< Luka 2 >

1 Na rĩrĩ, matukũ-inĩ macio, Kaisari Augusito nĩarutire watho atĩ andũ othe a mabũrũri mothe marĩa maathanagwo nĩ Aroma matarwo.
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 (Rĩĩrĩ nĩrĩo rĩarĩ itarana rĩa mbere rĩrĩa rĩataranirwo hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Kuirinio aarĩ barũthi wa Suriata.)
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 Nao andũ magĩthiĩ kwĩyandĩkithia o mũndũ itũũra-inĩ rĩake mwene.
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 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Jusufu o nake akĩambata kuuma itũũra rĩa Nazarethi kũu Galili, agĩthiĩ Judea, agĩkinya Bethilehemu itũũra rĩa Daudi, tondũ we aarĩ wa nyũmba o na wa mbarĩ ya Daudi.
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 Nake aathiire kuo nĩgeetha makeyandĩkithie marĩ na Mariamu, mũirĩtu ũrĩa endaga kũhikia, nake aarĩ mũritũ.
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 Na hĩndĩ ĩrĩa maarĩ o kũu, ihinda rĩa mwana gũciarwo rĩgĩkinya,
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 Nake Mariamu akĩrigithatha kaana ga kahĩĩ. Agĩkooha na taama, agĩgakomia thĩinĩ wa mũharatĩ tondũ nĩmagĩte handũ ha kũraara thĩinĩ wa nyũmba ya ageni.
8 Na kũu bũrũri ũcio, nĩ kwarĩ arĩithi maikaraga mĩgũnda-inĩ, maikarĩtie mahiũ mao ũtukũ.
That night, there were [some] shepherds who were taking care of their sheep [as usual] in the fields near [Bethlehem].
9 Mũraika wa Mwathani akĩmoimĩrĩra, naguo riiri wa Mwathani ũkĩmatherera hau maarĩ, nao makĩnyiitwo nĩ guoya.
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 No mũraika ũcio akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Tigai gwĩtigĩra. Ndamũrehera ũhoro mwega na wa gĩkeno kĩnene, ũrĩa ũgaatuĩka wa andũ othe.
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 Ũmũthĩ itũũra-inĩ rĩa Daudi, nĩmũciarĩirwo mũhonokia; nake nĩwe Kristũ ũrĩa Mwathani.
[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 Na rĩrĩ, kĩrĩa kĩrĩmũmenyithia ũhoro ũcio nĩ gĩkĩ: Nĩmũrĩona gakenge koheetwo na taama gakometio thĩinĩ wa mũharatĩ.”
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 Na o rĩmwe hakiumĩra gĩkundi kĩnene kĩa araika a igũrũ hamwe na mũraika ũcio, makĩgooca Ngai, makiuga atĩrĩ,
Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared and joined the other angel. They all praised God, singing/saying,
14 “Ngai arokumio kũu igũrũ mũno, naguo thayũ ũrogĩa gũkũ thĩ kũrĩ andũ arĩa akenagĩra.”
“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 Na rĩrĩa araika acio maamatigire magĩcooka igũrũ-rĩ, arĩithi acio makĩĩrana atĩrĩ, “Nĩtũthiĩ Bethilehemu tũkoone ũndũ ũcio wĩkĩkĩte, ũcio Mwathani aatũhe ũhoro waguo.”
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 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio magĩthiĩ mahiũhĩte, magĩkora Mariamu na Jusufu o na gakenge kau gakometio thĩinĩ wa mũharatĩ.
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 Na maarĩkia gũkoona, makĩmemerekia ũhoro ũrĩa maaheetwo ũkoniĩ kaana kau,
Then they told [Mary and Joseph and others] what had been told them {what [the angel] had told them} about this child.
18 nao arĩa othe maũiguire makĩgegio mũno nĩ maũndũ marĩa arĩithi acio maameeraga.
Everyone who heard what was said by the shepherds {what the shepherds said} to them was amazed.
19 Nowe Mariamu akĩiga maũndũ macio mothe ngoro-inĩ yake, na agĩikara akĩmeciiragia.
But Mary [did not talk to others about what the angels said]; she just kept thinking very much about it.
20 Nao arĩithi acio makĩhũndũka, magĩkumagia na makĩgoocaga Ngai nĩ ũndũ wa maũndũ macio mothe maiguĩte na makoona, o ta ũrĩa meerĩĩtwo.
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 Mũthenya wa kanana wakinya, rĩrĩa ihinda rĩako rĩa kũrua rĩakinyire-rĩ, kaana kau gagĩtuuo Jesũ, rĩĩtwa rĩrĩa mũraika aakaheete mbere ya nyina kũgĩa nda yako.
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 Na rĩrĩ, rĩrĩa ihinda rĩao rĩa gũtherio rĩakinyire kũringana na Watho wa Musa-rĩ, Jusufu na Mariamu magĩgatwara Jerusalemu nĩguo magakaneane harĩ Mwathani
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 (o ta ũrĩa kwandĩkĩtwo Watho-inĩ wa Mwathani atĩrĩ, “Irigithathi rĩothe rĩa kahĩĩ nĩ rĩrĩamũragĩrwo Mwathani”),
24 na marute igongona kũringana na ũrĩa Watho wa Mwathani uugĩte: “Nĩ ndirahũgĩ igĩrĩ kana tũtutuura twĩrĩ.”
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 Na rĩrĩ, nĩ kwarĩ mũndũ kũu Jerusalemu wetagwo Simeoni, warĩ mũthingu na mwĩtigĩri Ngai. Nake aatũire etereire kũhonokio kwa Isiraeli, nake Roho Mũtheru aarĩ hamwe nake.
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 Nĩaguũrĩirio nĩ Roho Mũtheru atĩ ndagakua atoneete Kristũ ũrĩa wa Mwathani.
