Luke 2
1 Ni nton ri ni sen, Kaisar Agustus a yo doka ndu ba bla ndji bi gbungblu ba wawu.
About that time the Emperor Augustus commanded that ([his officials must] write down the names/[a census be taken]) of all the people who lived in countries [controlled] by the Roman [government] {that the Roman [government controlled]}, [so that the government could collect taxes from them].
2 Wa a mumlan bla kena, u kiri niyus na Gona umeme suriya.
That was the first time that they (wrote down the names/took a census) in Syria [province, which included Judea district]. They did this while Quirinius was the governor of the province.
3 U ko ba nha ba lu hi ni gbumba na ka nha inde ba.
Every person had to go to the town where his [most famous ancestor] had lived, so that [the officials] could write down their names.
4 Isuwu, me a lunde hi ni Galili; Ibgu Nazarat hi ni gbu Yahudiya, Igbu Dawuda, ni wa ba yo ni Batalami, nitu wa a rji ni koh nan hi mlan Dawuda.
So, because Joseph was a descendant of [King] David, he went up from Nazareth, the town in Galilee [district where he lived], to the town of Bethlehem in Judea [district]. That was the town where [King] David [grew up].
5 Ahi nha nde ma ba Maryamu wa a nna'u wa ahe nne.
Joseph went with Mary, who [was considered] {whom [people considered]} [to be] his wife, who was now pregnant. They went so that they could put his name and Mary’s name [in the record book].
6 U ba rhi he niki ri u inton ngrji vren ma ye.
When they arrived [in Bethlehem], there was no place for them to stay in the house where travelers stay. [So they stayed in a cattle shed]. When the time for Mary to give birth arrived, she gave birth to her first son there. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a trough where [people] put food for the animals.
7 waa ngrji vren llon, nna nye'u ni guglo ngbanja nklon na nban ka ka wu yo ni mi nju yawo, nitu wa mikoh ana he wa ba ka yo na, ba bi tsri mu ni gbu'a.
8 Bi krju ntma bi wa ba son in klan kima na ni ya ba ni chu ba he.
That night, there were [some] shepherds who were taking care of their sheep [as usual] in the fields near [Bethlehem].
9 U Maleka Irji a rju ni bawu u kpan u rji ka grji kah ba, u ba ka nkbo sissri
An angel from God appeared to them. A great light (from the Lord/from God) shone on them and around them. [So] they became very afraid.
10 U Maleka kah hla ni bawu, “ndu ba na tie sissrina, a ndi wawu nji tre ndindi ma ye wa ni yo ndi wawu ndu ba ngyiri.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! I have come to tell you good news, which will [make you] very happy! This message is for everyone [to hear].
11 Luwa ba ngrji Macheto ni gbu Dauda, Inde Kristi Bachi!
[The message is that] today a baby has been born in [Bethlehem, the town where King] David grew up. That baby will [eventually] save you [from the guilt of your sins]! He is the Messiah, [your] Lord!
12 Bi yi ba alama wa ba tsro yi'a: Bi toh kpran vren ba yo'u nimi ikpi a kakru ni nju yawo.”
I will tell you how [you will recognize him] (OR, how you will know [that what I say is true]): [In Bethlehem] you will find a baby who has been wrapped {[whose mother] has wrapped him} in strips of cloth and placed in a trough where [people] put food for the animals.”
13 Ni yiu riro me, gbugbu ndji ni shulu ni Maleku ba gbre Irji san na ni tre andi,
Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared and joined the other angel. They all praised God, singing/saying,
14 “Khikle ruron hi u Irji ni shulu, u dun si he ni ngbungblu ni ba ndji wa suron Irji ku si ni ba.”
“May [all the angels] in the highest heaven praise God! And on the earth may the people to whom God has shown his favor have peace [with him]!”
15 U Maleka ba kma hi kpamba ni shulu, u bi krju ntma ba tre ni kpamba ndi, “ki hi zizan ni Batalami ndi toh ikpe yi wa a tie'a, wa Irji dun ta ki toh.”
After the angels left them [and returned] to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem to see this [wonderful] thing that has happened, which (the Lord/God) has told us about!”
16 U ba zren gbagbla me hi na ka toh Maryamu mba Isuwu ni vuvren wa ba ka yo ni nju'a
So they went quickly. They found the [place where] Mary and Joseph [were staying], and [they saw] the baby lying in the trough where [people] put food for the animals.
17 U wa ba toh'u a, ba bla hla kpie wa ba wo nitu vren'a.
Then they told [Mary and Joseph and others] what had been told them {what [the angel] had told them} about this child.
