Luke 1
1 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].
Ebe ọ bụ nʼọtụtụ mmadụ agbalịala otu ha nwere ike i detu nʼusoro ihe niile mezuru nʼetiti anyị.
Dị ka e nyefere ha nʼaka anyị idebe bụ ndị ahụ sitere na malite jiri anya ha hụ ihe niile, ndị jikwa okwu a eje ozi.
3 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.
Ekpebikwara m, ebe mụ onwe m nyocharala ihe niile nke ọma site na mmalite, ka m dere gị ihe niile nʼusoro, Tiofilọs, gị onye dị elu a na-asọpụrụ.
4 I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.
Nke a ga-eme ka ị mata nke bụ eziokwu banyere ihe ndị ahụ e ziri gị.
5 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.
Nʼoge Herọd bụ eze Judịa, ọ dị otu onyeisi nchụaja aha ya bụ Zekaraya, onye si nʼotu ndị nchụaja nke Abija. Elizabet bụ nwunye ya, site nʼagbụrụ Erọn.
6 [God considered that] both of them were righteous, because they constantly completely obeyed everything that God had commanded.
Ha abụọ bụ ndị ezi omume nʼihu Chineke. Ha debere iwu na ụkpụrụ niile Onyenwe anyị nyere na-enweghị ntụpọ ọbụla.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
Mana ha amụtaghị nwa, nʼihi na Elizabet bụ nwanyị agaa, ha abụọ emeela nnọọ agadi.
8 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.
O ruru mgbe ọ bụ ndị otu Zekaraya ga-eje ozi, ọ nọ dịka onye nchụaja na-eje ozi nʼihu Chineke.
9 Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple and burn incense.
A họpụtara ya site nʼife nza dị ka omenaala ndị nchụaja si dị ka ọ bụrụ ya ga-abanye nʼime ime ụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị ịchụ aja nsure ọkụ nke e ji ụda na-esi isi ụtọ achụ.
10 While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
Mgbe oge ịchụ aja ụda na-esi isi ụtọ ruru, igwe ndị mmadụ bịara nọ nʼezi na-ekpe ekpere.
11 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.
Mgbe ahụ, mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị, onye guzo nʼaka nri nke ebe ịchụ aja nke ihe na-esi isi ụtọ mere ka ọ hụ ya anya.
12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.
Mgbe Zekaraya hụrụ ya, obi fepụrụ ya, ọ tụkwara oke egwu.
13 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.
Ma mmụọ ozi ahụ gwara ya sị, “Zekaraya atụla egwu, Chineke anụla ekpere gị. Elizabet nwunye gị ga-atụrụ ime mụtara gị nwa nwoke. Ị ga-akpọkwa aha ya Jọn.
14 He will cause you to be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born.
Ọ ga-abụrụ gị ihe oke ọṅụ na obi ụtọ, ọtụtụ mmadụ ga-aṅụrịkwa ọṅụ nʼihi ọmụmụ ya.
15 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.
Nʼihi na ọ ga-abụ onye dị ukwuu nʼanya Onyenwe anyị. Ọ gaghị aṅụkwa mmanya ọbụla, maọbụ ihe ọṅụṅụ ọbụla na-egbu egbu nʼihi na site nʼafọ nne ya ọ ga-abụ onye emejupụtara na Mmụọ Nsọ.
16 He will [persuade] many people in Israel to turn away [from their sins and please] the Lord their God.
Ọ ga-akpọghachite ọtụtụ ụmụ Izrel nye Onyenwe ha bụ Chineke ha.
17 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].”
Ma ọ ga-aga nʼihu Onyenwe anyị nʼike mmụọ na ike nke Ịlaịja, tụgharịa obi ndị bụ nna nʼebe ụmụ ha nọ. Meekwa ka ndị isiike tụgharịa obi, lekwasị anya nʼamamihe nke ndị ezi omume, na ijikere ụmụ mmadụ nʼihi Onyenwe anyị.”
