< Luka 1 >
1 Wengi wamejitahidi kuweka katika mpangilio simulizi kuhusu masuala ambayo yametimizwa kati yetu,
Seeing that many did take in hand to set in order a narration of the matters that have been fully assured among us,
2 kama walivyotupatia sisi, ambao tangu mwanzo ni mashahidi wa macho na watumishi wa ujumbe.
as they did deliver to us, who from the beginning became eye-witnesses, and officers of the Word, —
3 Hivyo nami pia, baada ya kuchuguza kwa uangalifu chanzo cha mambo haya yote tokea mwanzo - nimeona ni vema kwangu pia kukuandikia katika mpangilio wake - mheshimiwa sana Theofilo.
it seemed good also to me, having followed from the first after all things exactly, to write to thee in order, most noble Theophilus,
4 Ili kwamba uweze kujua ukweli wa mambo uliyofundishwa.
that thou mayest know the certainty of the things wherein thou wast instructed.
5 Katika siku za Herode, mfalme wa Yudea, palikuwa na kuhani fulani aliyeitwa Zekaria, wa ukoo wa Abiya. Mke wake alitoka kwa binti za Haruni, na jina lake aliitwa Elizabeti.
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abijah, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elisabeth;
6 Wote walikuwa wenye haki mbele za Mungu; walitembea bila lawama katika amri zote na maagizo ya Bwana.
and they were both righteous before God, going on in all the commands and righteousnesses of the Lord blameless,
7 Lakini hawakuwa na mtoto, kwasababu Elizabethi alikuwa tasa, na kwa wakati huu wote wawili walikuwa wazee sana.
and they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.
8 Sasa ilitokea kwamba Zakaria alikuwa katika uwepo wa Mungu, akiendelea na wajibu wa kikuhani katika utaratibu wa zamu yake.
And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his course before God,
9 Kulingana na desturi ya kuchagua ni kuhani yupi atakayehudumu, alikuwa amechaguliwa kwa kura kuingia katika hekalu la Bwana na hivyo angefukiza uvumba.
according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was to make perfume, having gone into the sanctuary of the Lord,
10 Kundi lote la watu lilikuwa likiomba nje wakati wa kufukizwa kwa ufumba.
and all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the hour of the perfume.
11 Sasa malaika wa Bwana alimtokea na kasimama upande wa kulia wa madhabahu ya kufukizia.
And there appeared to him a messenger of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of the perfume,
12 Zakaria alitishika alipomuona; hofu ikamwangukia.
and Zacharias, having seen, was troubled, and fear fell on him;
13 Lakini malaika akamwambia, “Usiogope Zakaria, kwasababu maombi yako yamesikika. Mke wako Elizabeth atakuzalia mwana. Jina lake utamwita Yohana.
and the messenger said unto him, 'Fear not, Zacharias, for thy supplication was heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name John,
14 Utakuwa na furaha na uchangamfu, na wengi watakufurahia kuzaliwa kwake.
and there shall be joy to thee, and gladness, and many at his birth shall joy,
15 Kwa kuwa atakuwa mkuu mbele ya macho ya Bwana. Hatakunywa divai au kinywaji kikali, na atakuwa amejazwa na Roho Mtakatifu tangu tumboni mwa mama yake.
for he shall be great before the Lord, and wine and strong drink he may not drink, and of the Holy Spirit he shall be full, even from his mother's womb;
16 Na watu wengi wa Israel watageuzwa kwa Bwana Mungu wao.
and many of the sons of Israel he shall turn to the Lord their God,
17 Atakwenda mbele za uso wa Bwana katika roho na nguvu ya Eliya. Atafanya hivi ili kurejesha mioyo ya baba kwa watoto, ili kwamba wasiotii wataenenda katika hekima ya wenye haki. Atafanya hivi kuweka tayari kwa Bwana watu ambao wameandaliwa kwa ajili yake.”
and he shall go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of fathers unto children, and disobedient ones to the wisdom of righteous ones, to make ready for the Lord, a people prepared.'
18 Zakaria akamwambia malaika, “Nitawezaje kujua hili? Kwasababu mimi ni mzee na mke wangu miaka yake imekuwa mingi sana.”
And Zacharias said unto the messenger, 'Whereby shall I know this? for I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days?'
