Luke 1
1 Ndji gbubgu bana gucci tie ndu yongyegyere kpi bi andi a ye rju kri ndende ni mi mbu'a.
My noble [friend] Theophilus, many people saw the things that [Jesus] did while he was with us, from the time when he started [MTY] [his ministry]. They served God [by teaching people] the message [about the Lord Jesus]. Many of those who heard what they taught wrote down for us accounts of the things that [Jesus did from the time when] he began [his ministry].
2 Na-wa ba ka ba sru ni wo-mbu'a, rji ni biandi bana to ni shishi mba baba bi tindu lan tre-a.
3 Mi toh abi nimu nitu mi ban ikpi ba shle ya toh rji ni mumla, mba ni ni nha nitu mba gyegyere niwu Uchu Tiyofilos.
I myself have studied these accounts carefully. So I decided that it would be good for me also to write for you [(sg)] an accurate account of these matters.
4 Ni dun toh, hamma ni sron ha ikpi andi bana tsro ye.
I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.
5 Ni vi khikle u-chu Herod, Ichu wu Judea, ni ntoh ima, Zakariya wu nhma ko Abijah ana Prist mba. U-wa ma eh'pu Haruna.
When King Herod [the Great ruled] Judea [district], there was a [Jewish] priest named Zechariah. He belonged to the [group of priests called] the Abijah group. He and his wife Elizabeth were both descended from the [first priest of Israel], Aaron.
6 Hambawu bana bi tie sissri Irji ie suron mba ni zren mba abhi ni shishi ma. Bata hu lantre Bachi nda ni hu ikpi bi wandi a nha dun ba ti'a.
[God considered that] both of them were righteous, because they constantly completely obeyed everything that God had commanded.
7 Bana he ni vivren wu ngrji mba na, Alisabatu anani ngrji na, u ba che hamba mba lonma.
But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
8 Inton Zakariya a ye ni dun kri ni shishi Irjin nda tie ndu Prist wa ndi chuu wu nclan ngrji ma a ku ni tu ma.
One day [Zechariah’s] group was doing their work [in the Temple in Jerusalem], and he was serving as a priest in God’s presence.
9 Ba hu njo ni chu Prist wandi a ni tie ndu ni mi-tra u Bachimbu, nda gon ton nitu mbru mba.
Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple and burn incense.
10 Ni-andi ahe ni mi, mbru ndiba ba ki ni rah nda si bre Irji mla ni nton wandi ton a si gon.
While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
11 A kri toh Maleka Irji rju kri ni wo mla wu bubu gon ton-a.
Then an angel whom God had [sent] appeared to him. The angel was standing at the right side of the place [where the priests burned] incense.
12 Ni-andi Zakariya ku shishi niwu, a kma tie lo'me i sissri a vuu.
When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.
13 I Maleka a hla niwu ndi, “Na klu sissri na, Zakariya, nitu ibre me a rhi ton. Iwame Alisabatu ni ngrji ivren'llon niwu. Wu yo ndema ndi Yohana.
But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, do not be afraid! When you [(sg)] prayed [asking God for a son] (OR, [that God would send the Messiah]), God heard what you prayed. [So] your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son. You must name him John.
14 Isuron me ni si i wu ngyiri, u gbugbu ndi ba ngyiri ni ngrji ma'a.
He will cause you to be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born.
15 A nii khikle ndji ni shishi Bachi. Ana so ihi mba mma wandi a sen na ihi na, Ruhu tsartsar wu Irji ni he ni wu rji ni mi nne yima.
God will consider him to be very important. He must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, [in order that he will be completely dedicated to God]. He will be controlled by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit will control him} from before he is born.
16 Gra ndji bi Israila ba kma hi ni Bachi Irji mba.
He will [persuade] many people in Israel to turn away [from their sins and please] the Lord their God.
17 Ani hi ni shishi Bachi ni ruhu mba gbenbgle Elijah. Ani tie ki nda kma suron ba-tti hi nitu mmri mba, don bi ka-wo baka zren nimi to u bi zren bi - nda mla nkon tie ni Bachi, ndji wa ba mla zi niwu'a
As [God’s] Spirit enables him [to preach] powerfully as [the prophet] Elijah did, he will precede [the Messiah]. He will cause parents [SYN] to act [peacefully] toward their children [again]. He will cause [many] people who do not obey [God to hear and obey] the wise things that righteous people [tell them]. He will do this in order to help [many] people to be ready when the Lord [comes].”