18 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]”
Zekaraya sịrị mmụọ ozi ahụ, “Olee otu m ga-esi mata na nke a ga-adị otu a? Abụrụla m agadi. Nwunye m akakwaala nka.”
19 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].
Mmụọ ozi zara ya sị, “Abụ m Gebrel. Ana m eguzo nʼihu Chineke. Ezitere m ka m bịa gwa gị okwu ma wetara gị oziọma a.
20 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]”!
Ma lee, ị ga-ada ogbi, ị gaghị ekwukwa okwu ọbụla, tutu ruo mgbe ihe ndị a ga-emezu nʼihi na i kwenyeghị nʼokwu m, nke ga-emezu mgbe oge ya ruru.”
21 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?”
Mgbe ihe ndị a niile na-eme, mmadụ ndị ahụ nọkwa na-eche Zekaraya ka ọ pụta. O juru ha anya na ọ nọọla ọdụ nʼime ime ụlọnsọ ukwu ahụ.
22 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.
Mgbe o mesịrị pụta, o nwekwaghị ike ikwuru ha okwu. Ha ghọtara na ọ hụrụ ọhụ nʼime ụlọnsọ ahụ nʼihi na ọ bụ aka ka o ji gwa ha okwu.
23 When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his home.
Mgbe oge ịrụ ọrụ ya gwụsịrị, ọ laghachiri nʼụlọ ya.
24 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].
Mgbe ụbọchị ndị ahụ gasịrị, Elizabet bụ nwunye ya tụụrụ ime. O zoro onwe ya nʼime ụlọ ọnwa ise.
25 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]!”
Ọ sịrị, “Onyenwe anyị emeerela m nke a. O gosila m ihuọma ya nʼụbọchị ndị a, ma wepụkwara m ihere nʼetiti ndị nke m.”
26 When Elizabeth had been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} [again].
Ma nʼọnwa isii ya, Chineke zigara mmụọ ozi ya, bụ Gebrel, ka ọ gaa nʼobodo Nazaret nke dị nʼime Galili.
27 [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.
Ka o jekwuru otu nwaagbọghọ na-amaghị nwoke bụ onye otu nwoke aha ya bụ Josef, onye sitere nʼagbụrụ Devid, kwere nkwa ịlụ. Aha nwaagbọghọ a bụ Meri.
28 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}!”
O jekwuru ya sị ya, “Ekele! Gị onye ihuọma dịkwasịrị. Onyenwe anyị nọnyekwara gị.”
29 But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
Ma obi lọrọ ya mmiri nke ukwuu nʼihi okwu ya. O bidokwara ịtụgharị nʼuche ya ihe ekele a pụtara.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
Ma mmụọ ozi ahụ sịrị ya, “Atụla egwu Meri, nʼihi na i chọtala ihuọma nʼebe Chineke nọ.
31 You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
Ma lee ị ga-atụrụ ime, mụọ nwa nwoke. Ị ga-akpọkwa aha ya Jisọs.
32 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.
Ọ ga-abụ nnukwu mmadụ onye a ga-akpọ Ọkpara Onye kachasị ihe niile elu. Onyenwe anyị Chineke ga-enye ya ocheeze nna ya Devid.
33 He will be the King of [the] Jews, the descendants [MTY] of [your ancestor] Jacob, forever. He will rule as king forever!” (aiōn g165)
Ọ ga-achị ụlọ Jekọb ruo ebighị ebi, alaeze ya agaghị enwekwa ọgwụgwụ.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
Meri sịrị mmụọ ozi ahụ, “Olee otu nke a ga-esi mee ebe m bụ nwaagbọghọ na-amaghị nwoke?”
35 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).
Mmụọ ozi ahụ sịrị ya, “Mmụọ Nsọ ga-abịakwasị gị, ike nke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu ga-ekpuchikwa gị. Ya mere onye nsọ ahụ a ga-amụ, a ga-akpọ ya Ọkpara Chineke.