19 Malaika akajibu na kumwambia, “Mimi ni Gabrieli, ambaye husimama mbele za Mungu. Nilitumwa kukwambia, kukuletea habari hii njema.
And the messenger answering said to him, 'I am Gabriel, who have been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to proclaim these good news to thee,
20 Na tazama, hutaongea, utakuwa kimya, hutaweza kuongea mpaka siku ile mambo haya yatakapotokea. Hii ni kwasababu ulishindwa kuamini maneno yangu ambayo yatatimizwa kwa wakati mwafaka.”
and lo, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, that shall be fulfilled in their season.'
21 Sasa watu walikuwa wakimsubiri Zakaria. Walishangazwa kwamba alikuwa anatumia muda mwingi hekaluni.
And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondering at his tarrying in the sanctuary,
22 Lakini alipotoka nje, hakuweza kuongea nao. Wakatambua kwamba alikuwa amepata maono alipokuwa hekaluni. Aliendelea kuonesha ishara na alibaki kimya.
and having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the sanctuary, and he was beckoning to them, and did remain dumb.
23 Ikatokea kwamba siku za huduma yake zilipokwisha aliondoka kurudi nyumbani kwake.
And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went away to his house,
24 Baada ya Zakaria kurudi nyumbani kutoka kwenye huduma yake hekaluni, mke wake akawa mjamzito. Naye hakutoka nyumbani mwake kwa muda wa miezi mitano. Akasema,
and after those days, his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying —
25 “Hili ndilo amabalo Bwana amefanya kwangu aliponitazama kwa upendeleo ili kuiondoa aibu yangu mbele za watu.”
'Thus hath the Lord done to me, in days in which He looked upon [me], to take away my reproach among men.'
26 Sasa, katika mwezi wa sita wa mimba ya Elizabeti, Mungu alimwambia malaika Gabrieli kwenda kwenye mji wa Galilaya uitwao Nazareti,
And in the sixth month was the messenger Gabriel sent by God, to a city of Galilee, the name of which [is] Nazareth,
27 kwa bikra aliyekuwa ameposwa na mwanaume ambaye jina lake lilikuwa Yusufu. Yeye alikuwa wa ukoo wa Daudi, na jina la bikra huyo lilikuwa Mariamu.
to a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name [is] Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin [is] Mary.
28 Akaja kwake na akasema, “Salaam, wewe uliyepokea neema kuu! Bwana amependezwa nawe.”
And the messenger having come in unto her, said, 'Hail, favoured one, the Lord [is] with thee; blessed [art] thou among women;'
29 Lakini maneno ya malaika yalimchanganya na hakuelewa kwa nini malaika alisema salaam hii ya ajabu kwake.
and she, having seen, was troubled at his word, and was reasoning of what kind this salutation may be.
30 Malaika akamwambia, “Usiogope, Mariamu, maana umepata neema kutoka kwa Mungu.
And the messenger said to her, 'Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;
31 Na tazama, utabeba mimba katika tumbo lako na utazaa mwana. Nawe utamwita jina lake 'Yesu.'
and lo, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus;
32 Atakuwa mkuu na ataitwa Mwana wa Aliye Juu Sana. Bwana Mungu atampa kiti cha enzi cha Daudi baba yake.
he shall be great, and Son of the Highest he shall be called, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father,
33 Atatawala juu ya ukoo wa Yakobo milele na ufalme wake hautakuwa na mwisho. (aiōn )
and he shall reign over the house of Jacob to the ages; and of his reign there shall be no end.' (aiōn )
34 Mariamu akamwambia malaika, hili litatokea kwa namna gani, maana sijawahi kulala na mwanaume yeyote?
And Mary said unto the messenger, 'How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'
35 Malaika akajibu na akamwambia, “Roho Mtakatifu atakujia juu yako, na nguvu ya Aliye Juu Sana itakuja juu yako. Kwa hiyo, mtakatifu atakayezaliwa ataitwa Mwana wa Mungu.
And the messenger answering said to her, 'The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God;
36 Na tazama, ndugu yako Elizabeti anaujauzito wa mwana kwenye umri wake wa uzee. Huu ni mwezi wa sita kwake, ambaye alikuwa anaitwa mgumba.
and lo, Elisabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her who was called barren;
37 Maana hakuna lisilowezekana kwa Mungu.”
because nothing shall be impossible with God.'
