Luka 1
1 Ame geɖewo ŋlɔ nu tso nu siwo va eme le mía dome la ŋu,
As a number of attempts have been made to put together in order an account of those events which took 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.
As they were handed down to us by those who saw them from the first and were preachers of the word,
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, having made observation, with great care, of the direction of events in their order, to put the facts in writing for you, most noble Theophilus;
4 be wòagbugbɔ aɖo kpe edzi na wò be nu siwo katã wofia wò lae nye nyateƒea.
So that you might have certain knowledge of those things about which you were given teaching.
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, king of Judaea, there was a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the order of Abijah; and he had a wife of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 Wo kple evea wonye ame dzɔdzɔewo le Mawu ŋkume, eye wolé Aƒetɔ la ƒe sededewo kple ɖoɖowo me ɖe asi kpɔtsɔtsɔmanɔŋutɔe.
They were upright in the eyes of God, keeping all the rules and orders of God, and doing no wrong.
7 Gake vi aɖeke hã menɔ wo si o, elabena Elizabet nye konɔ, eye wo ame eve la katã wotsi ŋutɔ.
And they were without children, because Elisabeth had never given birth, and they were at that time very old.
8 Eva eme be Zekaria ƒe hatsotso le nunɔdɔ wɔm le kɔnu la nu le Mawu ƒe ŋkume,
Now it came about that in his turn he was acting as priest before God,
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.
And as was the way of the priests, he had to go into the Temple to see to the burning of perfumes.
10 Esi dzudzɔdoɣi ɖo la, ameha si va be yewoasubɔ la nɔ xexe nɔ gbe dom ɖa.
And all the people were offering prayers outside, at the time of the burning of perfumes.
11 Zekaria nɔ kɔkɔeƒe la, kasia mawudɔla aɖe va do ɖe edzi zi ɖeka, eye wònɔ tsitre ɖe vɔsamlekpui la ƒe nuɖusime.
And he saw an angel of the Lord in his place on the right side of the altar.
12 Esi Zekaria kpɔe la, eɖi vo, eye vɔvɔ̃ dze edzi.
And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear came on 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, Have no fear, Zacharias, for your prayer has come to the ears of God, and your wife Elisabeth will have a son, and his name will be John.
14 Mi ame eve la miakpɔ dzidzɔ manyagblɔ aɖe le edzidzi ta, eye ame geɖewo hã atso aseye kpli mi,
And you will be glad and have great delight; and numbers of people will have joy at 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 eyes of the Lord; he will not take wine or strong drink; and he will be full of the Spirit of God from his birth.
16 akplɔ Israelvi geɖewo ava Mawu si nye woƒe Aƒetɔ la gbɔe.
And through him great numbers of the children of Israel will be turned 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.”
And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness; to make ready a people whose hearts have been turned to 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?”
And Zacharias said to the angel, How may I be certain of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far on 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,
And the angel, answering, said, I am Gabriel, whose place is before God; I have been sent to say these words to you and to give 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, see, you will be without voice or language till the day when these things come about, because you had not faith in my words, which will have effect at the right 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.
And the people were waiting for Zacharias and were surprised because he was in the Temple for such a long time.
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.
And when he came out he was not able to say anything, and they saw that he had seen a vision in the Temple; and he was making signs to them without words.
23 Zekaria tsi gbedoxɔ la me va se ɖe esime eƒe subɔsubɔŋkeke mamlɛawo wu enu, eye wòtrɔ yi aƒe me.
And when the days of his work in the Temple were ended, he went back to his house.
24 Le ɣeyiɣi kpui aɖe megbe la srɔ̃a Elizabet fɔ fu, eye wòɣla eɖokui ɣleti atɔ̃ sɔŋ.
After that time, Elisabeth, being certain that she was to become a mother, kept herself from men's eyes for five months, saying,
25 Elizabet gblɔ kple dzidzɔ be, “Aƒetɔ la ƒe dɔ me nyo ŋutɔ be wòɖe kotsitsi ƒe ŋukpe gã sia ɖa le dzinye.”
The Lord has done this to me, for his eyes were on me, to take away my shame in the eyes of men.
