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 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.
