Luka 1
1 Ame geɖewo ŋlɔ nu tso nu siwo va eme le mía dome la ŋu,
Given that many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those things that really did take place among us,
2 ame siwo tu woƒe ŋutinyawo ɖe nyadzɔdzɔ siwo woxɔ tso ame siwo nye nuteƒekpɔlawo le gɔmedzedzea me la gbɔ, eye wonye dɔlawo na nya la.
just as those who became eyewitnesses, from the beginning, and ministers of the Word delivered them to us,
3 Eya ta enyo nye hã ŋunye, le esi medzro nuwo me tsitotsito tso gɔmedzedzea me ke, be magbugbɔ aŋlɔe ɖe ɖoɖo nu na wò, nye bubutɔ Teofilos,
it seemed good to me also, most excellent Theophilus, having taken careful note of everything from Above, to write to you with precision and in sequence,
4 be wòagbugbɔ aɖo kpe edzi na wò be nu siwo katã wofia wò lae nye nyateƒea.
so that you may know the certainty of the things in which you were instructed.
5 Le Herod si nye Yudea fia ƒe ŋkekewo me la, nunɔla aɖe si woyɔna be Zekaria nye nunɔlawo ƒe ha si woyɔna be Abiya la me tɔwo dometɔ ɖeka. Zekaria srɔ̃ Elizabet hã tso nunɔlawo ƒe ƒome me, eye wònye Aron ƒe dzidzimevi.
In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Wo kple evea wonye ame dzɔdzɔewo le Mawu ŋkume, eye wolé Aƒetɔ la ƒe sededewo kple ɖoɖowo me ɖe asi kpɔtsɔtsɔmanɔŋutɔe.
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 Gake vi aɖeke hã menɔ wo si o, elabena Elizabet nye konɔ, eye wo ame eve la katã wotsi ŋutɔ.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and they both were well advanced in years.
8 Eva eme be Zekaria ƒe hatsotso le nunɔdɔ wɔm le kɔnu la nu le Mawu ƒe ŋkume,
Now it happened, as he was officiating as priest before God in the order of his division,
9 eye le nunɔdɔ ƒe kɔnu la nu la, woda akɔ, eye wotia Zekaria be wòawɔ subɔsubɔdɔ le Aƒetɔ la ƒe gbedoxɔ la me, eye wòado dzudzɔ.
according to the custom of the priesthood, that his lot was to burn incense, upon entering the sanctuary of the Lord;
10 Esi dzudzɔdoɣi ɖo la, ameha si va be yewoasubɔ la nɔ xexe nɔ gbe dom ɖa.
and the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Zekaria nɔ kɔkɔeƒe la, kasia mawudɔla aɖe va do ɖe edzi zi ɖeka, eye wònɔ tsitre ɖe vɔsamlekpui la ƒe nuɖusime.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense;
12 Esi Zekaria kpɔe la, eɖi vo, eye vɔvɔ̃ dze edzi.
and upon seeing him Zacharias was shaken, and a fear fell upon him.
13 Gake mawudɔla la gblɔ nɛ be, “Mègavɔ̃ o, Zekaria, elabena meva be magblɔ na wò be Mawu se wò gbedodoɖa. Srɔ̃wò Elizabet le viŋutsuvi dzi ge na wò, eye nàna ŋkɔe be Yohanes.
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your prayer was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 Mi ame eve la miakpɔ dzidzɔ manyagblɔ aɖe le edzidzi ta, eye ame geɖewo hã atso aseye kpli mi,
And you will have joy and exultation, and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 elabena ɖevi la anye gã le Aƒetɔ la ŋkume. Mano wain alo aha sesẽ aɖeke o. Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ayɔ eme taŋtaŋtaŋ hafi woadzii gɔ̃ hã, eye
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must not drink either wine or strong drink; indeed, he will be filled with Holy Spirit already from his mother's womb.
16 akplɔ Israelvi geɖewo ava Mawu si nye woƒe Aƒetɔ la gbɔe.
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God;
17 Eya adze ŋgɔ na Aƒetɔ la, anɔ Eliya ƒe gbɔgbɔ kple ŋusẽ me be wòatrɔ fofowo ƒe dziwo ɖe wo viwo ŋu, eye tomaɖolawo ɖe ame dzɔdzɔewo ƒe nunya ŋu, be wòadzra ame siwo wodzra ɖo ɖi na Aƒetɔ la ɖo.”
in fact he himself will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of fathers to children’ and the disobedient to the mindset of the righteous, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.”
