< Luka 1 >

1 Andũ aingĩ nĩmarĩkĩtie kwandĩka ũhoro wa maũndũ marĩa mahingĩtio gatagatĩ-inĩ gaitũ,
To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,
2 o ta ũrĩa twaheirwo ũhoro wamo nĩ arĩa meyoneire maũndũ macio kuuma o kĩambĩrĩria marĩ aira na ndungata cia ũhoro ũcio.
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
3 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, tondũ niĩ mwene nĩnduĩrĩtie maũndũ macio mothe wega kuuma kĩambĩrĩria-rĩ, ngakĩona arĩ wega o na niĩ ngwandĩkĩre mũtaratara mwega wa maũndũ macio, wee mũnene mũgaathe Theofilo,
And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,
4 nĩgeetha ũmenye na ma maũndũ marĩa warutirwo.
in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.
5 Na rĩrĩ, hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Herode aarĩ mũthamaki wa Judea, nĩ kwarĩ mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai wetagwo Zakaria, warĩ wa gĩkundi kĩa athĩnjĩri-Ngai kĩa Abija; mũtumia wake eetagwo Elizabethi na aarĩ wa rũciaro rwa Harũni.
In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the Division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 O eerĩ maarĩ arũngĩrĩru maitho-inĩ ma Ngai, na nĩmathĩkagĩra maathani ma Mwathani na mawatho mothe matarĩ na ũcuuke.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 Nao matiarĩ na twana tondũ Elizabethi aarĩ thaata; na eerĩ maarĩ akũrũ mũno.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 Na rĩrĩ, mũthenya ũmwe Zakaria nĩarutaga wĩra wa mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai arĩ mbere ya Ngai, tondũ rĩarĩ ihinda rĩa gĩkundi gĩake gũtungata-rĩ,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
9 nĩathuurirwo na njĩra ya gũcuukĩrwo mĩtĩ, kũringana na mũtugo wa ũthĩnjĩri-Ngai, athiĩ thĩinĩ wa hekarũ ya Mwathani agacine ũbumba.
it fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;
10 Na rĩrĩa ihinda rĩa gũcina ũbumba rĩakinyire, kĩrĩndĩ gĩothe kĩrĩa kĩonganĩte nĩ ũndũ wa kũhooya, nĩ kĩahooyagĩra na kũu nja.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũraika wa Mwathani akiumĩrĩra Zakaria, na akĩrũgama mwena wa ũrĩo wa kĩgongona kĩrĩa gĩa gũcinĩra ũbumba.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 Rĩrĩa Zakaria aamuonire, akĩhahũka na akĩiyũrwo nĩ guoya.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 No mũraika ũcio akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ: “Zakaria, tiga gwĩtigĩra; mahooya maku nĩmaiguĩtwo. Mũtumia waku Elizabethi nĩagagũciarĩra mwana wa kahĩĩ, nawe nĩũkamũtua Johana.
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall call by the name John.
14 Nĩũgakena na ũcanjamũke, nĩ ũndũ wake na andũ aingĩ nĩmagakenio nĩgũciarwo gwake,
He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
15 nĩgũkorwo nĩagatuĩka mũndũ mũnene maitho-inĩ ma Mwathani. Ndarĩ hĩndĩ akaanyua ndibei o na kana kĩndũ o kĩngĩ kĩgagatu kĩngĩtũma mũndũ arĩĩo, na nĩakaiyũrwo nĩ Roho Mũtheru kuuma o gũciarwo gwake.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord; he shall not drink any wine or strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 Nake nĩakagarũra andũ aingĩ a Isiraeli macookerere Mwathani Ngai wao.
and shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 Na nĩagathiĩ mbere ya Mwathani arĩ na roho na hinya wa Elija, nĩguo agarũre ngoro cia maithe mendane na ciana ciao, nao arĩa aremi amagarũre magĩe na ũũgĩ wa andũ arĩa athingu, nĩgeetha ahaarĩrie andũ mahote gweterera Mwathani.”
