Luka 1
1 Ame geɖewo ŋlɔ nu tso nu siwo va eme le mía dome la ŋu,
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled amongst 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.
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants 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, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
4 be wòagbugbɔ aɖo kpe edzi na wò be nu siwo katã wofia wò lae nye nyateƒea.
that you might know the certainty concerning 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.
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisheva.
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 Elisheva 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 while he executed the priest’s office 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 priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 Esi dzudzɔdoɣi ɖo la, ameha si va be yewoasubɔ la nɔ xexe nɔ gbe dom ɖa.
The whole multitude of the people were 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.
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 Esi Zekaria kpɔe la, eɖi vo, eye vɔvɔ̃ dze edzi.
Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and 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, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elisheva, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yochanan.
14 Mi ame eve la miakpɔ dzidzɔ manyagblɔ aɖe le edzidzi ta, eye ame geɖewo hã atso aseye kpli mi,
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice 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 sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 akplɔ Israelvi geɖewo ava Mawu si nye woƒe Aƒetɔ la gbɔe.
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.”
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared 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?”
Zechariah 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,
The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to 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.”
Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t 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.
The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they marvelled that he delayed in the temple.
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.
When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
23 Zekaria tsi gbedoxɔ la me va se ɖe esime eƒe subɔsubɔŋkeke mamlɛawo wu enu, eye wòtrɔ yi aƒe me.
When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24 Le ɣeyiɣi kpui aɖe megbe la srɔ̃a Elizabet fɔ fu, eye wòɣla eɖokui ɣleti atɔ̃ sɔŋ.
After these days Elisheva his wife conceived, and she hid herself 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.”
“Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach amongst 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 city of 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 pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
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.”
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favoured one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst 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 when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this 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, “Don’t be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favour with God.
31 Èle fu fɔ ge adzi ŋutsuvi, eye nàna ŋkɔe be ‘Yesu.’
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Yeshua.’
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 the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 Maria bia mawudɔla la be, “Aleke mawɔ adzi vi esi nyemenya ŋutsu kpɔ o.”
Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
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.
The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the 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.
Behold, Elisheva your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 Elabena ŋugbe ɖe sia ɖe si Mawu do la ava me pɛpɛpɛ.”
For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”
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.
Miriam said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
39 Le ŋkeke siawo me la, Maria tso, eye wòɖe abla yi Yudea dua me,
Miriam arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
40 eye wòge ɖe Zekaria ƒe aƒe me, eye wòdo gbe na Elizabet.
and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elisheva.
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.
When Elisheva heard Miriam’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb; and Elisheva was filled with 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.
She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you amongst 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 favoured, 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.
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leapt 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, for there will be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
46 Maria ɖo eŋu na Elizabet be, “O, nye luʋɔ le Aƒetɔ la kafum ale gbegbe.
Miriam said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 Eye nye gbɔgbɔ tso aseye le Mawu nye xɔla la ŋuti.
My spirit has rejoiced 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 looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
49 Elabena Ŋusẽtɔ la wɔ nu gãwo nam. Kɔkɔe nye eƒe ŋkɔ.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
50 Eƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ li na ame siwo vɔ̃nɛ tso dzidzime yi dzidzime.
His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.
51 Ewɔ nu dzɔtsuwo kple eƒe alɔ, eye wòkaka ame siwo dana le woƒe tamesusuwo me.
He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination 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 put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.
53 Etsɔ nu nyuiwo ɖi ƒo na dɔwuitɔwo, ke edo mɔ kesinɔtɔwo asigbɔloe.
He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
54 Ekpe ɖe eƒe dɔla Israel ŋu, eye wòɖo ŋku eƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ na wo dzi
He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
55 be wòakpɔ nublanui na Abraham kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo tegbee, abe ale si wòdo ŋugbee na mía fofowo ene.” (aiōn g165)
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Maria nɔ Elizabet gbɔ abe dzinu etɔ̃ ene hafi trɔ yi aƒe.
Miriam stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
57 Elizabet ƒe vidziɣi va ɖo, eye wòdzi ŋutsuvi.
Now the time that Elisheva should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to 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 neighbours and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards 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,
On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zechariah, after the name of his father.
60 gake Elizabet gblɔ be, “Gbeɖe, woana ŋkɔe be Yohanes.”
His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called Yochanan.”
61 Amewo do ɣli be, “Nu ka? Ame aɖeke mele wò ƒome blibo la me si woyɔna nenema o.”
They said to her, “There is no one amongst 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.
They made signs to his father, 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.”
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is Yochanan.” They all marvelled.
64 Enumake Zekaria ƒe nu ʋu, eye wògadze nuƒoƒo gɔme abe tsã ene. Ekafu Mawu kple dzidzɔ geɖe.
His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, 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.
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were 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 them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la yɔ fofoa Zekaria me, eye wògblɔ nya siawo ɖi be,
His father Zechariah was filled with the 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, for he has visited and redeemed his people;
69 Eɖo ɖeɖe ƒe ŋusẽ anyi na mí le eƒe dɔla, David ƒe aƒe me
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), (aiōn g165)
71 be yeaɖe mí tso míaƒe futɔwo kple ame siwo lé fu mí la ƒe asi me,
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 ne wòakpɔ nublanui na mía fofowo, eye wòaɖo ŋku eƒe nubabla kɔkɔe,
to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
73 kple atam si wòka na mía fofo Abraham la dzi
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
74 be yeaɖe mí tso míaƒe futɔwo ƒe asi me, ne míasubɔe vɔvɔ̃manɔmetɔe
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should 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 a prophet of the Most High; for 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 knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their 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 tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit 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 shine on those who sit 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.
The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