18 Zekaria bia mawudɔla la be, “Aleke mawɔ anya be esia ate ŋu ava eme, elabena metsi ŋutɔ, eye srɔ̃nye hã ku nyagã?”
But Zacharias said to the angel: “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 Mawudɔla la gblɔ nɛ kple kakaɖedzi be, “Nyee nye Gabriel si nɔa Mawu ŋkume ɣe sia ɣi. Eyae dɔm be magblɔ dzidzɔnya sia na wò,
So in answer the angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news.
20 gake esi mèxɔ dzinye se o ta la, wò aɖe atu, eye màgate ŋu aƒo nu o, va se ɖe esime woadzi ɖevi sia. Elabena woŋlɔ ɖi be nye nyawo ava eme pɛpɛpɛ nenye be ɣeyiɣi la ɖo.”
Now look, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day in which these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21 Le ɣeyiɣi siawo katã me la, ameha si nɔ xexe la nɔ Zekaria lalam be wòado go, eye wòwɔ nuku na wo ŋutɔ be etsi gbedoxɔa me fũu nenema.
Now the people were waiting for Zacharias and wondering at his delay in the sanctuary.
22 Esi wòdo go mlɔeba la, mete ŋu ƒo nu na ame aɖeke o, ke ewɔ dzesi na wo, esi fia be ekpɔ ŋutega alo ɖeɖefia aɖe le gbedoxɔ la me.
But when he came out he was unable to speak to them, and they understood that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary—he kept gesturing to them while remaining mute.
23 Zekaria tsi gbedoxɔ la me va se ɖe esime eƒe subɔsubɔŋkeke mamlɛawo wu enu, eye wòtrɔ yi aƒe me.
And so, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he took off for home.
24 Le ɣeyiɣi kpui aɖe megbe la srɔ̃a Elizabet fɔ fu, eye wòɣla eɖokui ɣleti atɔ̃ sɔŋ.
Well after those days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and stayed in seclusion five months. She kept saying,
25 Elizabet gblɔ kple dzidzɔ be, “Aƒetɔ la ƒe dɔ me nyo ŋutɔ be wòɖe kotsitsi ƒe ŋukpe gã sia ɖa le dzinye.”
“So that's what the Lord has done for me in the days when He concerned Himself to take away my reproach among the people!”
26 Le Elizabet ƒe fufɔfɔ ƒe ɣleti adelia me la, Mawu dɔ mawudɔla Gabriel ɖo ɖe kɔƒe aɖe si woyɔna be Nazaret, si le Galilea la me.
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee named Natsareth,
27 Ame si gbɔ wòdɔe ɖo la nye ɖetugbi aɖe si menya ŋutsu o, eye woyɔnɛ be Maria. Wodo Maria ŋugbe na David ƒe dzidzimevi aɖe si woyɔna be Yosef la be wòaɖe.
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; the virgin's name was Mary.
28 Gabriel va do ɖe Maria gbɔ le vo me, eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Ŋutifafa na wò! Wò ɖetugbi si kpɔ amenuveve! Aƒetɔ la li kpli wò.”
So upon entering where she was the angel said, “Rejoice, recipient of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 Maria ɖi vo, eye eƒe susu ɖe fu nɛ ŋutɔ. Edze agbagba bu ta me le nu si tututu mawudɔla la wɔnɛ la ŋu.
But upon seeing him she was perplexed at his word and was trying to figure out what sort of greeting it might be.
30 Mawudɔla la yi edzi gblɔ nɛ be, “Maria, mègavɔ̃ kura o, elabena Mawu ɖoe be yeayra wò nukutɔe!
The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God.
31 Èle fu fɔ ge adzi ŋutsuvi, eye nàna ŋkɔe be ‘Yesu.’
Now then, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS.
32 Anye ame xɔŋkɔ aɖe, eye woayɔe be Mawu Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la ƒe Vi. Aƒetɔ Mawu la atsɔ tɔgbuia David ƒe fiazikpui la nɛ.
He will be great, and will be called ‘Son of the Most High’; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
and He will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages; indeed, of His kingdom there will be no end!” (aiōn g165)
34 Maria bia mawudɔla la be, “Aleke mawɔ adzi vi esi nyemenya ŋutsu kpɔ o.”
So Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 Mawudɔla la ɖo eŋu be, “Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ava dziwò, eye Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la ƒe ŋusẽ ayɔ mewò, eya ta ɖevi si nàdzi la anɔ Kɔkɔe, eye wòanye Mawu ƒe Vi.
In answer the angel said to her: “Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will hover over you; precisely for this reason the holy One who is to be born will be called ‘Son of God’!
