1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 ¶ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him , he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me , to take away my reproach among men. 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him , she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so ; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed , and he spake, and praised God. 65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. 66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Embo ku Teofilus
1 Musuverwa Teofilus: Ovandu ovengi va kondja tjinene okutjanga omaserekarerero woviṋa mbya tjitwa mokati ketu. 2 Owo va tjanga imbi eṱe mbi twa serekarererwa i imba mba muna oviṋa mbi okuza komautiro wavyo, nu mba zuvarisa ombuze ndji. 3 Muingona Teofilus, ami tjinga amba konḓonona oviṋa avihe mbi nawa okuza komautiro wavyo, otjinga ambe ripura kutja okokuwa okukutjangera omahungi nga nawa. 4 Ami me tjiti nai kokutja u tjiwe imbwi ouatjiri auhe womambo aehe ngu wa hongwa.
Ongwatero ya Johanes Omupapitise mai zuvarisiwa
5 Oruveze Herodes tja ri ombara ya Judea, mwa ri omupristeri wena Sakaria, nu ngwa ri oworupa rwa Abija roupristeri. Ena romukazendu we ra ri Elisabet; eye wina wa zire meṱunḓu ra Aron roupristeri. 6 Owo aveyevari va ri ovasemba komurungu wa Ndjambi, nu aave ṱakamisa nawa inga omatwako nomaraerero aehe wa Muhona. 7 Nu kava ri novanatje, Elisabet tjinga a ri ongandji; nu aveyevari wina va kurupire tjinene.
8 Eyuva rimwe Sakaria ngunda ama ungura oviungura vyoupristeri komurungu wa Ndjambi, moruveze rwotjimbumba tjawo okuungura, 9 otja kongaro youpristeri, eye otja toororwa nozohanga kutja a hite mondjuwo ya Muhona, nu a katwimise ovyomoro omuwa. 10 Imbi ovyomoro omuwa ngunda amavi twimisiwa, tjandje nao ihi otjimbumba atjihe tjovandu tji ri pendje matji kumbu.
11 Omuengeri wa Muhona we riraisa ku ye, a kurama kokunene kwotjipunguhiro tjomatwimisiro wovyomoro omuwa. 12 Nu Sakaria tje mu muna, wa uruma nu a tira tjinene. 13 Nungwari ingwi omuengeri wa tjere ku ye: “O tira, Sakaria, Ndjambi wa zuvire ongumbiro yoye, nu omukazendu woye Elisabet me ku pandukire omuatje omuzandu, nena re mo mu ruku Johanes. 14 Eye ma rire enyando nondjorokero kove, nu ovengi mave nyandere ongwatero ye; 15 orondu eye ma rire omunene komurungu wa Muhona, nu kamaa nu ko omavinu nomanuwa omazeu; nu me urisiwa nOmbepo Ondjapuke ngunda e ri mezumo raina. 16 Eye ma kotora Ovaisrael ovengi ku Muhona Ndjambi wawo; 17 nu ma tengere po Muhona mombepo na momasa otja omuprofete Elia, kokutja a hanganise ooihe novanatje, nokutanaurira ovehinanḓuviro kounongo wovasemba, nokuṱuna otjiwaṋa kutja tji rirongerere omeero wa Muhona.”
18 Sakaria wa tjere komuengeri: “Ihi ami me tji tjiwa vi? Ami mba kurupa, nomukazendu wandje wina wa kurupa.”
19 Omuengeri wa zira a tja: “Owami Gabriel! Ami mbi kurama komurungu wa Ndjambi, neye ongwe ndji hindi okuyekuhungira kuna ove, nokukuraera ombuze ombwa ndji. 20 Tara, ove mo pata eraka, nu komoo sora okuhungira nga keyuva ndi oviṋa mbi tji mavi tjitwa, mena rokutja ove kokamburire momambo wandje ngu maye rire ouatjiri moruveze nduriro.”
21 Ihi otjiwaṋa tjandje nao matji undju Sakaria, nu otja rira otjihimise ku tjo kutja eye wa wombere tjike nai mondjuwo ya Muhona. 22 Neye tja pita ka sorere okuhungira kuna wo, nowo otji va muna kutja eye wa munu otjirimunikise mondjuwo ya Muhona, orondu eye wa uta okutjita ovisanekero nomake uriri nu a rire otjikume.