36 [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!
Lekwa Elizabet onye ikwu gị atụrụla ime nwa nwoke nʼagadi ya. Nke a bụ ọnwa isii ya, bụ onye ahụ ha na-akpọ nwanyị aga.
37 [You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
Nʼihi na ọ dịghị okwu sitere na Chineke nke na-agaghị ere.”
38 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.
Meri zaghachiri sị, “Abụ m ohu Onyenwe anyị, ka ọ dịrị m dị ka i kwuru.” Mgbe ahụ mmụọ ozi ahụ hapụrụ ya laa.
39 Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
Nʼoge ahụ, Meri biliri gaa ọsịịsọ nʼotu obodo dị nʼugwu Juda.
40 She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
Nʼebe ahụ, ọ banyere nʼụlọ Zekaraya, kelee Elizabet.
41 As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby moved inside [Elizabeth’s] womb. The Holy Spirit took complete control of Elizabeth,
Mgbe Elizabet nụrụ ekele Meri, nwa nọ ya nʼafọ megharịrị ahụ. E mere ka Elizabet jupụta na Mmụọ nsọ.
42 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!
O tiri mkpu nʼoke olu sị, “Onye a gọziri agọzi ka ị bụ nʼetiti ụmụ nwanyị niile. Onye a gọziri agọzi ka nwa ahụ ị bu nʼafọ bụkwa.
43 (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!
Onye kwanụ ka m bụ na ihuọma dị otu a kpọrọ m na nne Onyenwe m ga-abịa ileta m?
44 [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].
Ngwangwa m nụrụ olu ekele gị, nwa nọ m nʼafọ wuliri elu nʼọṅụ.
45 [God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
Ngọzị ga-adịrị onye ahụ kwere na Onyenwe anyị ga-emezu ihe o kweere ya na nkwa ime.”
46 Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
Ma Meri sịrị, “Mkpụrụobi m na-ebuli Onyenwe anyị elu
47 I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
mmụọ m na-aṅụrị ọṅụ nʼime Chineke bụ Onye nzọpụta m,
48 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,
nʼihi na o ledatala anya, lekwasị m, bụ odibo ya dị ala. Site ugbu a gaa nʼihu, ọgbọ niile ga-akpọ m onye a gọziri agọzi.
49 because they will hear about the things that God [MTY], the mighty one, has done for me. He [MTY] is awesome!
Nʼihi na Onye dị ike emeelara m ihe dị ukwuu. Aha ya dịkwa nsọ.
50 He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
Ebere ya na-erute ndị niile na-atụ egwu ya site nʼọgbọ ruo nʼọgbọ.
51 He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
O gosila ike aka ya; ọ chụsasịala ndị dị mpako nʼime echiche obi ha.
52 He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
O sitela nʼocheeze ndị eze dị ike kwatuo ha, buliekwa ndị dị umeala nʼobi elu.
53 He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.
O jirila ihe dị mma nyejuo ndị agụụ na-agụ afọ ma ndị ọgaranya ka o zipụrụ nʼaka efu.
54 And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of [MTY] Israel who serve him.
O nyerela odibo ya bụ Izrel aka, ọ na-echetakwa imere ya ebere.
55 He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever.” (aiōn g165)
Dị ka ọ gwara nna nna anyị ha, nye Ebraham na ụmụ ụmụ ya ruo mgbe ebighị ebi.” (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
Meri nọnyeere ya ihe dịka ọnwa atọ ma mesie laghachi nʼụlọ ya.
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.
Mgbe oge zuru ka Elizabet mụọ nwa, ọ mụrụ nwa nwoke.
58 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].
Ndị agbataobi ya na ndị ikwu ya, ndị nụrụ otu Chineke si gosi ya ebere dị ukwuu, bịara soro ya ṅụrịa ọṅụ.