36 Gawu la, anɔ abe ɣleti adee nye esi va yi ene la, wò ƒometɔ Elizabet, ame si woyɔna be ‘konɔ’ la fɔ fu le eƒe nyagãkuku me.
Furthermore, your relative Elizabeth, she has actually conceived a son in her old age and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren;
37 Elabena ŋugbe ɖe sia ɖe si Mawu do la ava me pɛpɛpɛ.”
because any word spoken by God will be possible.”
38 Maria gblɔ be, “Aƒetɔ la ƒe dɔlanyɔnu menye. Nu sia nu si nègblɔ la neva eme nam.” Le esia megbe la, mawudɔla la gabu le eŋkume.
So Mary said: “Yes, I am the Lord's slave! Let it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
39 Le ŋkeke siawo me la, Maria tso, eye wòɖe abla yi Yudea dua me,
Then Mary quickly got ready and went into the hill country in those days, to a town of Judah,
40 eye wòge ɖe Zekaria ƒe aƒe me, eye wòdo gbe na Elizabet.
and entered the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.
41 Esi Elizabet se Maria ƒe gbedodo nɛ ko la, vidzĩ si le dɔ me nɛ la ʋã kple dzidzɔ, eye Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la yɔ Elizabet me fũu.
Well it happened that as Elizabeth heard Mary's salutation the babe bounced up and down in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit.
42 Elizabet do dzidzɔɣli, eye wògblɔ na Maria be, “Mawu ve nuwò le nyɔnuwo katã dome, eye wòɖoe be viwò la naxɔ eƒe yayra gãtɔ kekeake.
And she cried out with a great voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb!
43 Bubu kae nye gã si nède ŋunye, be wò si nye Aƒetɔ la dada nàva kpɔm ɖa!
Why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Esi nèva do gbe nam teti ko la, vinye la ʋã le dɔ me nam le dzidzɔ ta.
Yes indeed, because as the sound of your salutation came into my ears the babe bounced up and down in my womb for joy.
45 Èxɔe se be Mawu awɔ ɖe ale si wògblɔ la dzi, esia tae wòyra wò alea gbegbe ɖo.”
Blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that have been spoken to her from the Lord.”
46 Maria ɖo eŋu na Elizabet be, “O, nye luʋɔ le Aƒetɔ la kafum ale gbegbe.
So Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 Eye nye gbɔgbɔ tso aseye le Mawu nye xɔla la ŋuti.
and my spirit has exulted over God my Savior,
48 Elabena ekpɔ nye, eƒe subɔla sia ƒe ame gblɔe nyenye, eye tso azɔ dzi yina la, woayɔm be Mawu ƒe ame yayra tso dzidzime yi dzidzime.
in that He paid attention to the humble station of His slave (f). Yes indeed, because from now on all generations will declare me to be highly favored,
49 Elabena Ŋusẽtɔ la wɔ nu gãwo nam. Kɔkɔe nye eƒe ŋkɔ.
in that the Mighty One did sublime things for me, and Holy is His name.
50 Eƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ li na ame siwo vɔ̃nɛ tso dzidzime yi dzidzime.
His mercy is for generations of generations to those fearing Him.
51 Ewɔ nu dzɔtsuwo kple eƒe alɔ, eye wòkaka ame siwo dana le woƒe tamesusuwo me.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has dispersed the arrogant in the reasoning of their hearts.
52 Eɖe fiawo ɖa le woƒe zi dzi, ke edo ame siwo bɔbɔ wo ɖokuiwo ɖe anyi la ɖe dzi.
He has dethroned rulers and exalted the lowly.
53 Etsɔ nu nyuiwo ɖi ƒo na dɔwuitɔwo, ke edo mɔ kesinɔtɔwo asigbɔloe.
He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
54 Ekpe ɖe eƒe dɔla Israel ŋu, eye wòɖo ŋku eƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ na wo dzi
He has taken the part of His servant Israel, in remembrance of mercy,
55 be wòakpɔ nublanui na Abraham kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo tegbee, abe ale si wòdo ŋugbee na mía fofowo ene.” (aiōn g165)
just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed while there is an age.” (aiōn g165)
56 Maria nɔ Elizabet gbɔ abe dzinu etɔ̃ ene hafi trɔ yi aƒe.
So Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her house.
57 Elizabet ƒe vidziɣi va ɖo, eye wòdzi ŋutsuvi.
Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth was completed and she bore a son.
