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 Eshi vahapu va hovela okutunga ehepaululo loinima ei ya ningwa mokati ketu, 2 ongaashi venya va li tete ovamoni, novalongi veendjovo ve di tu fiila, 3 naame yo, eshi nda konakona shili aishe ngaashi ya shikulafana kehovelo, nda hala ndi ku shangele, Teofilus, omufimanekwa, 4 opo u shiive nawa oshili shomahepaululo oo we a longwa.
Exunganeko lokudalwa kwaJohannes
5 Opomafiku aHerodes, ohamba yOvajuda, okwa li ku nomupristeli edina laye Sakaria, wetanga laAbia, nomukainhu waye womoludalo laAron, edina laye Elisabet. 6 Ndele vo aveshe vavali ova li ovayuki koshipala shaKalunga nokweenda moipango aishe nomeenghedi dOmwene, ndele va li vehe na oshipo. 7 Ndele vo ova li vehe na okaana, osheshi Elisabet okwa li ongadji naaveshe vavali va kulupa.
8 Ndele fimbo kwa li ta longo oilonga youpristeli koshipala shaKalunga omolufo letanga laye,…Sakaria okwa li ta longo oilonga youpristeli koshipala shaKalunga omolufo letanga laye. 9 okwa hoololwa panghedi yovapristeli, a ka twimine motembeli yOmwene. 10 Ndele ongudu aishe yovanhu oya li pondje, tai ilikana pefimbo letwimino. 11 Opo nee omweengeli wOmwene okwe mu holokela a kala ofika kolulyo loaltari yokutwimina. 12 Ndele Sakaria okwa haluka eshi e mu mona, noumbada we mu kwata. 13 Ndelenee omweengeli okwa tya kuye: “Sakaria, ino tila, osheshi eilikano loye ola udika, nomukainhu woye Elisabet ote ku dalele okamati, ndele to ka luku Johannes.
14 Ndele ye ota ka kala ehafo nenyakuko kwoove,
ndele vahapu otava ka hafela edalo lako.
15 Osheshi ye ota ningi omunene koshipala shOmwene,
omaviinyu nomeva keshe haa kolwifa ite a nu,
ota yadifwa Omhepo Iyapuki
fimbo e li medimo laina.
16 Ndele vahapu vomovana vaIsrael
ote va alulile kOmwene Kalunga kavo.
17 Ndelenee ye ote mu tetekelele
momhepo nomeenghono daElia,
nomitima dooxe ote di alulile kovana,
novahaduliki keendunge dovayuki,
opo a longekidile Omwene oshiwana sha pwa.”
18 Sakaria okwa tya komweengeli: “Eshi ohandi shi dimbulukwa koshike? Osheshi ame onda kula nomukainhu wange okwa kulupa.” 19 Ndele omweengeli okwe mu nyamukula ta ti: “Aame Gabriel, ou handi kala ofika koshipala shaKalunga, ndele onda tumwa ndi ku popife, ndi ku udifile ondaka ei yehafo. 20 Ndele tala, ove to fiti ondaka, ito shiiva okupopya fiyo efiku olo eshi tashi ningwa, shaashi ino itavela eendjovo odo dange, tadi wanifwa shili pefimbo lado.”
21 Ndelenee ovanhu ova li kuteelela Sakaria, ndele ova kumwa eshi a kala mo unene motembeli. 22 Ndelenee eshi a dja mo, okwa nyengwa okupopya kuvo, ndele vo ova koneka kutya ye okwa mona emoniko motembeli, ye okwe va lapa ndele ta kala a fita ondaka.
23 Ndele opo nee omafiku aye okulonga oilonga youpristeli eshi a pwa ko, okwa shuna nee keumbo. 24 Ndele omafiku enya eshi a pita po, Elisabet okwa ninga omufimba, ndele okwa hondama eehani nhano ndele ta ti: 25 “Osho ngaha Omwene okwa ningila nge pomafiku enya eshi a tala kwaame a kufe nge okudinwa kwovanhu.”
Exunganeko lokudalwa kwaJesus
26 Ndele mohani onhihamano omweengeli Gabriel okwa tumwa kuKalunga a ye koshilando shomuGalilea, edina lasho Nasaret, 27 okokakadona ka putulwa komulumenhu edina laye Josef, womepata laDavid, nedina lokakadona oMaria. 28 Ndele omweengeli eshi e uya mo kuye okwa tya: “Kundwa, oove omufilwanghenda! Omwene oku li naave. Oove omunangekwa noupuna mokati kovakainhu.”
29 Ndele ye okwa halukifwa keendjovo odo nokwe lipula kutya ekundo olo otali ti ngahelipi. 30 Ndele opo omweengeli okwa tya kuye: “Maria, ino tila, osheshi ove owa mona onghenda kuKalunga. 31 Ndele tala, ove to ningi omufimba ndele to dala okamati, ndele to ka luka edina lako Jesus.
32 Ye ota ningi omunene,
ndele Ye e nokwiifanwa Omona waau wOkombadambada.
Kalunga Omwene ote mu pe olukalwa louhamba waxe David;
33 ndele Ye ota ningi ohamba yeumbo laJakob fiyo alushe,
nouhamba waye kau na apa tau xulu po.”
34 Opo Maria ta ti komweengeli: “Eshi otashi ka ningwa ngahelipi, osheshi omulumenhu nghi mu shii?” 35 Ndele omweengeli okwe mu nyamukula ta ti: “Omhepo Iyapuki otai ku dile kombada, neenghono daau wOkombadambada otadi ku tuvikile, onghee hano omudalwa ou omuyapuki ota ka lukwa Omona waKalunga. 36 Ndele tala, naElisabet, omukweni, ou kwa tiwa ongadji, okwa ninga omufimba wokamati moukulupe waye, nohani ei yaye oyo onhihamano, 37 osheshi Kalunga iha nyengwa kusha.” 38 Ndele Maria okwa tya: “Tala, aame omupiya wOmwene, nandi ningwe ngaashi wa tya.” Ndele omweengeli okwa dja po puye.