18 Zakariya a hla ni Maleka ndi, “Mi tie ni he ni toh kpe yi? Mi chiche ndi i se wamu ba bran gbagbanmu ye.”
Then Zechariah said to the angel, “I am very old, and my wife is also so old [that she cannot bear a child. So] (I cannot [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]!/how can I [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]?) [RHQ]”
19 Maleka kma sa wu da tre ndi, “ahi me Gabriel wandi ani kri ni fron Irji. A ton me du mi ye tre niwu, ndi mi nji lantre ndindi nji wu.
Then the angel said to him, “I am [God’s chief angel], Gabriel! [I do what God tells me, because] I constantly am in God’s presence! I was sent {[He] sent me} to tell you [(sg)] something good [that is going to happen to you].
20 Mla wo! Wu son ni ngbangbi, wuna la tre na, se kpe wa mi hla niwu a wri. Ani toki nitu wuna kpa nyime ni lantre wandi mi hla wu na, ikpe wandi a ni wri ni tsra ni nton ma
What I have told you will certainly happen at the time [God decides], but you did not believe what I told you. So now [God will make] you will be unable to talk until the day [your son is born]”!
21 Ndji ba basiya gben Zakariya ndana rju na. Ba tie mamaki ni wu ton me nimi koh Irji.
While [Zechariah and the angel] were talking, the people [in the courtyard] were waiting for Zechariah [to come out]. They wondered, “Why is he staying in the Temple for such a long time?”
22 Wa a rju ye niba, a tre wakran. Ba kri rhimmre ndi a to kpe ni mi koh Irji. A si tindu tsoro ba niwo, ama ndana tre na.
When Zechariah came out, he was not able to speak to the people. Because he could not talk, he made motions with his hands [to try to convey what had happened]. Then they realized that he had seen (a vision [from God]/something that [God] showed him) while he was in the Temple.
23 Ni-andi nton wu tindu ma a kle, a kma hi ni Kohma
When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his home.
24 Ni vi ba kii, iwama Alisabatu a hwrji-nne wu wha ton ndana du ndji du ba toh na. A tre ndi,
Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant [EUP]. She did not leave their house for five months, [because she knew that people would laugh at her if she told them that she was pregnant].
25 ngye kpe wandi Bachi mu tie ni mu nda yame ni lo suron nda chu shan rju ni mu ni shishi ndji.
But she thought, “God has enabled me to become pregnant. He has pitied me and I will no longer be ashamed [because I have no children]!”
26 Ni wha wu tanne, Irji a ton Maleka Gabriel hi ni gbu Galilee wandi ba yo ndi Nazareth,
When Elizabeth had been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} [again].
27 du hi ni Maryamu, ih'pu Dawuda, wandi ba na haa zi ni ndi ri ni nde Yusufu. Maryamu ana rhi he toh lilon ni son ma.
[This time] he went to Nazareth [town] in Galilee [district], to a virgin whose name was Mary. It had been {[Her parents] had} promised that she would marry a man named Joseph, who was descended from [King] David.
28 A ye tre ni wu ndi, “Mi chiwu, wu wandi ba kpa nyime ni wu gra, Bachi he ni wu.
The angel greeted her and said, “(The Lord/God) is with you [(sg)] and you will be greatly blessed {[has decided to] greatly bless you}!”
29 Itre a kpau tsi shishi, wa kma rhimmre nitu bibi ichi wandi a chiwu'a
But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
30 Maleka a hla ni wu “Na tie sissri na, Maryamu, Irji a kma yawu ni lo suron.
Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
31 Ya yi, wu hwrji-nne ni ngrji vren. Wu yo ndema ndi Yesu.
You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
32 Ani khikle ndji, ba yo vren khikle'a Bachi u shulu. Bachi Irji ni nuu tu chu bachi ma Dawuda.
He will become great. He will be called {[People will] call him} (the Son of God/the man who is also God). God, the Lord, will make him a king [MTY] as his ancestor [King] David was.
33 Ani tie mulki wandi a na kle na nitu koh Yakubu, i ngbungblu wandi ani son nitu mba bana kle na. (aiōn g165)
He will be the King of [the] Jews, the descendants [MTY] of [your ancestor] Jacob, forever. He will rule as king forever!” (aiōn g165)
34 Maryamu a hla ni Maleka, ikpe yi ni tie ni he nda wrhu to tre me. Ime mi rhihe wu toh lilon ni son mu.
Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
35 Maleka a sa niwu ndi, “Ruhu Tsatsra ni ku ni tume i gbengble Irji wu shulu ni kasuu. Vren Tsatsra wandi wu ngrji ba yow ndi Vivren Irji.
