Luka 1
1 Adamfo pa Teofilo, nnipa pii abɔ mmɔden akyerɛw Yesu ho nsɛm a akɔ so wɔ yɛn mu no.
My noble [friend] Theophilus, many people saw the things that [Jesus] did while he was with us, from the time when he started [MTY] [his ministry]. They served God [by teaching people] the message [about the Lord Jesus]. Many of those who heard what they taught wrote down for us accounts of the things that [Jesus did from the time when] he began [his ministry].
2 Wɔkyerɛw faa nsɛm a wɔaka akyerɛ yɛn a nnipa a wohuu saa nneɛma yi fi mfiase no nam so daa no adi no ho.
3 Nanso minyaa adwene bi sɛ, sɛ mehwehwɛ nea wɔakyerɛw no nyinaa mu yiye na mekyerɛw brɛ wo a, eye.
I myself have studied these accounts carefully. So I decided that it would be good for me also to write for you [(sg)] an accurate account of these matters.
4 Eyi bɛboa wo ma woahu nokware a ɛwɔ nea woasua no nyinaa mu.
I want you to know the truth about what you have been taught {what others have taught you}.
5 Mede mʼasɛm no befi Yudafo sɔfo Sakaria a ɔtenaa ase wɔ Yudeahene Herode bere so a na ofi Abia asɔfokuw mu no so. Sakaria yere Elisabet nso, na ɔyɛ Aaron aseni.
When King Herod [the Great ruled] Judea [district], there was a [Jewish] priest named Zechariah. He belonged to the [group of priests called] the Abijah group. He and his wife Elizabeth were both descended from the [first priest of Israel], Aaron.
6 Na Sakaria ne ne yere Elisabet som Onyankopɔn nokware mu a wɔn ho nni asɛm wɔ Onyankopɔn anim.
[God considered that] both of them were righteous, because they constantly completely obeyed everything that God had commanded.
7 Na wonni ɔba, efisɛ na Elisabet yɛ obonin. Na wɔn baanu nyinaa nso anyinyin.
But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to bear children. Furthermore, she and her husband were very old.
8 Da bi a eduu Sakaria asɔfokuw so sɛ wɔyɛ asɔredan mu adwuma no,
One day [Zechariah’s] group was doing their work [in the Temple in Jerusalem], and he was serving as a priest in God’s presence.
9 wɔtow aba yii no sɛ, ɔnkɔhyew aduhuam wɔ ɔhyew afɔremuka no so.
Following their custom, [the other priests] chose him by lot to enter the Lord’s temple and burn incense.
10 Saa bere no ara nso na asafo no rebɔ mpae wɔ adiwo hɔ sɛnea wɔtaa yɛ no.
While he was burning the incense, many people were outside [in the courtyard], praying.
11 Sakaria gu so rehyew aduhuam no, prɛko pɛ, Awurade bɔfo begyinaa afɔremuka no nkyɛn mu wɔ nifa so.
Then an angel whom God had [sent] appeared to him. The angel was standing at the right side of the place [where the priests burned] incense.
12 Sakaria huu no no, ɔbɔɔ piriw na ne ho popoe.
When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.
13 Nanso ɔsoro ɔbɔfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sakaria, nsuro, Awurade Nyankopɔn ate wo mpaebɔ. Wo yere Elisabet bɛwo ɔbabarima na ɛsɛ sɛ woto ne din Yohane.
But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, do not be afraid! When you [(sg)] prayed [asking God for a son] (OR, [that God would send the Messiah]), God heard what you prayed. [So] your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son. You must name him John.
14 Nʼawo bɛma wʼani agye na wo ho asɛpɛw wo. Saa ara na ɛbɛma nnipa bebree nso ani agye.
He will cause you to be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born.
15 Ɔbɛyɛ ɔkɛse wɔ Awurade anim. Ɔrennom nsa biara da, na Honhom Kronkron bɛyɛ no ma afi ne na yam.
God will consider him to be very important. He must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, [in order that he will be completely dedicated to God]. He will be controlled by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit will control him} from before he is born.
16 Israelfo pii nam nʼasɛnka so benya adwensakra asan aba Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn, nkyɛn.
He will [persuade] many people in Israel to turn away [from their sins and please] the Lord their God.
17 Obenya Odiyifo Elia honhom ahoɔden no bi, na obedi Agyenkwa no ba no anim abesiesie nnipa ama ne ba a ɔbɛba no. Nʼasɛnka bɛma ntease aba agyanom ne wɔn mma ntam. Na ɔbɛdan Awurade asɛm no ho asoɔdenfo adwene akɔ Awurade pɛ ho.”
As [God’s] Spirit enables him [to preach] powerfully as [the prophet] Elijah did, he will precede [the Messiah]. He will cause parents [SYN] to act [peacefully] toward their children [again]. He will cause [many] people who do not obey [God to hear and obey] the wise things that righteous people [tell them]. He will do this in order to help [many] people to be ready when the Lord [comes].”