He shall go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, ‘to reconcile fathers to their children’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18 Zakaria akĩũria mũraika ũcio atĩrĩ, “Ingĩmenya ma ya ũhoro ũcio atĩa? Niĩ ndĩ mũthuuri mũkũrũ o na mũtumia wakwa arĩ na mĩaka mĩingĩ.”
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 Mũraika ũcio akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Niĩ nĩ niĩ Gaburieli, ũrĩa ũrũgamaga mbere ya Ngai, na nĩ gũtũmwo ndũmĩtwo ngwarĩrie na ngwĩre ũhoro ũyũ mwega.
“I am Gabriel,” the angel answered, “who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 Na rĩu nĩũgũkira ũremwo nĩ kwaria nginya mũthenya ũrĩa ũndũ ũcio ũkaahinga, tondũ ndũnetĩkia ciugo ciakwa, o icio ikaahinga ihinda rĩrĩa rĩagĩrĩire rĩakinya.”
And now you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.”
21 Hĩndĩ ĩyo yothe, andũ nĩmetereire Zakaria na makarigagwo nĩ kĩrĩa gĩatũmĩte aikare mũno ũguo thĩinĩ wa hekarũ.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 Rĩrĩa oimire, ndaigana kũhota kũmaarĩria; magĩkĩmenya atĩ nĩonete kĩoneki arĩ thĩinĩ wa hekarũ, nĩgũkorwo no kũmaheneria aamahenagĩria na guoko, agĩikara o ũguo atekũhota kwaria.
When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 Rĩrĩa ihinda rĩake rĩa gũtungata rĩathirire-rĩ, akĩinũka gwake mũciĩ.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 Thuutha ũcio Elizabethi mũtumia wake akĩgĩa nda, na handũ ha mĩeri ĩtano agĩikara ehithĩte.
After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
25 Akiuga atĩrĩ, “Nĩ Mwathani ũnjĩkĩire ũũ. Matukũ-inĩ maya nĩanjĩkĩte wega na akanjehereria thoni cia kũmenwo nĩ andũ.”
“This is what the Lord has done for me,” she said, “now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living.”
26 Naguo mweri wa ĩtandatũ wa Elizabethi gũkorwo arĩ na nda-rĩ, Ngai nĩatũmire mũraika Gaburieli athiĩ Nazarethi itũũra rĩarĩ kũu Galili,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 akĩmũtũma kũrĩ mũirĩtu gathirange worĩtio nĩ mũndũ wetagwo Jusufu, wa rũciaro rwa Daudi. Mũirĩtu ũcio gathirange eetagwo Mariamu.
to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 Mũraika ũcio akĩmuumĩrĩra, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Nĩndakũgeithia, wee ũrathimĩtwo mũno! Mwathani arĩ hamwe nawe.”
Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
29 Nake Mariamu agĩthĩĩnĩka mũno nĩ ũndũ ũcio, na akĩgega akĩrigwo nĩ ũhoro wa ngeithi icio.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 Nowe mũraika ũcio akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Mariamu tiga gwĩtigĩra, nĩgũkorwo nĩũkinyĩirwo nĩ wega wa Ngai.
when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 Nawe nĩũkũgĩa nda na nĩũgaaciara mwana wa kahĩĩ, nawe nĩũkamũtua Jesũ.
And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
32 Nake nĩagatuĩka mũnene na ageetagwo Mũrũ-wa-Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno. Mwathani Ngai nĩakamũhe gĩtĩ kĩa ũnene kĩrĩa gĩa ithe Daudi,
The child shall be great and shall be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
33 nake nĩagathamakĩra nyũmba ya Jakubu nginya tene; ũthamaki wake ndũgaathira o na rĩ.” (aiōn g165)
and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Mariamu akĩũria mũraika ũcio atĩrĩ, “Ũndũ ũyũ ũngĩhoteka atĩa, kuona atĩ ndĩ o mũirĩtu gathirange?”
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 Nake mũraika ũcio akĩmũcookeria, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Roho Mũtheru nĩagooka igũrũ rĩaku naguo hinya wa Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno nĩũgakũhumbĩra, nĩ ũndũ ũcio mwana ũrĩa ũgaaciarwo nĩ mũtheru na ageetagwo Mũrũ wa Ngai.