Maria ta talele po Elisabet
39 Ndele pomafiku enya Maria okwa fikama ndele ta i nokweendelela komukunda wokeemhunda, okoshilando shonhumba shomuJudea. 40 Ndele okwa fika meumbo laSakaria, ndele ta kundu Elisabet. 41 Ndele opa ningwa nee, Elisabet eshi a uda ekundo laMaria, okaana oka nhuka medimo laye, ndele Elisabet okwa yadifwa Omhepo Iyapuki. 42 Ndele okwa popya mokule ta ti: “Oove omunangekwa noupuna mokati kovakainhu, ndele nakudalwa ou womwoove omunangekwa noupuna! 43 Ndele osha dila nge peni, ina yOmwene wange te uya kwaame? 44 Osheshi ondaka yekundo loye eshi ya fika momatwi ange, okaana oka nhuka kehafo medimo lange. 45 Ndele omunelao oyou ta itavela kutya osho te shi lombwelwa kOmwene, otashi ka wanifwa.”
Eimbilohambelelo laMaria
46 Opo Maria a popya, ta ti:
“Omwenyo wange otau hambelele Omwene pombada,
47 nomhepo yange otai nyakukilwa Kalunga, Omukulili wange,
48 eshi a tala ouxupi womupiya.
Tala, okonena omapupi aeshe otaa fimaneke nge ndimunelao.
49 Osheshi Omunaenghono a ningila nge oinima inene,
nedina laye olo oliyapuki,
50 nefilonghenda laye otali kala koludalo nokomaludalo,
okwaava have mu tila.
51 Okwa longa oilonganghono kokwooko kwaye,
ndele okwa halakanifa po
ava va li ve nomadiladilo elinenepeko momitima davo.
52 Ovapangeli okwe va undula ko komalukalwa
ndele okwa nenepekifa ovaxupi.
53 Ovanandjala okwe va kutifa nouwa,
noipuna okwe i lekela ongaho.
54 Okwa tambula Israel, omupiya waye,
opo a dimbulukwe efilonghenda laye
55 kuAbraham nokoludalo laye fiyo alushe,
ngaashi a lombwela ootate.”
56 Ndele Maria okwa menekela puye eehani nhatu ndele okwa shuna keumbo lavo.
Okudalwa kwaJohannes
57 Ndele efimbo laElisabet lokudala la fika, nokwa dala okamati. 58 Ndele ovashiinda vaye novakwao eshi va uda Omwene e mu ningila onghenda inene, ova hafa pamwe naye. 59 Ndele efiku etihetatu ve uya va ka pitife okaana etanda, ndele ova hala ve ka lukile edina laxe Sakaria. 60 Ina okwa nyamukula ta ti: “Ahowe, edina lako otali lukwa Johannes.” 61 Ndele vo ova tya kuye: “Mepata leni kamu na nande umwe e na edina eli.” 62 Ndele ova lapa xe, edina lilipi ngeno a hala oku ka luka. 63 Ye okwa indila okapelende, ndele ta shange mo ngaha: “Edina lako oJohannes.” Aveshe ova kumwa. 64 Opo tuu opo okanya kaye nelaka laye ola fituluka, ye okwa popya ndele ta hambelele Kalunga. 65 Ndele aveshe vomoushiinda ova kwatwa kehaluko, nokomukunda aushe wokeemhunda daJudea okwa hepaululwa aishe ei ya ningwa, 66 ndele aveshe ava ve di uda ove di lipula momitima davo ndele ova tya: “Okaana aka otaka ningi okashike?” Osheshi eke lOmwene ola li naye.
Eimbilohambelelo laSakaria
67 Ndele xe Sakaria okwa yadifwa Omhepo Iyapuki, nokwa xunganeka ta ti:
68 “Omwene Kalunga kaIsrael na fimanekwe,
osheshi e uya okutala oshiwana shaye,
ndele okwe shi longela ekulilo,
69 ndele okwe tu tumbila oluvinga lexupifo
omeumbo laDavid, omupiya waye,
70 ngaashi a lombwelifa omakanya ovaxunganeki vayapuki
momafimbo ounyuni wonale,
71 oku tu xupifa movanaita nafye
nomomake aaveshe ovo ve tu tonda,
72 a monifile ootate olukeno,
Ye a dimbulukwe ehangano laye liyapuki,
73 eano olo e li anenene tate yetu Abraham,
74 e tu pe omhito,
opo eshi twa xupifwa momake ovatondi vetu,
tu mu longele tuhe na oumbada
75 omouyuki nomouyapuki koshipala shaye omafiku etu aeshe.
76 Ndele ove okaana,
oto ka ifanwa omuxunganeki waau wOkombadambada,
osheshi ove u nokutetekelela Omwene noku mu palela eendjila daye,
77 u longe ovanhu vaye okushiiva exupifo
nedimepo lomatimba avo,
78 omolwefilonghenda lomomutima waKalunga ketu,
omo eluwa lokombada tali tu tendele,
79 li tu minikile ava hatu kala omutumba momulaulu
nomomudidimbe wefyo,
ndele li yukifile eemhadi detu mondjila yombili.”
80 Ndele okaana oka kula ndele oka pama momhepo, ndele oka kala meembuwa fiyo efiku olo a holokela Israel.