38 Mariamu akasema, “Tazama, mimi ni mtumishi wa kike wa Bwana. Acha iwe hivyo kwangu sawa sawa na ujumbe wako.” Kisha malaika akamwacha.
And Mary said, 'Lo, the maid-servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to thy saying,' and the messenger went away from her.
39 Ndipo katika siku hizo Mariamu aliondoka na kwa haraka alikwenda katika nchi ya vilima, kwenye mji katika nchi ya Yudea.
And Mary having arisen in those days, went to the hill-country, with haste, to a city of Judea,
40 Alikwenda nyumbani mwa Zekaria na akamsalimia Elizabeti.
and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 Sasa, ilitokea kwamba Elizabeti aliposikia salamu ya Mariamu, mtoto tumboni mwake akaruka, na Elizabeti akajazwa na Roho Mtakatifu.
And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe did leap in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 Akapaza sauti yake na kusema kwa sauti kuu, “umebarikiwa wewe zaidi miongoni mwa wanawake, na mtoto aliyemo tumboni mwako amebarikiwa.
and spake out with a loud voice, and said, 'Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb;
43 Na imekuwaje kwangu kwamba, mama wa Bwana wangu ilipasa aje kwangu?
and whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord might come unto me?
44 Kwa kuwa tazama, iliposikika masikoni mwangu sauti ya kusalimia kwako, mtoto tumboni mwangu akaruka kwa furaha.
for, lo, when the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, leap in gladness did the babe in my womb;
45 Na amebarikiwe mwanamke yule ambaye aliamini ya kwamba ungetokea ukamilifu wa mambo yale aliyoambiwa kutoka kwa Bwana.”
and happy [is] she who did believe, for there shall be a completion to the things spoken to her from the Lord.'
46 Mariamu akasema, nafsi yangu inamsifu Bwana,
And Mary said, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 na roho yangu imefurahi katika Mungu Mwokozi wangu.
And my spirit was glad on God my Saviour,
48 Kwa maana ameiangalia hali ya chini ya mtumishi wake wa kike. Tazama, tangu sasa katika vizazi vyote wataniita mbarikiwa.
Because He looked on the lowliness of His maid-servant, For, lo, henceforth call me happy shall all the generations,
49 Kwa maana yeye aliyemweza amefanya mambo makubwa kwangu, na jina lake ni takatifu.
For He who is mighty did to me great things, And holy [is] His name,
50 Rehema yake inadumu toka kizazi hata kizazi kwa wale wanao mheshimu yeye.
And His kindness [is] to generations of generations, To those fearing Him,
51 Ameonesha nguvu kwa mkono wake; amewatawanya wale ambao walijivuna juu ya mawazo ya mioyo yao.
He did powerfully with His arm, He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart,
52 Amewashusha chini wana wa wafalme toka katika viti vyao vya enzi na kuwainua juu walio na hali ya chini.
He brought down the mighty from thrones, And He exalted the lowly,
53 Aliwashibisha wenye njaa kwa vitu vizuri, bali matajiri amewafukuza mikono mitupu.
The hungry He did fill with good, And the rich He sent away empty,
54 Ametoa msaada kwa Israeli mtumishi wake, ili kukumbuka kuonesha rehema
He received again Israel His servant, To remember kindness,
55 (kama alivyosema kwa baba zetu) kwa Abrahamu na uzao wake milele.” (aiōn )
As He spake unto our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed — to the age.' (aiōn )
56 Mariamu alikaa na Elizabeti yapata miezi mitatu hivi ndipo akarudi nyumbani kwake.
And Mary remained with her about three months, and turned back to her house.
57 Sasa wakati ulikuwa umewadia kwa Elizabeti kujifungua mtoto wake na akajifungua mtoto wa kiume.
And to Elisabeth was the time fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she bare a son,
58 Jirani zake na ndugu zake walisikia jinsi Bwana alivyoikuza rehema kwake, na wakafurahi pamoja naye.
and the neighbours and her kindred heard that the Lord was making His kindness great with her, and they were rejoicing with her.