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 from God to a town in Galilee, named Nazareth,
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 who was to be married to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the name of the virgin 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.”
And the angel came in to her and said, Peace be with you, to whom special grace has been given; the Lord is with you.
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 she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?
30 Mawudɔla la yi edzi gblɔ nɛ be, “Maria, mègavɔ̃ kura o, elabena Mawu ɖoe be yeayra wò nukutɔe!
And the angel said to her, Have no fear, Mary, for you have God's approval.
31 Èle fu fɔ ge adzi ŋutsuvi, eye nàna ŋkɔe be ‘Yesu.’
And see, you will give birth to a son, and his name will be 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 named the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his father:
He will have rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and 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.”
And Mary said to the angel, How may this be, because I have had no knowledge of 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.
And the angel in answer said to her, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will come to rest on you, and so that which will come to birth will be named holy, 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.
Even now Elisabeth, who is of your family, is to be a mother, though she is old: and this is the sixth month with her who was without children.
37 Elabena ŋugbe ɖe sia ɖe si Mawu do la ava me pɛpɛpɛ.”
For there is nothing which God is not able to do.
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.
And Mary said: I am the servant of the Lord; may it be to me as you say. And the angel went away.
39 Le ŋkeke siawo me la, Maria tso, eye wòɖe abla yi Yudea dua me,
Then Mary got up and went quickly into the high lands, to a town of Judah;
40 eye wòge ɖe Zekaria ƒe aƒe me, eye wòdo gbe na Elizabet.
And went into the house of Zacharias and took Elisabeth in her arms.
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.
And when the voice of Mary came to the ears of Elisabeth, the baby made a sudden move inside her; then Elisabeth was full of the 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 said with a loud voice: May blessing be on you among women, and a blessing on the child of your body.
43 Bubu kae nye gã si nède ŋunye, be wò si nye Aƒetɔ la dada nàva kpɔm ɖa!
How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
44 Esi nèva do gbe nam teti ko la, vinye la ʋã le dɔ me nam le dzidzɔ ta.
For, truly, when the sound of your voice came to my ears, the baby in my body made a sudden move for joy.
45 Èxɔe se be Mawu awɔ ɖe ale si wògblɔ la dzi, esia tae wòyra wò alea gbegbe ɖo.”
Happy will she be who had faith that the things which the Lord has said to her will be done.
46 Maria ɖo eŋu na Elizabet be, “O, nye luʋɔ le Aƒetɔ la kafum ale gbegbe.
And Mary said: My soul gives glory to God;
47 Eye nye gbɔgbɔ tso aseye le Mawu nye xɔla la ŋuti.
My spirit is glad in God my Saviour.
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.
For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me.
49 Elabena Ŋusẽtɔ la wɔ nu gãwo nam. Kɔkɔe nye eƒe ŋkɔ.
For he who is strong has done great things for me; and holy is his name.
50 Eƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ li na ame siwo vɔ̃nɛ tso dzidzime yi dzidzime.
His mercy is for all generations in whom is the fear of him.
51 Ewɔ nu dzɔtsuwo kple eƒe alɔ, eye wòkaka ame siwo dana le woƒe tamesusuwo me.
With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.
52 Eɖe fiawo ɖa le woƒe zi dzi, ke edo ame siwo bɔbɔ wo ɖokuiwo ɖe anyi la ɖe dzi.
He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.
53 Etsɔ nu nyuiwo ɖi ƒo na dɔwuitɔwo, ke edo mɔ kesinɔtɔwo asigbɔloe.
Those who had no food he made full of good things; the men of wealth he sent away with nothing in their hands;
54 Ekpe ɖe eƒe dɔla Israel ŋu, eye wòɖo ŋku eƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ na wo dzi
His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,
55 be wòakpɔ nublanui na Abraham kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo tegbee, abe ale si wòdo ŋugbee na mía fofowo ene.” (aiōn g165)
As he gave his word to our fathers. (aiōn g165)
56 Maria nɔ Elizabet gbɔ abe dzinu etɔ̃ ene hafi trɔ yi aƒe.
And Mary was with her for about three months and then went back to her house.
