< Luk 1 >
1 Ebe ọ bụ nʼọtụtụ mmadụ agbalịala otu ha nwere ike i detu nʼusoro ihe niile mezuru nʼetiti anyị.
Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 Dị ka e nyefere ha nʼaka anyị idebe bụ ndị ahụ sitere na malite jiri anya ha hụ ihe niile, ndị jikwa okwu a eje ozi.
just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 Ekpebikwara m, ebe mụ onwe m nyocharala ihe niile nke ọma site na mmalite, ka m dere gị ihe niile nʼusoro, Tiofilọs, gị onye dị elu a na-asọpụrụ.
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 Nke a ga-eme ka ị mata nke bụ eziokwu banyere ihe ndị ahụ e ziri gị.
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 Nʼoge Herọd bụ eze Judịa, ọ dị otu onyeisi nchụaja aha ya bụ Zekaraya, onye si nʼotu ndị nchụaja nke Abija. Elizabet bụ nwunye ya, site nʼagbụrụ Erọn.
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
6 Ha abụọ bụ ndị ezi omume nʼihu Chineke. Ha debere iwu na ụkpụrụ niile Onyenwe anyị nyere na-enweghị ntụpọ ọbụla.
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 Mana ha amụtaghị nwa, nʼihi na Elizabet bụ nwanyị agaa, ha abụọ emeela nnọọ agadi.
But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 O ruru mgbe ọ bụ ndị otu Zekaraya ga-eje ozi, ọ nọ dịka onye nchụaja na-eje ozi nʼihu Chineke.
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 A họpụtara ya site nʼife nza dị ka omenaala ndị nchụaja si dị ka ọ bụrụ ya ga-abanye nʼime ime ụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị ịchụ aja nsure ọkụ nke e ji ụda na-esi isi ụtọ achụ.
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 Mgbe oge ịchụ aja ụda na-esi isi ụtọ ruru, igwe ndị mmadụ bịara nọ nʼezi na-ekpe ekpere.
And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 Mgbe ahụ, mmụọ ozi Onyenwe anyị, onye guzo nʼaka nri nke ebe ịchụ aja nke ihe na-esi isi ụtọ mere ka ọ hụ ya anya.
Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 Mgbe Zekaraya hụrụ ya, obi fepụrụ ya, ọ tụkwara oke egwu.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 Ma mmụọ ozi ahụ gwara ya sị, “Zekaraya atụla egwu, Chineke anụla ekpere gị. Elizabet nwunye gị ga-atụrụ ime mụtara gị nwa nwoke. Ị ga-akpọkwa aha ya Jọn.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
14 Ọ ga-abụrụ gị ihe oke ọṅụ na obi ụtọ, ọtụtụ mmadụ ga-aṅụrịkwa ọṅụ nʼihi ọmụmụ ya.
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 Nʼihi na ọ ga-abụ onye dị ukwuu nʼanya Onyenwe anyị. Ọ gaghị aṅụkwa mmanya ọbụla, maọbụ ihe ọṅụṅụ ọbụla na-egbu egbu nʼihi na site nʼafọ nne ya ọ ga-abụ onye emejupụtara na Mmụọ Nsọ.
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
16 Ọ ga-akpọghachite ọtụtụ ụmụ Izrel nye Onyenwe ha bụ Chineke ha.
Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
17 Ma ọ ga-aga nʼihu Onyenwe anyị nʼike mmụọ na ike nke Ịlaịja, tụgharịa obi ndị bụ nna nʼebe ụmụ ha nọ. Meekwa ka ndị isiike tụgharịa obi, lekwasị anya nʼamamihe nke ndị ezi omume, na ijikere ụmụ mmadụ nʼihi Onyenwe anyị.”
And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zekaraya sịrị mmụọ ozi ahụ, “Olee otu m ga-esi mata na nke a ga-adị otu a? Abụrụla m agadi. Nwunye m akakwaala nka.”
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 Mmụọ ozi zara ya sị, “Abụ m Gebrel. Ana m eguzo nʼihu Chineke. Ezitere m ka m bịa gwa gị okwu ma wetara gị oziọma a.
“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 Ma lee, ị ga-ada ogbi, ị gaghị ekwukwa okwu ọbụla, tutu ruo mgbe ihe ndị a ga-emezu nʼihi na i kwenyeghị nʼokwu m, nke ga-emezu mgbe oge ya ruru.”
And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
21 Mgbe ihe ndị a niile na-eme, mmadụ ndị ahụ nọkwa na-eche Zekaraya ka ọ pụta. O juru ha anya na ọ nọọla ọdụ nʼime ime ụlọnsọ ukwu ahụ.