59 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.
Nʼabalị nke asatọ ha bịara ibi nwata ahụ ugwu na ịgụ ya aha. Ha na-achọ ịgụ ya Zekaraya bụ aha nna ya,
60 But his mother said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
ma Nne ya sịrị, “Mba, a ga-agụ ya Jọn.”
61 [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]!”
Ha sịrị ya, “Ọ dịghị onye ọbụla nʼetiti ndị ikwu gị na-aza aha ahụ.”
62 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.
Ya mere, ha jiri ife aka jụọ nna ya, ihe ọ chọrọ ka akpọ nwata ahụ.
63 [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!
Ọ rịọrọ ka e nye ya mbadamba ihe e ji ede ihe, o deere “Aha ya bụ Jọn.” Nke a jukwara mmadụ niile anya.
64 Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
Ngwangwa, ọnụ ya meghere, atọpụkwara ire ya. Ya ebido ikwu okwu ma na-etokwa Chineke.
65 All their neighbors were amazed/awestruck! They told other people who lived all over the highlands of Judea about what had happened.
Ibubo wụrụ ndị agbataobi ha niile nʼahụ, ndị mmadụ kọkwara akụkọ banyere ihe ndị a niile ruo obodo niile dị nʼakụkụ ugwu Judịa.
66 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].
Ndị niile nụrụ akụkọ a chere nʼobi ha na-ajụ sị, “Gịnịkwa ka nwa nke a gaje ịbụ?” Nʼihi na aka Onyenwe anyị dịnyeere ya.
67 [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:
E mere ka Zekaraya bụ nna ya jupụta na Mmụọ Nsọ. O buru amụma sị,
68 “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.
“Ngọzị dịrị Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke nke Izrel, nʼihi na ọ bịala leta ma gbapụtakwa ndị nke ya.
69 He is sending us someone who will powerfully [MTY] save us, someone who is descended from [MTY] King David, who served God well.
O welielara anyị Onye nzọpụta site nʼụlọ odibo ya bụ Devid.
(Dị ka o kwuru na mgbe ochie, site nʼọnụ ndị amụma ya dị nsọ). (aiōn g165)
71 He will rescue us from our enemies, and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us.
Na ọ ga-azọpụta anyị site nʼaka ndị iro anyị na sitekwa nʼaka ndị niile kpọrọ anyị asị.
72 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.
O meere ndị nna nna anyị ha ebere site nʼicheta ọgbụgba ndụ ya dị nsọ.
73 That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
Iyi nke ọ ṅụụrụ nna anyị bụ Ebraham, kwekwa nkwa:
74 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,
Na ọ ga-anapụta anyị site nʼaka ndị iro anyị, nyekwa anyị ike ife ya ofufe na-atụghị egwu.
75 that he would cause us to be completely dedicated to him, and enable us to live righteously all of our lives.”
Nʼịdị nsọ na ezi omume nʼihu ya ụbọchị niile nke ndụ anyị.
76 [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).
“Ma gị nwa m, a ga-akpọ gị onye amụma nke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu; nʼihi na ị ga-aga nʼihu Onyenwe anyị kwadoro ya ụzọ.
77 You will tell God’s people how he will forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins.
Ime ka ndị nke ya nwee amamihe nke nzọpụta site na ịgbaghara mmehie ha.
78 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.
Nʼihi oke obi ebere Chineke anyị, nke ọwụwa anyanwụ ga-ewetara anyị site nʼigwe.
79 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.”
Ka ọ chakwasị ndị bi nʼọchịchịrị na nʼonyinyo nke ọnwụ, na iduzi ụkwụ anyị nʼụzọ nke udo.”
80 [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.
Nwata ahụ toro, bụrụ onye dị ike nʼime mmụọ. O biri nʼime ọzara tutu ruo mgbe oge zuru igosi ụmụ Izrel onwe ya.
