Lioka 1
1 Kanao maro ty nandrambe am-pitàñe handahatse talily amo raha atokisantikañeo
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 manahake ty nitaroña’ iareo ama’ay, ie nivalolombeloñe boak’am-baloha’e nimpitoroñe i tsaray ama’ay,
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
3 le satriko ka, ie hinotsohotsoko boak’ am-baloha’e i hene rezay, ty hanokitse talily soa filahatse ho azo, ry roandria Teofilo,
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 hahafohina’o ty hatò’ i tsara nañohañe azoy.
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 Teo tañ’andro’ i Heroda mpanjaka’ Iehodà, ty mpisoroñe atao Zakaria, am-pirimboña’ i Abia; boak’ amo anak’ ampela’ i Aroneo ty tañanjomba’e, i Elizabeta ty tahina’e.
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 Songa vantañe añatrefan’ Añahare iereo roroe; tsy amam-pitsikoañe ty fañaveloa’iareo amo lily naho fepè’ Iehovào.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 Tsy nanañ’ anake fa betsiterake t’i Elizabeta vaho sambe nigain-kantetse ie roroe.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 Aa ie nitoroñe ami’ty naham-pisoroñe aze añatrefan’Añahare ami’ty fifandimbezam-pirimboña’e t’i Zakaria;
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
9 le amy lilim-pisoroñañey, nitsatok’ ama’e ty hañemboke, le nimoak’ an-kibohon’ Añahare ao,
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 vaho hene nilolok’ alafe’e ao i màroy amy fotoam-pañembohañey.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Nisodeha ama’e amy zao ty anjeli’ i Talè, nijohañe an-kavana’ i kitrelim-pañembohañey.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 Nianifañe t’i Zakaria te nahaoniñe, nihohokòhoke, vaho nidoiña’ ty firevendreveñañe.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 Le hoe ty asa’ i anjeliy tama’e; Ko hemban-drehe Zakaria fa jinanjiñe i halali’oy le hisama-dahy ama’o t’i Elizabeta tañanjomba’o vaho toñono ty hoe Jaona ty añara’e.
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 Ho fale naho ehake irehe vaho maro ty hirebek’ amy hisamaha’ey,
He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
15 amy t’ie ho ra’elahy añatrefa’ Iehovà, naho tsy hinon-divay ndra toake, vaho ie mbe an-kovin-drene’e ao ro ho lifore’ i Arofo Masiñey.
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 Maro amo ana’ Israeleo ty hampitolihe’e amy Iehovà Andrianañahare’ey.
and shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 Ie hañavelo añatrefa’eo ami’ty arofo naho haozara’ i Elia, hampitolihe’e amo anakeo ty tron-droae naho mb’ami’ty fahihira’ o vantañeo o manjehatseo, hampihentseñe ondaty veka’e ho a Iehovà.
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 Aa hoe t’i Zakaria tamy anjeliy; Aia ty haharendrehako t’ie to? Bey iraho naho migain-kantetse ka ty valiko.
“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 Tinoi’ i anjeliy ty hoe, Izaho n’o Gabriele mpijohañe añatrefan’ Añahareo; niraheñe hivolañ’ ama’o, hitaroñe o talili-soa zao.
“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 Fe inao! ho moan-drehe, tsy hahasaontsy ampara’ t’ie tafetetse, ami’te tsy natokisa’o o volakoo, ie ho heneke amy nifantañañey.
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 Nandiñe i Zakaria ondatio, nilatsa t’ie tambatse amy toetse miavakey ao.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 Ie niavotse, le tsy nahasaontsy am’ iereo naho nioni’ iereo te niboahan-draha añ’ anjomba miavak’ ao, ie nanondrotondro am’iareo, fa le lia’e nimoañe.