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 Mgbe o mesịrị pụta, o nwekwaghị ike ikwuru ha okwu. Ha ghọtara na ọ hụrụ ọhụ nʼime ụlọnsọ ahụ nʼihi na ọ bụ aka ka o ji gwa ha okwu.
When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
23 Mgbe oge ịrụ ọrụ ya gwụsịrị, ọ laghachiri nʼụlọ ya.
And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 Mgbe ụbọchị ndị ahụ gasịrị, Elizabet bụ nwunye ya tụụrụ ime. O zoro onwe ya nʼime ụlọ ọnwa ise.
After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 Ọ sịrị, “Onyenwe anyị emeerela m nke a. O gosila m ihuọma ya nʼụbọchị ndị a, ma wepụkwara m ihere nʼetiti ndị nke m.”
“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
26 Ma nʼọnwa isii ya, Chineke zigara mmụọ ozi ya, bụ Gebrel, ka ọ gaa nʼobodo Nazaret nke dị nʼime Galili.
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 Ka o jekwuru otu nwaagbọghọ na-amaghị nwoke bụ onye otu nwoke aha ya bụ Josef, onye sitere nʼagbụrụ Devid, kwere nkwa ịlụ. Aha nwaagbọghọ a bụ Meri.
to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 O jekwuru ya sị ya, “Ekele! Gị onye ihuọma dịkwasịrị. Onyenwe anyị nọnyekwara gị.”
The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Ma obi lọrọ ya mmiri nke ukwuu nʼihi okwu ya. O bidokwara ịtụgharị nʼuche ya ihe ekele a pụtara.
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 Ma mmụọ ozi ahụ sịrị ya, “Atụla egwu Meri, nʼihi na i chọtala ihuọma nʼebe Chineke nọ.
So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Ma lee ị ga-atụrụ ime, mụọ nwa nwoke. Ị ga-akpọkwa aha ya Jisọs.
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 Ọ ga-abụ nnukwu mmadụ onye a ga-akpọ Ọkpara Onye kachasị ihe niile elu. Onyenwe anyị Chineke ga-enye ya ocheeze nna ya Devid.
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,
33 Ọ ga-achị ụlọ Jekọb ruo ebighị ebi, alaeze ya agaghị enwekwa ọgwụgwụ.” (aiōn )
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” (aiōn )
34 Meri sịrị mmụọ ozi ahụ, “Olee otu nke a ga-esi mee ebe m bụ nwaagbọghọ na-amaghị nwoke?”
“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 Mmụọ ozi ahụ sịrị ya, “Mmụọ Nsọ ga-abịakwasị gị, ike nke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu ga-ekpuchikwa gị. Ya mere onye nsọ ahụ a ga-amụ, a ga-akpọ ya Ọkpara Chineke.
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Lekwa Elizabet onye ikwu gị atụrụla ime nwa nwoke nʼagadi ya. Nke a bụ ọnwa isii ya, bụ onye ahụ ha na-akpọ nwanyị aga.
Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
37 Nʼihi na ọ dịghị okwu sitere na Chineke nke na-agaghị ere.”
For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 Meri zaghachiri sị, “Abụ m ohu Onyenwe anyị, ka ọ dịrị m dị ka i kwuru.” Mgbe ahụ mmụọ ozi ahụ hapụrụ ya laa.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
39 Nʼoge ahụ, Meri biliri gaa ọsịịsọ nʼotu obodo dị nʼugwu Juda.
In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 Nʼebe ahụ, ọ banyere nʼụlọ Zekaraya, kelee Elizabet.
where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Mgbe Elizabet nụrụ ekele Meri, nwa nọ ya nʼafọ megharịrị ahụ. E mere ka Elizabet jupụta na Mmụọ nsọ.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 O tiri mkpu nʼoke olu sị, “Onye a gọziri agọzi ka ị bụ nʼetiti ụmụ nwanyị niile. Onye a gọziri agọzi ka nwa ahụ ị bu nʼafọ bụkwa.
In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 Onye kwanụ ka m bụ na ihuọma dị otu a kpọrọ m na nne Onyenwe m ga-abịa ileta m?
And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ngwangwa m nụrụ olu ekele gị, nwa nọ m nʼafọ wuliri elu nʼọṅụ.
For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Ngọzị ga-adịrị onye ahụ kwere na Onyenwe anyị ga-emezu ihe o kweere ya na nkwa ime.”
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
46 Ma Meri sịrị, “Mkpụrụobi m na-ebuli Onyenwe anyị elu
Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 mmụọ m na-aṅụrị ọṅụ nʼime Chineke bụ Onye nzọpụta m,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 nʼihi na o ledatala anya, lekwasị m, bụ odibo ya dị ala. Site ugbu a gaa nʼihu, ọgbọ niile ga-akpọ m onye a gọziri agọzi.