23 Nomayuva we wokukarera Muhona mondjuwo ye tji ya manuka, Sakaria arire tja yaruka koye. 24 Kombunda yomayuva ngo, omukazendu we Elisabet wa rira otjingundi, nu we rihorekere oure womieze vitano. Ama tja: 25 “Nambano Muhona we ndji vatere, notja isa mo ohoṋi yandje mokati kovandu!”
Ongwatero ya Jesus mai zuvarisiwa
26 Momueze outjahamboumwe, Elisabet tja ri otjingundi, Ndjambi wa hindire omuengeri Gabriel kotjihuro tji tja ri mehi ra Galilea, tjena Nasaret. 27 Eye wa etere ombuze komusuko ngwa varekerwe i omurumendu wena Josef, ondekurona yombara David. Nu indi ena romusuko ra ri Maria. 28 Omuengeri weya ku ye na tja: “Minikwa, ove ngu wa ingonekwa notjari. Muhona u ri puna ove!”
29 Maria wa urumisiwa tjinene i ombuze yomuengeri ndji na himwa kutja omambo nga maye hee tjike. 30 Omuengeri wa tjere ku ye: “O tira, Maria, ove wa munu ondjingonekero komurungu wa Ndjambi. 31 Tara, mo rire otjingundi, nu mo panduka omuatje omuzandu, nu ena re mo mu ruku Jesus. 32 Eye ma rire omunene, nu ma isanewa Omuna wa Ndjambi wOkombandambanda. Muhona Ndjambi me mu pe otjihavero tjouhona tjaihe mukururume David. 33 Nu eye ma honaparere ozondekurona za Jakob otja ombara nga aruhe; nouhona we kamaau yanda ko!”
34 Maria wa tja komuengeri: “Otjiṋa hi matji tjitwa vi ami ambi hiya rora okuhakaena nomurumendu?”
35 Omuengeri wa zira a tja: “Ombepo Ondjapuke mai ya kombanda yoye, nomasa wa Ndjambi wOkombandambanda maye ungura move. Nu ingwi omuatje omuyapuke ngu ma zu move opu ma zu okuisanewa Omuna wa Ndjambi. 36 Tara, omuhoko woye Elisabet wina nai otjingundi tjomuatje omuzandu mongurupiro ye, neye ngu ku za ongandji nambano u nezumo romieze hamboumwe. 37 Orondu Ndjambi ke notjiṋa tji tje mu ura.”
38 Maria wa tja nai: “Owami omukarere wa Muhona; ngape tjitwe ku ami otja punga awa hee.” Nomuengeri arire tja zu po pu ye.
Maria ma kavarura Elisabet
39 Kombunda yanao Maria wa hakahana okuyenda kotjirongo tji tja ri mehi rovivanda ra Judea. 40 Eye wa kahita mondjuwo ya Sakaria na minike Elisabet. 41 Nu Elisabet tja zuva ombinika ya Maria, okanatje arire tji ka nyinganyinga mezumo re; nu ingwi Elisabet omuini we urisiwa nOmbepo Ondjapuke, 42 nu a ravaere neraka enene a tja: “Oove omuṋingandu mokati kovakazendu, nu nga serwe ondaya ingwi omukwatwa wezumo roye! 43 Otjiṋa otjinene hi matji tjitirwa tjike ku ami kutja ina yo Muhona wandje me yokundjivarura? 44 Orondu tara, tjimanga tji mba zu nokuzuva ombinika yoye okanatje otji ka nyinganyinga nenyando mezumo randje. 45 Tjiri, oove omuṋingandu ngu wa kambura kutja avihe mbya hungirwa i Muhona kove mavi yenenisiwa!”
Eimburiro ra Maria rondjoroka
46 Maria wa tja:
“Omuinyo wandje mau hivirike Muhona,
47 nombepo yandje mai yoroka mu Ndjambi,
Omuyame wandje,
48 Eye tjinga a tara komukarere
we omuhinanḓengu.
Tara, okuzamba omihoko avihe
mavi ndji isana omuṋingandu,
49 tjinga amba tjitirwa oviṋa ovinene
i Ndjambi Omunamasa,
Ena re oro eyapuke;
50 otjari tje tji karerera okuza
kozondekurona nga kozondekurona
ku imba mbe nondira ku ye.