18 Wawu mba wu biwa ba wo tre Maleka ba tie sissri.
Everyone who heard what was said by the shepherds {what the shepherds said} to them was amazed.
19 Maryamu son si rhimre itre wa a wo ba wawu na nji ni suron ma.
But Mary [did not talk to others about what the angels said]; she just kept thinking very much about it.
20 I gu u krju ntma kma hi na ni ngyiri na ni gbre shi san ni kpie wa ba wo na ka toh na wa ba hla ni bawu'a.
The shepherds returned [to their sheep]. They kept praising God very much for all the things that they had heard and seen, [because] everything [happened] exactly like [the angels] told them.
21 Ni klekle ivi u tandra ba gen mbru niwu, na zi nde ma ni Yesu, inde wa Maleka zi niwu wa ri he ni mi nne yima'a ri ba ka ngrji'u.
Seven days later, when [the priests] circumcised the baby, [his parents] named him Jesus. That was the name that [they were told by] the angel {the angel [told them]} [to] give him before Mary became pregnant.
22 Uvi tsrakake mba a ke ni doka Musa, Isuwu mba Maryamu ba nji'u hi ni koh Irji ni Urushelima ndu ba nji'u hi ni shishi Bachi.
It had been written by Moses {Moses had written} [long ago] in a law that God gave him, that when a woman gave birth to her first son, the parents had to take him [to the Temple] in Jerusalem in order that they might dedicate him (to the Lord/to God). So when the time came for them to do those rituals so that [God would consider] them pure again, Mary and Joseph took Jesus there.
23 Ni wa ba nha nha ni doka Irji ye'a, Ivren lon wa ba ngrji'a ba nji'u hi no Irji.
24 U ba no hadaya u Ingyu hari ko Tatabara hari, ni ya nda doka Irji a hla.
God had commanded in his laws that if the first child [of a couple] was a boy, his parents should offer as a sacrifice to God two turtledoves or two young pigeons. [So Joseph and Mary gave the priest two birds so he could offer them].
25 Ni Wurishelima, igu ri a he niki ba yo'wu Simion, wa nda a he khriki nani tie ndindi me. Na ni yo shishi u lo suron ni ndji bi Isrela, u Ruhu Irji he ni wu.
At that time there was an [old] man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He habitually did what was pleasing to God and he obeyed God’s laws. The Holy Spirit was [directing] him as he was waiting for [God] [MTY] [to] encourage the Israeli [people by sending the Messiah].
26 U nda hla niwu ye nda a na qu na, ama se a ni toh Bachi Kristi.
It was [previously] revealed by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit [previously] revealed} to him that he would see God’s [promised] Messiah before he died.
27 Ruhu Irji a nji'u Simion hi ni tra u bre Bachi, wa ba tie vuvren nhan nhan'n mba Yesu, ni ndu ba tie kpe wa doka tre Irji hla.
When Joseph and Mary brought their baby Jesus [to the Temple] in order to perform the rituals that [God had commanded] in his laws, the Spirit led Simeon to enter the Temple [courtyard, and revealed to him that Jesus was the Messiah].
28 U Simion a krju nba rji na ngyiri ni Irji na tre.
So he took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 I wu wa uhe ni ko ge u ka ndu gran mehi piyan me ni kpe wa wu tre.
Lord, you promised me that I would see the one [MTY] who would enable you to save people of all people-groups from the guilt of their sins. He will be [MET] like a light that will reveal your truth to non-Jews, and he will cause people to think highly of your people, the Israeli people. Since I [SYN] have now seen this one that you promised to send, now let me die peacefully.
30 Ni kpa chu wa me klan mi toh njanji tre,
31 ni wa u mlan tie ni ngbugbu lu ba wawu.
32 I nkpa wa ani tro ba inko mea ni kuma no ni nko Isrela.
33 Ba iyima mba ittima ba tie sissri (mamaki) ikpe wa ba wo ba tre nitu ma.
His parents marveled about what [Simeon] said about [Jesus]. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary,
34 U Simion a tie lulu yo ni bawu nda hla ni Maryamu iyima ndi, “U to, Vivren yi, wawu yi ni dun bari dun ba joku, bari gbugbu ba lunde ni mi Isrela, wa ani tsro gban u wa indji ba kamba -
“Note what I say: [God] has determined that because of this child, many Israeli people will [turn away from God], and many others will turn to God [MET]. Although he will be like a sign [MET] [to warn people], [many] people will oppose him.