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 Ie amy zao, naho niheneke o andro fitoroña’eo, le nimpoly mb’añ’ anjomba’e añe.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 Añe i andro rezay le niareñe t’i Elizabeta, vali’e, vaho nipalitse lime volañe, fa hoe ty asa’e:
After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
25 Zao ty nanoe’ Iehovà amako amy andro nivazoho’ey, hañafaha’e amako ty sirika’ondatio.
“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 Ie amy fah’enembola’ey le niraheñe boak’ aman’Añahare ao t’i Gabriela anjely homb’an-drova atao Nazareta e Galilia añe,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 mb’ami’ty somondrara nifofoe’ t’indaty atao Iosefe, anjomba’ i Davide, Marie ty añara’ i somondraray.
to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 Niheo ama’e i anjeliy nanao ty hoe; Akore ry isoheñe! mitahy azo t’Iehovà.
Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
29 Nitsonevotse amy zao re amy tsara’ey, le nitsakore i fañontanea’ey.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 Ko hemban-drehe, Marie, hoe i anjeliy fa nanjò fañisohañe aman’ Añahare.
when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 Oniño t’ie hiareñ’ an-koviñ’ ao le hisama-dahy, vaho hatao’o Iesoà ty añara’e
And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
32 Ho fanalolahy re, le ho toñoneñe ty hoe: Ana’ i Andindimoneñey naho hatolo’ Iehovà Andrianañahare aze ty fiambesa’ i Davide rae’e;
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,
and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Le hoe t’i Marie tamy anjeliy; Akore ty hahamete’ izay, izaho tsy mahavany lahy?
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 Aa le hoe ty natoi’ i anjeliy aze; Hitotsak’ ama’o i Arofo Masiñey, hañalok’ azo ty haozara’ i Andindimoneñey; le ho toñoneñe ty hoe, Anan’ Añahare, i Masiñe hasama’oy.
“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 Inao te niaren-dahy ka t’i Elizabeta longo’o ndra te bey; fa enem-bolañe henaneo i natao betsiterakey,
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 Toe tsy eo ty tsy lefen’ Añahare.
for no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
38 Hoe t’i Marie; Intoy ty anak’ ampata’ Iehovà; lonike te ho amako i sinaontsi’oy. Le nienga aze i anjeliy.
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 Niongake amy andro rezay t’i Marie, nikapikapike mb’an-tanàñe ambohibohi’ Iehodà mb’eo;
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 le nimoak’ añ’ anjomba’ i Zakaria ao vaho nañontane i Elizabeta.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Ie jinanji’ i Elizabeta i fañontanea’ i Mariey, le nivoañe ty ajaja an-tro’e ao; mbore nilifore’ i Arofo Masiñey t’i Elizabeta.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 Le ty hoe ty napaza’e; Haha amy ze atao ampela irehe vaho soatata ty anake hasama’o.
and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 Ia ka iraho, te nitilihe’ ty rene’ i Talèkoy?
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Hete! ie nimoak’ an-tsofiko ao i feom-pañontanea’oy le nisondrakak’an-kaehake ty ajaja an-troko ato.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 En-droa, haha i niantoke te ho henefeñe ama’e o raha nitsarae’ Iehovày.
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 Aa le nanao ty ti-hoe t’i Marie: Mañonjoñe Iehovà ty fiaiko,
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 vaho mirebek’ aman’Añahare mpandrombak’ ahy ty troko;
my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
48 Nivazohoe’e ty hasotria’ i anak’ am-pata’ey, Oniño te hanao ahy haha ze hene tariratse henane zao.
for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
49 Nanao raha fiain-tane amako i Maozatsey—masiñe ty tahina’e.
Great things has the Almighty done for me; And holy is his name.