59 Sasa ilitokea siku ya nane kwamnba walikuja kumtahiri mtoto. Ingewapasa kumwita jina lake, “Zekaria,” kwa kuzingatia jina la baba yake,
And it came to pass, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias,
60 Lakini mama yake akajibu na kusema, “Hapana; ataitwa Yohana.”
and his mother answering said, 'No, but he shall be called John.'
61 Wakamwambia, hakuna hata mmoja katika ndugu zako anayeitwa kwa jina hili.”
And they said unto her — 'There is none among thy kindred who is called by this name,'
62 Wakamfanyia ishara baba yake kuashiria yeye alitaka jina aitwe nani.
and they were making signs to his father, what he would wish him to be called,
63 Baba yake akahitaji kibao cha kuandikia, na akaandika, “Jina lake ni Yohana.” Wote wakashangazwa na hili.
and having asked for a tablet, he wrote, saying, 'John is his name;' and they did all wonder;
64 Ghafla mdomo wake ukafunguliwa na ulimi wake ukawa huru. Akaongea na kumsifu Mungu.
and his mouth was opened presently, and his tongue, and he was speaking, praising God.
65 Hofu ikawajia wote walioishi karibu nao. Mambo haya yakaenea katika nchi yote ya vilima vya Yudea.
And fear came upon all those dwelling around them, and in all the hill-country of Judea were all these sayings spoken of,
66 Na wote walioyasikia wakayatunza mioyoni mwao, wakisema, “Mtoto huyu kuwa wa namna gani?” Kwasababu mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa pamoja naye.
and all who heard did lay them up in their hearts, saying, 'What then shall this child be?' and the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Baba yake Zekaria alijazwa na Roho Mtakatifu na akatoa unabii, akisema,
And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and did prophesy, saying,
68 “Asifiwe Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, kwa sababu amesaidia na alishughulikia wokovu kwa watu wake.
'Blessed [is] the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He did look upon, And wrought redemption for His people,
69 Ametuinulia pembe ya wokovu katika nyumba ya mtumishi wake Daudi, kutoka miongoi mwa mwa ukoo wa mtumishi wake Daudi,
And did raise an horn of salvation to us, In the house of David His servant,
70 kama alivyosema kwa kinywa cha manabii wake waliokuweko katika nyakati za kale. (aiōn )
As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, Which have been from the age; (aiōn )
71 Atatuoka kutoka kwa adui zetu na kutoka mikononi mwa wote wanaotuchukia.
Salvation from our enemies, And out of the hand of all hating us,
72 Atafanya hivi kuonesha rehema kwa baba zetu, na kukumbuka agano lake takatifu,
To do kindness with our fathers, And to be mindful of His holy covenant,
73 kiapo alichokisema kwa Abrahamu baba yetu.
An oath that He sware to Abraham our father,
74 Aliapa kuthibitha kwamba ingewezekana kumtumikia Yeye bila hofu, baada ya kuokolewa kutoka katika mikononi ya adui zetu.
To give to us, without fear, Out of the hand of our enemies having been delivered,
75 katika utakatifu na haki mbele zake siku zetu zote.
To serve Him, in holiness and righteousness Before Him, all the days of our life.
76 Ndiyo, na wewe mtoto, utaitwa nabii wa Aliye Juu Sana, kwa kuwa utaenenda mbele za uso wa Bwana ili kumwandalia njia, kuwaandaa watu kwa ajili ya ujio wake,
And thou, child, Prophet of the Highest Shalt thou be called; For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, To prepare His ways.
77 kuwafahamisha watu wake kwamba, wataokolewa kwa njia ya kusamehewa dhambi zao.
To give knowledge of salvation to His people In remission of their sins,
78 Hili litatokea kwa sababu ya huruma ya Mungu wetu, sababu ambayo jua tokea juu litatujia,
Through the tender mercies of our God, In which the rising from on high did look upon us,
79 kuangaza kwao wakaao gizani na katika uvuli wa mauti. Atafanya hivi kuiongoza miguu yetu kwenye njia ya amani.”
To give light to those sitting in darkness and death-shade, To guide our feet to a way of peace.'
80 Sasa, yule mtoto akakua na kuwa mwenye nguvu rohoni na alikaa nyikani mpaka siku ya kujitokeza kwake kwa Israeli.
And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.