35 Ni dun iwen ndu kpireu dri na no mre ndu wa ani nharan mi suron ndji wawu.
As a result, the [evil] thoughts of many people will be made evident {he will reveal the [evil] thoughts of many people}. [Furthermore, the cruel things that they will do to him] [MET] [will be like] a sword that will pierce your (soul/inner being).”
36 U Anabi rhi, ahi iwa, ba yo'u ni Hanatu. Ahi vren Fanuwel rji nimi L'be u Asha. Wa a che kpokpome. A sohn ni lon ma ise tangban niwa a gran ni vren wa,
There was also [in the Temple courtyard] a very old woman named Anna. She was a prophetess. Her father Phanuel was a member of the tribe of Asher. After she had been married seven years, her husband died.
37 u lon ma a qu wa ka son ni kbo ise wulon inkyu tandra ni nza. Ani hi ni nko bre Irji chachu chachu ni chu mba ni mble ani bre Irji ni vu hlan ma.
After that, she lived until she was 84 years old, and she was still a widow. She stayed in the Temple [area] all the time, night and day, worshipping God. She often (abstained from food/fasted) as she prayed.
38 Ni ki me, a ngyiri ni Irji, na tetra vren ni ndi ba wa wu bi wa ba si gben kpachuwo (fansar) Wurishelima.
[While Joseph and Mary and the baby were] still [in the Temple, Anna came to them. She thanked God for the baby]. Then she spoke about Jesus to many people who were expecting [God to send the Messiah] [MTY] to set [the people of] [MTY] Jerusalem free [from their enemies].
39 Ni wa ndji ba kle ko nge wawu na wa ndi bla tre Irji hla'a, u ba ka kma hi ni Galili ni gbumba Nazaret.
After Joseph and Mary had finished performing the rituals that (the Lord/God) required [the parents of a first son] to perform, they returned to their own town, Nazareth, in Galilee [district].
40 Ivren sen ni tie ninkon u mre ma ndindi ni babran kpukpome, ndindi (Alheri) u Irji he ni wu.
As Jesus grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was very pleased with him.
41 Ba tie ma ba hi Wurishelima ko wa ni ise ni ngan (Idin Ketarewa).
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem to [celebrate] the Passover festival.
42 Wa-a tie si wulon don ha, u ba rji hi ya da ba hi ni Idin.
So when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up [to Jerusalem] as they always did.
43 Ka ba kle tie ro'a na kma si hi, u vren'a Yesu, wa zu kukri ni kogon ri ni mi Wurishelima a na ni toh ba iyima na.
When the celebration ended, his parents started to return home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. [His parents] did not realize that [Jesus stayed there].
44 Ba zren ya ndi a he nimi ba ndji wa ba si hi baba'a, u ba zren u vi rhi. Nda lu ni wa'u nimi ba mlan mba ni kpukpan mba.
They thought that he was with the other people who were traveling with them. They walked all day. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.
45 U wa ba na to'u na, ba kma hi si wa'u ni Wurishelima.
They did not find him, so they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
46 U ni vi u tra mba, ba to'u nimi koh Irji, a son ni tsutsu ba bi tsro, asi sren ton si wo ba nda si mye ba.
Two days later, they found him. He was in the Temple [courtyard], sitting with the [Jewish] religious teachers. He was listening to what they said, and he was asking them questions.
47 Biwa basi wo wu wawumba ba tie sissri (mamaki) ni toh tre wa ahe niwu.
Everyone who heard what he [said] was amazed at how much he understood and [how well] he answered [the questions that the teachers asked].
48 U ba ka toh, na tie sissri iyima myen inge ba sa u tie nna ki ni ta wu bu tie me, kisi wa wu, ni suron nfu.
When his parents saw him, they were very surprised. His mother said to him, “My son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried as we [(exc)] have been searching for you!”
49 A mye ba, “bi si wa me ni nge, bina toh ndi abi dun mi son ni koh tti mu na?”
He said to them, [speaking about the Temple being God his Father’s house], “(I am surprised that you [(dl)] did [not know] where to find me!/Why did you [not know] where to find me?) [RHQ] (You [(dl)] should have known that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house!/Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?) [RHQ]”
50 U bana toh tu tre wa a tre ni ba na,
But they did not understand [the meaning of] what he said to them.
51 Wa kma huba hi ni koh ni Nazarat na ni wo tre mba. U iyi ma a nji kpe wa atie gbangba nimi suron ma wawu.
Then he returned with them down to Nazareth. He always obeyed them. But his mother kept thinking about all those things.
52 U Yesu gburon ni hon ni tiya ni toh tre ni tagoma, Irji mba ni ndji me.
[As the years passed], Jesus continued to become wiser and he grew taller. God and people continued to approve of him more and more.
