Introduction
1 Dear Theophilus:
Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us. 2 They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and who proclaimed the message. 3 And so, Your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you. 4 I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Is Announced
5 During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife's name was Elizabeth; she also belonged to a priestly family. 6 They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth could not have any, and she and Zechariah were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service. 9 According to the custom followed by the priests, he was chosen by lot to burn incense on the altar. So he went into the Temple of the Lord, 10 while the crowd of people outside prayed during the hour when the incense was burned. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar where the incense was burned. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid. 13 But the angel said to him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John. 14 How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born! 15 John will be great in the Lord's sight. He must not drink any wine or strong drink. From his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, 16 and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know if this is so? I am an old man, and my wife is old also.”
19 “I am Gabriel,” the angel answered. “I stand in the presence of God, who sent me to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 But you have not believed my message, which will come true at the right time. Because you have not believed, you will be unable to speak; you will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true.”
21 In the meantime the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he was spending such a long time in the Temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Unable to say a word, he made signs to them with his hands.
23 When his period of service in the Temple was over, Zechariah went back home. 24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and did not leave the house for five months. 25 “Now at last the Lord has helped me,” she said. “He has taken away my public disgrace!”
The Birth of Jesus Is Announced
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. 27 He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”
29 Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant. 30 The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, 33 and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God. 36 Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old. 37 For there is nothing that God cannot do.”
38 “I am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me? 44 For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. 45 How happy you are to believe that the Lord's message to you will come true!”
Mary's Song of Praise
46 Mary said,
“My heart praises the Lord;
47 my soul is glad because of God my Savior,
48 for he has remembered me, his lowly servant!
From now on all people will call me happy,
49 because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.
His name is holy;
50 from one generation to another
he shows mercy to those who honor him.
51 He has stretched out his mighty arm
and scattered the proud with all their plans.
52 He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,
and has come to the help of his servant Israel.
55 He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham
and to all his descendants forever!”
56 Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was a week old, they came to circumcise him, and they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother said, “No! His name is to be John.”
61 They said to her, “But you don't have any relative with that name!” 62 Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing pad and wrote, “His name is John.” How surprised they all were! 64 At that moment Zechariah was able to speak again, and he started praising God. 65 The neighbors were all filled with fear, and the news about these things spread through all the hill country of Judea. 66 Everyone who heard of it thought about it and asked, “What is this child going to be?” For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon him.
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message:
68 “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.
69 He has provided for us a mighty Savior,
a descendant of his servant David.
70 He promised through his holy prophets long ago
71 that he would save us from our enemies,
from the power of all those who hate us.
72 He said he would show mercy to our ancestors
and remember his sacred covenant.
73-74 With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham
he promised to rescue us from our enemies
and allow us to serve him without fear,
75 so that we might be holy and righteous before him
all the days of our life.
76 “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to prepare his road for him,
77 to tell his people that they will be saved
by having their sins forgiven.
78 Our God is merciful and tender.
He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us
79 and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death,
to guide our steps into the path of peace.”
80 The child grew and developed in body and spirit. He lived in the desert until the day when he appeared publicly 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.