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come to you; the power of God [MTY/EUP] will overshadow you [and enable you to become pregnant]. So the child [you will] bear will be completely set apart {give himself completely} to obey God, and he will be called {[people] will say that he is} (the Son of God/the man who is also God).
36 Toh, imlame Alisabatu a he ni nne vivren lilon ngame ni chichema. U wha ma wu tanne yi - wawu wandi bana tre ndi ana ngrji na.
[I also need to tell you something else]. Your cousin Elizabeth is very old, and it was thought {[people] said} that she could not bear any children. But she has been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, and will bear a son!
37 Ekpe na ne wandi Irji na toh tie na.”
[You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
38 Maryamu a tre ndi, “toh, Bachi mu, mi vren wa wu ndume. Tie ni mu tsra ni kpeu wu hla'a.” Maleka a lu hi kpama nda don me.
Then Mary said, “All right, I want to serve (the Lord/God), so may what you [(sg)] have said about me come true!” Then the angel left her.
39 Maryamu a lu lunde ni vi baki nda sima hi ni gbu bi ko tu-ngblu ba, ni gbu wu Judea.
Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
40 A ka rhi ni koh Zakariya nda chi Alisabatu.
She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
41 Ni wandi Alisabatu wo chi wu Maryamu'a, kpran vren wandi a he ni nnema a luza i Ruhu Tsatsra a lu rhi ni Alisabatu
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby moved inside [Elizabeth’s] womb. The Holy Spirit took complete control of Elizabeth,
42 A lu ni khikle lan nda tre gbangban ndi “lulu he nitu me, ni mi mba, mba ni ibi wu mi nne me.
and she said loudly [to Mary], “[God] has blessed you [more than] he has blessed [any other] woman, and [he has] blessed the child you will bear!
43 Nge tie ndu dun bachi mu dun ye ni me?
(I am not worthy that [God would allow you] to visit me!/Why is [God allowing you] to visit me?) [RHQ] You will be the mother of my Lord!
44 Ni wandi lan tre chi me a rhi ni nton mu, vi kpran vren wandi a he nimi nnemu a lu zah wu ngyiri.
[I realize this because] as soon as I heard you greet me, the baby inside my womb moved because he was so happy [that you had come].
45 A tie lulu ni wu wandi a kpanyme ndi ikpi biwandi Bachi Irji a dun be blah niwu ba wrhu to ki.
[God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
46 Maryamu a tre ndi “suron mu ni ngyiri ni Irji Bachi.”
Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
47 Ie drimu ni ngyiri kpukpome ni Irji wandi a kpame chuwo.
I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
48 A kma iyanchi vivren wa wu tindu ma. Ya, Irji zizan ikba ndi kankan ba tie lulu nimu.
I was only his lowly servant girl, but he did not forget me. So from now on, everyone will say that God was pleased with me,
49 Wawuyi a tie khikle ndu nimu, indu ma hi tsatsra.
because they will hear about the things that God [MTY], the mighty one, has done for me. He [MTY] is awesome!
50 Lo suron ni wruhle ma ni ha ikba hi ni ikba wu bi andi ba klu sissri ma'a.
He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
51 A chu ngbengble ni ngba woma tsro, nda vra bi nzutu ni tu mre wu suron mba.
He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
52 A gbran mri bi tu chu grji ni bubu son mba, nda nzu biwandi bana he nitu kpe na lu.
He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
53 A juu bi iyon ni ikpi bi ndindi nda zu bi iwu du ba hi hamani kpe.
He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.
54 A zo Israila, mri u ndu ma, ni duba rhimre nda wruhle
And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of [MTY] Israel who serve him.
He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Maryamu ason mla u wha tra ni Alisabatu rhi nda kma hi ni koma.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
57 Nton ngrji Alisabatu a tie, waa a ngrji vren ma, vren lon.
When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.
58 kpukpan son ma baba mlah ma ba wo khikle kpe ndi Bachi Irji tie, ni lo suron ma niwu, nda ngrji ni wu.
Her neighbors and relatives heard how (the Lord/God) had greatly blessed her [by enabling her to bear a child], so they were happy along with [Elizabeth].
59 A he niki, ni viwu tandra, ba ye bubu gyen mbru ni vivren'a. Ba ta zinde tima Zakariya niwu.
Seven days later they gathered together for the [ceremony for] circumcising the baby [to show that he belonged to God]. They wanted to give the baby the same name as his father, Zechariah.
60 Iyhima a sa bawu ndi, “Aian, nde ma nih Yohana.”
But his mother said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
61 Ba hla niwu ndi “bi na he ni mla mbi rhi ni nde mba na.”
[So] they said to her, “[John] is not the name of any of your [(dl)] relatives, [so you(dl) should not give him that name]!”