“The Holy Spirit shall descend upon you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’
36 O na Elizabethi, ũrĩa wa mbarĩ cianyu, o nake nĩekũgĩa kaana arĩ mũkũrũ, o ũcio weragwo atĩ nĩ thaata, nĩgũkorwo rĩu arĩ na nda ya mĩeri ĩtandatũ.
And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;
37 Nĩgũkorwo gũtirĩ ũndũ ũngĩrema Ngai.”
for no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
38 Nake Mariamu akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndĩ ndungata ya Mwathani. Ndĩrogĩĩkwo o ta ũguo woiga.” Hĩndĩ ĩyo mũraika akĩmũtiga agĩthiĩ.
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 Matukũ-inĩ o ro macio, Mariamu akĩĩhaarĩria, agĩthiĩ ahiũhĩte nginya itũũra rĩarĩ bũrũri ũrĩa ũrĩ irĩma wa Judea,
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 agĩtoonya mũciĩ gwa Zakaria, na akĩgeithia Elizabethi.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Rĩrĩa Elizabethi aiguire ngeithi cia Mariamu-rĩ, kaana gake gakĩambarara karĩ nda yake, nake Elizabethi akĩiyũrwo nĩ Roho Mũtheru.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 Akĩanĩrĩra na mũgambo mũnene, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Wee wĩ mũrathime gatagatĩ ka atumia othe, nako kaana karĩa ũgaaciara nĩkarathime!
and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 No nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmĩte njĩkwo wega ũũ, atĩ nyina wa Mwathani wakwa no ooke kũnjeerera?
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ndaigua mũgambo wa ngeithi ciaku wakinya matũ-inĩ makwa, nako kaana karĩa karĩ nda yakwa kambarara nĩ ũndũ wa gũkena.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 Kũrathimwo-rĩ, nĩ mũndũ ũcio wĩtĩkĩtie atĩ maũndũ marĩa Mwathani amwĩrĩte nĩmakahingio!”
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 Nake Mariamu akiuga atĩrĩ: “Ngoro yakwa nĩĩragooca Mwathani,
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 naguo roho wakwa nĩũrakenera Ngai Mũhonokia wakwa,
my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
48 nĩgũkorwo nĩaririkanĩte kwĩnyiihia kwa ndungata yake. Kuuma rĩu njiarwa ciothe irĩĩnjĩtaga mũrathime,
for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
49 nĩgũkorwo Ũcio ũrĩ Hinya nĩanjĩkĩire maũndũ manene, narĩo rĩĩtwa rĩake nĩ rĩtheru.
Great things has the Almighty done for me; And holy is his name.
50 Tha ciake nĩikinyagĩra arĩa mamwĩtigagĩra, kuuma njiarwa nginya njiarwa.
From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
51 Nĩekĩte maũndũ ma hinya na guoko gwake; na arĩa etĩĩi aharaganagia meciiria ma ngoro ciao.
Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
52 Nĩaharũrũkĩtie aathani kuuma itĩ-inĩ ciao cia ũnene, no agatũũgĩria arĩa menyiihagia.
he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
53 Nĩahũũnĩtie arĩa ahũtu na maũndũ mega, no arĩa itonga akamaingata matarĩ na kĩndũ.
the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
54 Nĩateithĩtie Isiraeli ndungata yake, akaririkana ũhoro wake wa kũiguanĩra tha,
He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
55 o ta ũrĩa eerire maithe maitũ, atĩ nĩakaiguĩra Iburahĩmu hamwe na njiaro ciake tha, nginya tene.” (aiōn g165)
(As he promised to our forefathers) For Abraham and his race for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Nake Mariamu agĩikara na Elizabethi ta mĩeri ĩtatũ, agĩcooka akĩinũka kwao.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Na rĩrĩ, ihinda rĩa Elizabethi rĩakinya rĩa gũciara, agĩciara kahĩĩ.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 Andũ a itũũra rĩake na a mbarĩ ciao makĩigua atĩ Mwathani nĩakĩrĩrĩirie kũmũiguĩra tha, nao magĩkena hamwe nake.