57 Elizabet ƒe vidziɣi va ɖo, eye wòdzi ŋutsuvi.
Now it was time for Elisabeth to give birth, and she had 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.
And it came to the ears of her neighbours and relations that the Lord had been very good to her, and they took part in her joy.
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,
And on the eighth day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given him the name of Zacharias, his father's name;
60 gake Elizabet gblɔ be, “Gbeɖe, woana ŋkɔe be Yohanes.”
But his mother made answer and said, No, his name is John.
61 Amewo do ɣli be, “Nu ka? Ame aɖeke mele wò ƒome blibo la me si woyɔna nenema o.”
And they said, Not one of your relations has that name.
62 Ale womia asi ɖevia fofo, eye wobiae to asidzesiwɔwɔ me be wòayɔ ŋkɔ si woatsɔ na ɖevia.
And they made signs to his father, to say what name was to be given to him.
63 Zekaria na wotsɔ nuŋlɔkpe aɖe vɛ nɛ, eye nukutɔe la, eŋlɔ ɖe kpe la dzi be, “Eŋkɔe nye Yohanes.”
And he sent for writing materials and put down: His name is John; and they were all surprised.
64 Enumake Zekaria ƒe nu ʋu, eye wògadze nuƒoƒo gɔme abe tsã ene. Ekafu Mawu kple dzidzɔ geɖe.
And straight away his mouth was open and his tongue was free and he gave praise to God.
65 Nyadzɔdzɔ blibo la wɔ nuku na woƒe aƒelikawo ŋutɔ, eye wòkaka ɖe du siwo le Yudea togbɛ la dzi la katã me.
And fear came on all those who were living round about them: and there was much talk about all these things in all the hill-country of Judaea.
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.”
And all who had word of them kept them in their minds and said, What will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la yɔ fofoa Zekaria me, eye wògblɔ nya siawo ɖi be,
And his father, Zacharias, was full of the Holy Spirit, and with the voice of a prophet said these words:
68 “Woakafu Aƒetɔ, Israel ƒe Mawu la, elabena eva, eye wòɖe eƒe dukɔ.
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and made them free,
69 Eɖo ɖeɖe ƒe ŋusẽ anyi na mí le eƒe dɔla, David ƒe aƒe me
Lifting up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
(As he said, by the mouth of his holy prophets, from the earliest times, ) (aiōn g165)
71 be yeaɖe mí tso míaƒe futɔwo kple ame siwo lé fu mí la ƒe asi me,
Salvation from those who are against us, and from the hands of those who have hate for us;
72 ne wòakpɔ nublanui na mía fofowo, eye wòaɖo ŋku eƒe nubabla kɔkɔe,
To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to keep in mind his holy word,
73 kple atam si wòka na mía fofo Abraham la dzi
The oath which he made to Abraham, our father,
74 be yeaɖe mí tso míaƒe futɔwo ƒe asi me, ne míasubɔe vɔvɔ̃manɔmetɔe
That we, being made free from the fear of those who are against us, might give him worship,
75 le eŋkume le kɔkɔenyenye kple dzɔdzɔenyenye me le míaƒe ŋkekewo katã me.
In righteousness and holy living before him all our days.
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 named the prophet of the Most High: you will go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways;
77 ne nàtsɔ xɔxɔ ƒe sidzedze na eƒe dukɔ to woƒe nu vɔ̃wo ƒe tsɔtsɔke me,
To give knowledge of salvation to his people, through the forgiveness of sins,
78 le míaƒe Mawu la ƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ sɔgbɔ la ta, to esia dzi ɣedzedze nyui la ava na mí tso dziƒo,
Because of the loving mercies of our God, by which the dawn from heaven has come to 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 in dark places, and in the shade of death, so that our feet may be guided 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.
And the child became tall, and strong in spirit; and he was living in the waste land till the day when he came before the eyes of Israel.