50 Ferenaiña’e pak’an-tariratse an-tariratse o mañeveñe ama’eo.
From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
51 Nampiboaha’e haozarañe ty fità’e; naparatsia’e o mpiebotsebotse am-pitsakorean-tro’eo.
Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
52 Nafotsa’e amo fiambesam-bolo- nahe’eo o fanalolahio, vaho naonjo’e o mpirèkeo.
he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
53 Nanjàñe’e raha soa o nisalikoo, fe nampolie’e hara’e o mpañalealeo.
the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
54 Nimbae’e t’Israele mpitoro’e, hahatiahia’e i fiferenaiñañe
He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
55 nitsarae’e amy Abraàme naho amo tarira’e nainai’eoy, i nampitamà’e an-droaen-tikañey. (aiōn g165)
(As he promised to our forefathers) For Abraham and his race for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Telo volañe varàñe ty nitoboha’ i Marie ama’e ao vaho nimpoly mb’añ’anjomba’e añe.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Henek’ amy zao o andro nahatoly i Elizabetao, le nisama-dahy.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 Jinanji’ ondaty mpitrao-tanàñe ama’eo naho o longo’eo t’ie niferenaiña’ Iehovà, le nitrao-kafaleañe ama’e.
and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 Ie ami’ty andro faha-valo, le nasese ho savareñe i ajajay, vaho ho natao’ iereo Zakaria ty añara’e amy te izay ty tahinan-drae’e,
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
60 fa hoe ka ty natoin-drene’e; Aiy! hatao ty hoe Jaona re.
when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
61 Aa hoe ty asa’ iareo tama’e; Leo raik’ aman-drolongo’o tsy nitoñoneñe amy tahinañe zay.
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 Le nañatsikatsik’ an-drae’e iereo, ami’ty hoe: Ia ty satri’o hitokavañ’ aze.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 Nipay fanokiran-dre vaho nanokitse ty hoe: I Jaona ty añara’e. Aa le hene nidaba.
Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
64 Nisokak’ ami’ty manao zao ty falie’e naho nibalake i famele’ey vaho nisaontsy am-pandrengeañe an’ Andrianañahare.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 Hene nangebahebake o mpimoneñe nañohoke iareoo, vaho nirehafeñe mb’eo mb’eo ambohibohi’ Iehodà ao irezay.
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
66 Songa nitsakore ty hoe añ’ arofo ao ze nahaoniñe: Ty ajaja ho akore v’itoio? Le nitahy aze ty fità’ Iehovà.
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 Lifotse i Arofo Masiñey amy zao t’i Zakaria rae’e vaho nitoky ty ti-hoe:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 Andriañeñe t’Iehovà Andrianañahare’ Israele, fa nitilihe’e vaho jineba’e ondati’eo.
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 Nampitroara’e tsifam-pandrombahañe tika añ’anjomba’ i Davide mpitoro’e ao,
and has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation In the House of his servant David —
As he promised by the lips of his Holy Prophets of old — (aiōn g165)
71 t’ie ho rombaheñe amo rafelahin- tikañeo, naho am-pità’ o malaiñe an-tikañeo,
Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 Hiferenaiña’e o roazan-tikañeo, naho ho tiahi’e i fañina’e miavakey,
showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
73 i fanta nifantà’e amy Abraàme raentikañey,
This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
74 t’ie hatolo’e amantikañe, ie fa vinotso’e amo rafelahintikañeo, hitoroñ’ aze tsy an-kahembañañe,
That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 am-piavahañe naho an-kavantañañe añatrefa’e amo hene andro iveloman-tikañeo.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
76 Le ihe, anako, ty hatao Mpitoki’ i Andindimoneñey, amy te Ihe ty hiaolo i Talè hañajary ty lala homba’e,
And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 hampahaoniñe ondati’eo ty fandrombahañe ie hinahan-kakeo,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ami’ty fiferenaiñan’ Añaharen-tika— ie nampitilihe’e an-tika i fanjiriha’e boak’ añ’aboy,
through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
79 Hanolora’e hazavàñe o mpitoboke añ’ieñe ao naho an-talinjon-kavilasio, hiaoloa’e mb’an-dalan-kanintsiñe mb’eo o fandian-tikañeo.
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 Nitombo i ajajay le nihaozatse an-troke vaho nitoets’am-babangoañe añe ampara’ ty andro niboaha’e am’Israele.
The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.