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 Nake agĩtoonya thĩinĩ wa hekarũ atongoretio nĩ Roho. Na rĩrĩa aciari a kaana kau ti Jesũ, maagatwarire hekarũ thĩinĩ nĩguo mahingie ũrĩa mũtugo wa watho watuĩte-rĩ,
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 Simeoni agĩkaiyũkia moko-inĩ make na akĩgooca Ngai, akiuga atĩrĩ:
So he took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Mwathani Mwene-Hinya, rĩu rekereria ndungata yaku ĩthiĩ na thayũ, o ta ũrĩa wanjĩĩrĩire.
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 Nĩgũkorwo maitho makwa nĩmonete ũhonokio waku,
31 ũrĩa ũhaarĩirie mbere ya andũ othe,
32 ũrĩ ũtheri wa kũguũrĩria andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ, o na riiri kũrĩ andũ aku a Isiraeli.”
33 Nake ithe na nyina makĩgega mũno nĩ ũndũ wa maũndũ marĩa maaririo igũrũ rĩako.
His parents marveled about what [Simeon] said about [Jesus]. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary,
34 Simeoni agĩcooka akĩmarathima akĩĩra Mariamu, nyina wa kaana kau atĩrĩ, “Kaana gaka nĩ gatuĩtwo ga kũgũithia na gũũkĩria andũ aingĩ thĩinĩ wa Isiraeli, na gatuĩke kĩmenyithia kĩrĩa kĩrĩmenagĩrĩrio,
“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 nĩgeetha meciiria ma ngoro nyingĩ maguũrio. O na ngoro yaku o nayo nĩĩgatheecwo na rũhiũ rwa njora.”
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 Ningĩ nĩ kwarĩ na mũtumia mũnabii, wetagwo Anna mwarĩ wa Fanueli, wa mũhĩrĩga wa Asheri. Mũtumia ũcio aarĩ mũkũrũ mũno; aikarire na mũthuuriwe mĩaka mũgwanja kuuma ahika,
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 agĩcooka agĩikara arĩ wa ndigwa na hĩndĩ ĩyo aarĩ na mĩaka mĩrongo ĩnana na ĩna. Nake ndoimaga hekarũ-inĩ, no aatũire kuo ahooyaga Ngai ũtukũ na mũthenya, na akehiingaga kũrĩa irio na akahooyaga.
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 Hĩndĩ o ĩyo agĩũka harĩo, agĩcookeria Ngai ngaatho, na akĩaria ũhoro wa kaana kau kũrĩ arĩa othe meetagĩrĩra kuona gũkũũrwo kwa Jerusalemu.
[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 Rĩrĩa Jusufu na Mariamu maarĩkirie gwĩka maũndũ marĩa mothe maathanĩtwo nĩ watho wa Mwathani-rĩ, magĩcooka Galili, makĩinũka itũũra rĩao kũu Nazarethi.
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 Nako kaana kau gagĩkũra, gakĩgĩa na hinya; gakĩiyũrwo nĩ ũũgĩ, naguo wega wa Ngai warĩ hamwe nako.
As Jesus grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was very pleased with him.
41 Mwaka o mwaka aciari ake nĩmathiiaga Jerusalemu nĩ ũndũ wa Gĩathĩ kĩa Bathaka.
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem to [celebrate] the Passover festival.
42 Jesũ aakinyia mĩaka ikũmi na ĩĩrĩ, makĩambata nake magĩthiĩ Gĩathĩ-inĩ kĩu kũringana na mũtugo.
So when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up [to Jerusalem] as they always did.
43 Na Gĩathĩ kĩu gĩathira, rĩrĩa aciari ake mainũkaga-rĩ, kamwana kau ti Jesũ, gagĩtigwo na thuutha kũu Jerusalemu, no matiamenyire.
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 Nao magĩthiĩ rũgendo rwa mũthenya mũgima, magĩĩciiragia atĩ aarĩ gĩkundi-inĩ kĩao. Thuutha ũcio makĩambĩrĩria kũmũcaria kũrĩ andũ a mbarĩ yao o na kũrĩ arata.
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 Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa mamwaagire, magĩcooka Jerusalemu makamũcarie.
They did not find him, so they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
46 Thuutha wa mĩthenya ĩtatũ makĩmũkora hekarũ-inĩ aikarĩte gatagatĩ ka arutani, amathikĩrĩirie na akĩmooragia ciũria.
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 Ũrĩa wothe waiguaga akĩaria nĩagegagio nĩ ũmenyo wake na ũrĩa aacookagia.
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 Rĩrĩa aciari ake maamuonire, makĩgega. Nyina akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Mũriũ, ũgũtwĩka ũguo nĩkĩ? Niĩ na thoguo nĩ tũgũcarĩtie tũrĩ na kĩeha mũno.”
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 Nake Jesũ akĩmooria atĩrĩ, “Nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmĩte mũnjarie? Kaĩ mũtooĩ atĩ njagĩrĩirwo gũkorwo ndĩ nyũmba-inĩ ya Baba?”
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 No-o matiataũkĩirwo nĩ ũrĩa aameeraga.
But they did not understand [the meaning of] what he said to them.
51 Nake agĩcooka hamwe nao nginya Nazarethi, na nĩamathĩkagĩra. No nyina nĩaigaga maũndũ macio mothe ngoro-inĩ yake.
Then he returned with them down to Nazareth. He always obeyed them. But his mother kept thinking about all those things.
52 Nake Jesũ agĩkũra, akĩũhĩgaga, na akĩnenehaga, akĩendagwo nĩ Ngai, o na andũ.
[As the years passed], Jesus continued to become wiser and he grew taller. God and people continued to approve of him more and more.

< Luka 2 >