51 Eye wa ungura oviṋa ovinene nokuoko kwe,
nu wa piza imba mbe ritongamisa
momeripuriro womitima vyawo.
52 Wa herura ozombara ozonauvara
kovihavero vyazo vyouhona,
nu wa tongamisa imba ovehinanḓengu.
53 Eye we kutisa ovanandjara noviṋa oviwa,
novatumbe wa yarura make nge ri tjo.
54 Wa yenenisa omakwizikiro nga
tjitire kootate mukururume,
nu wa vatere Israel, omukarere we.
55 Eye wa zemburuka okuṱotjari na Abraham
nozondekurona ze nga aruhe!”
56 Maria wa kara oure womieze mangara vitatu puna Elisabet, tjazumba arire tja yaruka koye.
Ongwatero ya Johanes Omupapitise
57 Nambano oruveze rwa Elisabet rwokupanduka arire tji rwa yenene, neye wa panduka omuatje omuzandu. 58 Ovararanganda novazamumwe ve tji va muna kutja Muhona we mu raisire otjari tje otjinene, arire tji va yoroka pamwe na ye. 59 Nu meyuva oritjahambondatu owo ve ya okusukareka okanatje nu ave vanga okukeruka ena ra ihe Sakaria. 60 Nungwari ingwi ina wa tja: “Kako! Eye ma rukwa ena Johanes!”
61 Owo va tja nai ku ye: “Kape na umwe momuhoko woye ngu nena ndo!” 62 Tjazumba va ṋanga ihe nave mu pura kutja omuatje eye ma vanga okumuruka tjikwaye.
63 Sakaria wa ningira otjitjangero nu a tjanga nai: “Ena re oJohanes!” Nowo avehe arire tji va himwa! 64 Tjimanga otjinyo tja Sakarias tja paturuka, neye wa hungira a tanga Ndjambi. 65 Ovararanganda na ye avehe arire tji va hara omburuma, nombuze aihe ndji ya zuvaka mehi arihe rovivanda vya Judea. 66 Auhe ngwa zuva oviṋa mbi, we ripura na vyo na pura a tja: “Omuatje ngwi ma rire omukwatjike?” Orondu okuuoko kwa Muhona okunamasa tjiri kwa ri kombanda ye.
Eimburiro rondangero ra Sakaria
67 Sakaria, ihe ya Johanes, we urisiwa nOmbepo Ondjapuke, neye wa hungira ombuze ya Ndjambi a tja:
68 “Nga tangwe, Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel,
eye tjinga eya okuvatera otjiwaṋa tje nokutjikutura.
69 Eye we tu yetere Omukuture omunamasa,
ondekurona yomukarere we David.
70 Otja tja kwizikire rukuru novinyo
vyovaprofete ve ovayapuke
71 kutja eye me tu yama kovanavita na eṱe,
na kouvara wa imba avehe mbe tu tonda.
72 Eye wa tjere ma raisa otjari kootate mukururume,
nu ma zemburuka omerikutiropamwe we omayapuke.
73 Wa zikamisa noruyano oruṱakame ku
tate Abraham kutja me tu pe
74 okutukutura momake wovanavita na eṱe,
tu mu karere nokuhina okutira
75 kutja tu rire ovayapuke novasemba komurungu we
omayuva aehe ngunda atu nomuinyo.
76 “Nove, muatje wandje, mo isanewa omuprofete
wa Ndjambi wOkombandambanda.
Ove mo tengere po Muhona
okumuṱunina ondjira ye,
77 nokuraera otjiwaṋa tje kutja otjo matji yamwa
mokuisirwa ourunde watjo.
78 Mena rotjari tja Ndjambi wetu,
ondjerera yeyuva pokupita mai yere
kombanda yetu okuza meyuru.
79 Okuyandja ondjerera ku imba avehe mbe ri
monḓorera na momuzire wonḓiro,
nokuyatisa ozombaze zetu mondjira yohange.”
80 Nu ingwi omuatje we kura na hara omasa morutu na mombepo. Eye wa kara mokuti onguza nga keyuva ndi eye nda raisiwa kotjiwaṋa tja Israel.