62 Ba tre ni wo ni tima ndi do hla nde wa ba yo vren'a.
Then they made motions with their hands to Zechariah, [for him] to indicate what name [he] wanted to be given {to give} to his son.
63 Tima a mye duba nu igble wu nha, wa nha ndi, “ndema hi Yohana.” Ndji ba wawu mba ba tie sissri (mamaki).
[So] he signaled that they [should give him] a tablet [to write on. When they gave him one], he wrote [on it], “His name is John.” All those [who were there] were surprised!
64 Nhuma a kri bwu hari (immediately) i nl'pma a si, wa a tre nda ngyiri ni Irji.
Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
65 Sissri a vu ndji bi wandi bana hye ba ba. Ba vu tre kpi bi yi zren ka gon ngblu ngbugblu Judea.
All their neighbors were amazed/awestruck! They told other people who lived all over the highlands of Judea about what had happened.
66 Wawu ndji biya ba wo'a, ba yo zi ni suron nda tre “i vren yi ni hye ni he?” Nitu woh Irji a he niwu.
Everyone who heard about it kept thinking about it. They were saying, “We wonder what will this child do [for God when] he [grows up] [RHQ]!” They wondered that because [from what had happened they were sure that] God would be helping that child [SYN] [in a powerful way].
67 Tima Zakariya, shu ni Ruhu tsatsra, hla ikpe andi ni he'a
[After] Zechariah’s [son was born], Zechariah was completely directed by the Holy Spirit {the Holy Spirit completely directed Zechariah} as he spoke these words that came from God:
68 “nda tre ndi gbresan ni Bachi, Irji wu Israila, wawu yi a ye zo nda khle ndu kpa-chuwo ni ndji ma.
“Praise the Lord, the God whom we(inc) people of Israel worship, because he has come to set us, his people, free from our enemies.
69 A nzu njon kpata chuwo ni tawu ni koh ndji wu nduma Dawuda,
He is sending us someone who will powerfully [MTY] save us, someone who is descended from [MTY] King David, who served God well.
Long ago God caused his prophets to say that he would do that. (aiōn g165)
71 kpatachuwo rju ni wo bi yota ni shishi mba ni wo bi-andi ba kamba nita.
He will rescue us from our enemies, and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us.
72 Ani tie toki nitu do tsro ta lo suron ma mba timbu, niki rhimre ni tsatsra yo nhyu,
He will do this because he has not forgotten what he promised our ancestors; he made an agreement that he would act mercifully to us, their descendants.
73 ni shirji ni trema ni Ibrahim, bachi mbu.
That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
74 A shirji ndi a ni nuta biwandi a chuta chuwo ni bi kamba nita, ikini tindu niwu hama ni sissri,
God told him that we would be rescued {he would rescue us} from the power of our enemies, that he would enable us to serve him without being afraid,
75 ni tsatsra ti bi, ni shishima wawu ni vrevre mbu.
that he would cause us to be completely dedicated to him, and enable us to live righteously all of our lives.”
76 A wu vivren ba yo'u ndi anabi wu Bachi Khikle ni shulu, wuhi kri ni shishi Bachi ni mla nkoma ti nda mla ndji tie ni ye ma,
[Then Zechariah said this to] his little son: “My child, you will be called {people will say that you are} a prophet whom God [MTY/EUP] has sent; you will begin your work before (the Lord/Messiah) comes; you will prepare people so that they will be ready for him. (OR, you will begin your work before the Messiah comes).
77 nda nu ta to kpe wu kpachuwo ni ndji ma, ni kpa wruhle lahtre mba.
You will tell God’s people how he will forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins.
78 Ikpe ani he toki ni lo suron Irji mba, nitu kima nza Irji rji ni shulu ani ye zota,
Our God will do that because he is very kind to us. Just like a new day begins when the sun rises [MET], God will do that new thing for us when the Messiah comes to us from heaven.
79 do kpan ni bi wandi ba he ni bwu mba iwhu i qu. Ani tie kima nda yota ni nkon wu si.
People who do not know God [MET] are like those who sit in the darkness. They are afraid [MTY] that they will soon die. But when the Messiah tells us God’s message, it will be like causing such people to see a bright light. He will guide us [SYN] so that we will be living peacefully.”
80 Vivren a lu gbron nda he ni sen kpa dri, ndaka son ni tsutsu miji gben vi wandi a rju kri ndende ni Israila.
[Later], Zechariah’s son grew up and became spiritually strong. Then he lived in a desolate region until he began to preach to the Israeli people.
