen ŋanṯa ŋen iŋi Eləŋ Rəmwa rəlwaɽəṯəma ŋid̶i aŋəɽiñad̶eini.”
Ŋələŋa ŋə-Mariam
46 Na Mariam nəŋaṯa ṯa,
“Ara gəlëɽəñi ganaica Eləŋ Rəmwa ŋaɽrwa,
47 na usila gəlëɽəñi gaŋəra nano i-Rəmwa irri rəɽo Đëbəria d̶əlëɽəñi,
48 ŋen ŋanṯa raseicu ebai gəlëɽəŋu ṯa gaɽo ŋəbaiyaŋəno.
Iliga ildi lnëiñua led̶a pred̶ lid̶i ṯalaṯa igabuŋənṯu,
49 ŋen ŋanṯa Rəmwa irri ronḏəṯo kaiñ riṯiñi ŋen ŋoɽra.
Irəŋ gəlëɽəŋu gətəɽe.
50 Na d̶ələŋeṯad̶əño d̶əlëɽəŋu d̶afo bəɽəbəte eled̶a ildi ləd̶əñiama.
51 Rënəŋu rid̶u ŋəmëɽria kaiñ d̶əŋd̶a d̶wonḏəṯo d̶əlëɽəŋu,
na rënəŋu ralëldəd̶u led̶a alo ildi lëldəŋəd̶einia id̶inia enare enen.
52 Rënəŋu rirəwu nələŋ eŋələŋ eŋen, na ndrətuci led̶a elo lərra.
53 Rënəŋu ndrəbeice led̶a ildi ləcoiña laŋgela ləŋəra,
na ndrəd̶waṯe led̶a lwaiña laŋge məɽəməɽeñ laŋge lero.
54 Rënəŋu reṯo ṯa araməd̶aṯe Israyil isi yiməd̶uɽəd̶ənṯia,
ŋen ŋanṯa rəlëldəŋəd̶einia eŋəbaiya eŋen.
55 Garno ŋen iŋi rëɽəṯu bapanda eldaiñ, ṯa rid̶i arəgiyace.
Ibrayim ŋəbaiya nano na ləd̶ia əllëɽəŋu bəɽəbəte.”
56 Na Mariam laɽaŋo Alisabaṯəga nubwa niɽijin, oro nəŋoɽəbaṯe egeɽa gəlëɽəŋu.
Ŋen ŋəd̶ələŋənia d̶e-Yuanna igi gənanaid̶ia mamuḏiya
57 Orn nṯia nubwa n-Alisabaṯ nabəɽenḏed̶o nəŋələŋe ŋere. 58 Na led̶a ləɽo ëuwər əllëɽəŋu na led̶a ləŋəd̶urəba lano ṯa Eləŋ Rəmwa ragiyacəma ŋəbaiya nano kaiñ, na lënəŋulu ldəŋəreṯəlda nano. 59 Na ndə ñoman ñəɽo d̶enəŋ nəñəməñe ñiɽijin led̶a leṯo ŋen ŋanṯa aluɽəd̶i ŋere na lwonaṯa almënəci Sakariya, irəŋ geṯen, 60 orn ləŋgen nəŋaṯa, “Ndo! Gënəŋu gid̶i aŋënəjəni Yuanna.” 61 Na led̶a ldəmeiṯi ṯa, “Ed̶a gero iŋəd̶urəba gënəjənu ṯia.” 62 Na led̶a ṯaləɽwatiṯu eṯen rəŋəra ṯa gwonaṯa id̶ia gəbënəjənia əsëgi. 63 Gënəŋu nəŋəleɽəd̶e abred̶a nəŋəwërd̶i ṯa, “Ŋere ŋəbërnia Yuanna.” Na led̶a pred̶ ldirəwano. 64 Na taltal ëiñua yi-Sakariya niyabərd̶i na d̶əŋəla ṯad̶əɽwato, nəŋənaice Rəmwa d̶amia. 65 Na ŋəd̶aiña nəŋëndi led̶a pred̶ lirnuŋ gakəl, na ŋen iŋi pred̶ nəŋuɽwatəni naiyən pred̶ alo Yuḏiya. 66 Na led̶a pred̶ ildi ləno ldëndi ŋen iŋi enare enen ldaṯa, “Ŋere iŋi ŋid̶i aŋəɽeṯe wande?” Ŋen ŋanṯa d̶eṯəm Eləŋ Rəmwa lafəldəga.
Ŋələŋa ŋə-Sakariya
67 Na eṯen gəlëɽəŋu, Sakariya nəŋunḏeini Usilaga Gətəɽe, ṯaŋəɽwato ŋen ŋə-Rəmwa nəŋaṯa,
68 “Rəmwa r-Israyil arəbuŋənṯi, ŋen ŋanṯa reṯo eled̶a əllëɽəŋu ndrləpəɽe.
69 Na rënəŋu ratud̶i ed̶a gwonḏəṯo igi gəɽo Đëbəria ŋen ŋanṯa nëndr,
eled̶a lə-Ḏawuḏ igi gəduɽəd̶ənṯu.
70 Ŋen ŋarno rəlwaɽo ëiñuaya yeled̶a ltəɽe ildi ləɽo anəbiya ilëɽəŋu yepənde,
71 ṯa gënəŋu aŋəndəmiñr eled̶a ildi ləgeiyandr na erəŋ rəled̶a pred̶ ildi ləned̶əndr.
72 Rəmwa rid̶u ṯia ṯa arəgiyace bapanda eldaiñ ŋəbaiya nano ŋenŋa ŋəd̶əɽiñad̶ata
ŋen ŋəd̶ərreid̶ia eŋen d̶əlëɽəŋu d̶ətəɽe.
73 Fəd̶aləfia id̶i rënəŋu raləfo eŋen ŋəbapa egaiñ Ibrayim,
74 ṯa arəndənaicr ŋen ṯa aləmiñənr erəŋ rəled̶a ildi
ləgeiyandr na ṯa aləd̶uɽəd̶ənṯr ŋəd̶aiña ŋero,
75 eŋen ŋətəɽe na ŋəd̶urwaṯo ŋu nëiñua liga ləgəməṯiar.
76 Na aganəŋa com, ya ŋere, agid̶i ŋënəjəni nabi yi-Rəmwa
irri roɽra rəməñaṯo laŋge pred̶, ŋen ŋanṯa agid̶i ŋëfəṯi Eləŋ nëiñua ṯa ŋamëɽəṯi rad̶alo,
77 na ṯa ŋid̶i led̶a əllëɽəŋu alləŋeṯe d̶ëbəria id̶i d̶əfo d̶əŋgeiniad̶a d̶əŋen eŋen ŋeicia.
78 Đeṯəm eŋen ŋəd̶ələŋeṯa d̶əño na ŋəŋəbaiya ŋə-Rəmwa irëndr,
loman larrerre gelo gid̶i aŋəndeṯar nano,
79 ṯa aŋəwad̶e eled̶a ildi ləɽaŋa iŋərəm na igusil gəŋəɽaiñ,
na ṯa aŋəndirldir ed̶ad̶ d̶əd̶ëuṯaralo.” Arrerre uleŋgi
80 Na ŋere nəŋətwod̶e ṯaŋakaɽəjaid̶o ed̶wonḏəṯa igusila. Ŋënəŋu ŋafo ed̶əñwa iliga ləmulu leṯo ṯa aŋəmiñiṯi led̶a l-Israyil.