and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 Mũthenya wa ĩnana wakinya, magĩũka nĩguo maruithie kaana kau, nao meendaga gũgatua Zakaria o ta ũrĩa ithe eetagwo,
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
60 no nyina akĩaria, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Aca! Gegwĩtwo Johana.”
when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
61 Nao andũ makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Gũtirĩ mũndũ wa mbarĩ cianyu wĩtagwo rĩĩtwa rĩu!”
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 Nao makĩũria ithe ũrĩa angĩenda gatuuo na ũndũ wa kũmũheneria na moko.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 Akĩmeetia kahengere ga kwandĩkwo, nake akĩandĩka atĩrĩ, “Rĩĩtwa rĩako nĩ Johana.” Naguo ũndũ ũcio ũkĩgegia andũ othe.
Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
64 O hĩndĩ ĩyo akĩhingũka kanua, naruo rũrĩmĩ rwake rũkĩregera, akĩambĩrĩria kwaria, akĩgooca Ngai.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 Nao andũ othe a itũũra makĩiyũrwo nĩ guoya, makaaragia ũhoro wa maũndũ macio mothe, namo makĩhunja bũrũri-inĩ ũcio wothe wa irĩma wa Judea.
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
66 Nao arĩa othe maiguire ũhoro ũcio makĩgegio nĩguo makĩũria atĩrĩ, “Kaĩ kaana gaka gagaatuĩka ũ? Nĩgũkorwo guoko kwa Mwathani kwarĩ hamwe nako.”
and all who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another — “What can this child be destined to become?” For the Power of the Lord was with him.
67 Nake ithe Zakaria akĩiyũrwo nĩ Roho Mũtheru, akĩratha ũhoro, akiuga atĩrĩ,
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 “Mwathani Ngai wa Isiraeli arogoocwo, tondũ nĩokĩte na agakũũra andũ ake.
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 Nĩatwambararĩirie rũhĩa rwa ũhonokio thĩinĩ wa nyũmba ya Daudi, ndungata yake
and has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation In the House of his servant David —
70 (o ta ũrĩa aarĩtie matukũ ma tene na tũnua twa anabii ake atheru), (aiōn g165)
As he promised by the lips of his Holy Prophets of old — (aiōn g165)
71 rwa gũtũhonokia kuuma kũrĩ thũ ciitũ, na kuuma kũrĩ guoko kwa arĩa othe matũmenaga,
Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 nĩguo aiguĩre maithe maitũ tha, na aririkane kĩrĩkanĩro gĩake gĩtheru,
showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
73 o mwĩhĩtwa ũrĩa eehĩtĩire ithe witũ Iburahĩmu:
This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
74 atĩ nĩagatũhonokia kuuma guoko-inĩ gwa thũ ciitũ, na atũhotithie kũmũtungatagĩra tũtarĩ na guoya,
That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 tũrĩ atheru na athingu mbere yake matukũ-inĩ maitũ mothe.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
76 “O nawe, kaana gakwa, nĩũgetagwo mũnabii wa Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno; nĩgũkorwo nĩũgaathiiaga mbere ya Mwathani nĩguo ũmũthondekagĩre njĩra ciake,
And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 na ũmenyithie andũ ake ũhoro wa ũhonokio nĩ ũndũ wa kũrekerwo mehia mao,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 na tondũ wa tha nyingĩ cia Ngai witũ, tha icio nĩigatũma riũa rĩtũrathĩre kuuma igũrũ,
through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
79 nĩgeetha rĩarĩre arĩa matũũraga nduma-inĩ, o na arĩa matũũraga kĩĩruru-inĩ gĩa gĩkuũ, nĩguo rĩtongorie magũrũ maitũ njĩra-inĩ ya thayũ.”
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 Nako kaana kau gagĩkũra, na gakĩgĩa hinya roho-inĩ wako; nake agĩtũũra werũ-inĩ nginya hĩndĩ ĩrĩa eyumĩririe kũrĩ andũ a Isiraeli.
The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.

< Luka 1 >