58 Nya sia kaka ɖo eƒe aƒelikawo kple ƒometɔwo dome kaba, ame sia ame se ale si Aƒetɔ la nyo dɔ me na Elizabet, eye wo katã wokpɔ dzidzɔ.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had used His great mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Esi ɖevia xɔ ŋkeke enyi la, ƒometɔwo kple wo xɔlɔ̃wo va kpe be yewoawɔ aʋatsotsokɔnu alo ŋkeke enyi ƒe kɔnu la. Amewo katã bu be woatsɔ fofoa ƒe ŋkɔ Zekaria nɛ,
So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they started calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
60 gake Elizabet gblɔ be, “Gbeɖe, woana ŋkɔe be Yohanes.”
His mother reacted and said, “Absolutely not; he shall be called John!”
61 Amewo do ɣli be, “Nu ka? Ame aɖeke mele wò ƒome blibo la me si woyɔna nenema o.”
So they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 Ale womia asi ɖevia fofo, eye wobiae to asidzesiwɔwɔ me be wòayɔ ŋkɔ si woatsɔ na ɖevia.
So they started motioning to his father, as to what he would have him called.
63 Zekaria na wotsɔ nuŋlɔkpe aɖe vɛ nɛ, eye nukutɔe la, eŋlɔ ɖe kpe la dzi be, “Eŋkɔe nye Yohanes.”
Asking for a writing tablet he wrote this: “His name is to be John!” They all marveled.
64 Enumake Zekaria ƒe nu ʋu, eye wògadze nuƒoƒo gɔme abe tsã ene. Ekafu Mawu kple dzidzɔ geɖe.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed and he started to speak, blessing God.
65 Nyadzɔdzɔ blibo la wɔ nuku na woƒe aƒelikawo ŋutɔ, eye wòkaka ɖe du siwo le Yudea togbɛ la dzi la katã me.
(Well a fear came on all who lived around them; and all these sayings kept being talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 Ame sia ame si se nya sia la bua ta me le eŋu ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe, eye wòbiaa eɖokui be, “Ame ka ƒomevi ɖevi sia atsi ava zu? Elabena le nyateƒe me la, Aƒetɔ la ƒe asi le edzi le mɔ tɔxɛ aɖe nu.”
All who heard kept them in their hearts saying, “What then will this child be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.)
67 Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la yɔ fofoa Zekaria me, eye wògblɔ nya siawo ɖi be,
Now his father Zacharias was filled with Holy Spirit and prophesied saying:
68 “Woakafu Aƒetɔ, Israel ƒe Mawu la, elabena eva, eye wòɖe eƒe dukɔ.
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people;
69 Eɖo ɖeɖe ƒe ŋusẽ anyi na mí le eƒe dɔla, David ƒe aƒe me
and has raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of His servant David
—just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from antiquity— (aiōn g165)
71 be yeaɖe mí tso míaƒe futɔwo kple ame siwo lé fu mí la ƒe asi me,
deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us;
72 ne wòakpɔ nublanui na mía fofowo, eye wòaɖo ŋku eƒe nubabla kɔkɔe,
to use mercy with our fathers, even to remember His Holy covenant,
73 kple atam si wòka na mía fofo Abraham la dzi
the oath that He swore to our father Abraham;
74 be yeaɖe mí tso míaƒe futɔwo ƒe asi me, ne míasubɔe vɔvɔ̃manɔmetɔe
to grant to us (having been rescued from the hand of our enemies) to serve Him without fear,
75 le eŋkume le kɔkɔenyenye kple dzɔdzɔenyenye me le míaƒe ŋkekewo katã me.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76 “Ke wò, vinye, woayɔ wò be Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la ƒe Nyagblɔɖila, elabena àdze Aƒetɔ la ŋgɔ be nàdzra mɔ ɖo ɖi nɛ,
And you, child, will be called Prophet of the Most High, because you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 ne nàtsɔ xɔxɔ ƒe sidzedze na eƒe dukɔ to woƒe nu vɔ̃wo ƒe tsɔtsɔke me,
to give a knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins,
78 le míaƒe Mawu la ƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ sɔgbɔ la ta, to esia dzi ɣedzedze nyui la ava na mí tso dziƒo,
through the merciful compassions of our God, with which the divine Dawn has contemplated us,
79 ne wòaklẽ na ame siwo le viviti me kple ku ƒe vɔvɔli te, ne wòada míaƒe afɔwo ɖe ŋutifafa ƒe mɔ dzi.”
to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 Ɖevi la tsi, eye wòsẽ ŋu le gbɔgbɔ me. Enɔ gbedzi va se ɖe esime woɖee fia Israel blibo la le gaglãgbe.
So the child kept growing and being strengthened in spirit, and he stayed in uninhabited areas until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