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 Nʼihi na Onye dị ike emeelara m ihe dị ukwuu. Aha ya dịkwa nsọ.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 Ebere ya na-erute ndị niile na-atụ egwu ya site nʼọgbọ ruo nʼọgbọ.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 O gosila ike aka ya; ọ chụsasịala ndị dị mpako nʼime echiche obi ha.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 O sitela nʼocheeze ndị eze dị ike kwatuo ha, buliekwa ndị dị umeala nʼobi elu.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 O jirila ihe dị mma nyejuo ndị agụụ na-agụ afọ ma ndị ọgaranya ka o zipụrụ nʼaka efu.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 O nyerela odibo ya bụ Izrel aka, ọ na-echetakwa imere ya ebere.
He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 Dị ka ọ gwara nna nna anyị ha, nye Ebraham na ụmụ ụmụ ya ruo mgbe ebighị ebi.” (aiōn )
as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn )
56 Meri nọnyeere ya ihe dịka ọnwa atọ ma mesie laghachi nʼụlọ ya.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 Mgbe oge zuru ka Elizabet mụọ nwa, ọ mụrụ nwa nwoke.
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 Ndị agbataobi ya na ndị ikwu ya, ndị nụrụ otu Chineke si gosi ya ebere dị ukwuu, bịara soro ya ṅụrịa ọṅụ.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Nʼabalị nke asatọ ha bịara ibi nwata ahụ ugwu na ịgụ ya aha. Ha na-achọ ịgụ ya Zekaraya bụ aha nna ya,
On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 ma Nne ya sịrị, “Mba, a ga-agụ ya Jọn.”
But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 Ha sịrị ya, “Ọ dịghị onye ọbụla nʼetiti ndị ikwu gị na-aza aha ahụ.”
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 Ya mere, ha jiri ife aka jụọ nna ya, ihe ọ chọrọ ka akpọ nwata ahụ.
So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 Ọ rịọrọ ka e nye ya mbadamba ihe e ji ede ihe, o deere “Aha ya bụ Jọn.” Nke a jukwara mmadụ niile anya.
Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 Ngwangwa, ọnụ ya meghere, atọpụkwara ire ya. Ya ebido ikwu okwu ma na-etokwa Chineke.
Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 Ibubo wụrụ ndị agbataobi ha niile nʼahụ, ndị mmadụ kọkwara akụkọ banyere ihe ndị a niile ruo obodo niile dị nʼakụkụ ugwu Judịa.
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 Ndị niile nụrụ akụkọ a chere nʼobi ha na-ajụ sị, “Gịnịkwa ka nwa nke a gaje ịbụ?” Nʼihi na aka Onyenwe anyị dịnyeere ya.
And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
67 E mere ka Zekaraya bụ nna ya jupụta na Mmụọ Nsọ. O buru amụma sị,
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Ngọzị dịrị Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke nke Izrel, nʼihi na ọ bịala leta ma gbapụtakwa ndị nke ya.
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 O welielara anyị Onye nzọpụta site nʼụlọ odibo ya bụ Devid.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 (Dị ka o kwuru na mgbe ochie, site nʼọnụ ndị amụma ya dị nsọ). (aiōn )
as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, (aiōn )
71 Na ọ ga-azọpụta anyị site nʼaka ndị iro anyị na sitekwa nʼaka ndị niile kpọrọ anyị asị.
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 O meere ndị nna nna anyị ha ebere site nʼicheta ọgbụgba ndụ ya dị nsọ.
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 Iyi nke ọ ṅụụrụ nna anyị bụ Ebraham, kwekwa nkwa:
the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 Na ọ ga-anapụta anyị site nʼaka ndị iro anyị, nyekwa anyị ike ife ya ofufe na-atụghị egwu.
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 Nʼịdị nsọ na ezi omume nʼihu ya ụbọchị niile nke ndụ anyị.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 “Ma gị nwa m, a ga-akpọ gị onye amụma nke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu; nʼihi na ị ga-aga nʼihu Onyenwe anyị kwadoro ya ụzọ.
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
77 Ime ka ndị nke ya nwee amamihe nke nzọpụta site na ịgbaghara mmehie ha.
to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Nʼihi oke obi ebere Chineke anyị, nke ọwụwa anyanwụ ga-ewetara anyị site nʼigwe.
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 Ka ọ chakwasị ndị bi nʼọchịchịrị na nʼonyinyo nke ọnwụ, na iduzi ụkwụ anyị nʼụzọ nke udo.”
to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 Nwata ahụ toro, bụrụ onye dị ike nʼime mmụọ. O biri nʼime ọzara tutu ruo mgbe oge zuru igosi ụmụ Izrel onwe ya.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.