18 Sakaria buaa ɔbɔfo no se, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na eyi aba mu? Mabɔ akwakoraa na me yere nso abɔ aberewa.”
Then Zechariah said to the angel, “I am very old, and my wife is also so old [that she cannot bear a child. So] (I cannot [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]!/how can I [believe] that what you [(sg)] said [will happen]?) [RHQ]”
19 Ɔbɔfo no kae se, “Mene Gabriel a migyina Onyankopɔn anim daa no. Ɔno na ɔsomaa me se memmɛka asɛmpa yi nkyerɛ wo.
Then the angel said to him, “I am [God’s chief angel], Gabriel! [I do what God tells me, because] I constantly am in God’s presence! I was sent {[He] sent me} to tell you [(sg)] something good [that is going to happen to you].
20 Esiane sɛ woagye akyinnye nti, wobɛtɔ mum akosi sɛ wɔbɛwo abofra no. Na nea maka akyerɛ wo yi nyinaa bɛba mu pɛpɛɛpɛ wɔ ne bere a ɛsɛ mu.”
What I have told you will certainly happen at the time [God decides], but you did not believe what I told you. So now [God will make] you will be unable to talk until the day [your son is born]”!
21 Saa bere yi nyinaa na asafo mma no retwɛn Sakaria sɛ ɔbɛba. Na ɛyɛ wɔn nwonwa sɛ wakyɛ saa.
While [Zechariah and the angel] were talking, the people [in the courtyard] were waiting for Zechariah [to come out]. They wondered, “Why is he staying in the Temple for such a long time?”
22 Bere a ɔbae no, wantumi ankasa ankyerɛ asafomma no. Wohu fii ne nneyɛe mu sɛ wahu nʼani so ade wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ.
When Zechariah came out, he was not able to speak to the people. Because he could not talk, he made motions with his hands [to try to convey what had happened]. Then they realized that he had seen (a vision [from God]/something that [God] showed him) while he was in the Temple.
23 Owiee nʼasɔfodwuma wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ fie.
When Zechariah’s time to work [as a priest in the Temple] was finished, he [left Jerusalem and] returned to his home.
24 Nna bi akyi no, ne yere Elisabet nyinsɛnee, na ɔde ne ho siee asram anum.
Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant [EUP]. She did not leave their house for five months, [because she knew that people would laugh at her if she told them that she was pregnant].
25 Ɔde anigye kae se, “Awurade ayɛ me adɔe. Wayi animguase a ɛkaa me wɔ nnipa anim no afi me so.”
But she thought, “God has enabled me to become pregnant. He has pitied me and I will no longer be ashamed [because I have no children]!”
26 Elisabet nyinsɛn asram asia no, Onyankopɔn somaa ɔbɔfo Gabriel kɔɔ Galilea akuraa bi a wɔfrɛ no Nasaret no ase
When Elizabeth had been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} [again].
27 se, ɔnkɔ ɔbea kronkron bi a wɔfrɛ no Maria a na wɔde no ama Yosef a ofi Ɔhene Dawid abusua mu no aware no nkyɛn.
[This time] he went to Nazareth [town] in Galilee [district], to a virgin whose name was Mary. It had been {[Her parents] had} promised that she would marry a man named Joseph, who was descended from [King] David.
28 Gabriel huu no ara pɛ, ɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Asomdwoe nka wo! Awurade ka wo ho, wo a Awurade adom wo.”
The angel greeted her and said, “(The Lord/God) is with you [(sg)] and you will be greatly blessed {[has decided to] greatly bless you}!”
29 Ɔbɔfo no asɛm no maa Maria adwene mu yɛɛ no nnaa ma obisaa ne ho se, “Na saa nkyia yi ase ne dɛn?”
But Mary was very confused [when she heard] that. She wondered what [the angel meant] by these words.
30 Ɔbɔfo no san ka kyerɛɛ Maria bio se, “Maria, nsuro, efisɛ Awurade adom wo.
Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you [(sg)], so do not be afraid.
31 Tie! Ɛrenkyɛ biara wubenyinsɛn na woawo ɔbabarima na woato ne din Yesu.
You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
32 Ɔbɛyɛ ɔkɛse, na wɔbɛfrɛ no Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn Ba. Na Awurade de ne nena Dawid ahengua no bɛma no.
He will become great. He will be called {[People will] call him} (the Son of God/the man who is also God). God, the Lord, will make him a king [MTY] as his ancestor [King] David was.
He will be the King of [the] Jews, the descendants [MTY] of [your ancestor] Jacob, forever. He will rule as king forever!” (aiōn g165)
34 Maria bisaa ɔbɔfo no se, “Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mawo wɔ bere a ɔbarima nhuu me da?”
Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I [have a baby]?”
35 Ɔbɔfo no buae se, “Honhom Kronkron bɛba wo so na Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn tumi abɛkata wo so, eyi nti abofra a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ kronkron na wɔbɛfrɛ no Onyankopɔn Ba.
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come to you; the power of God [MTY/EUP] will overshadow you [and enable you to become pregnant]. So the child [you will] bear will be completely set apart {give himself completely} to obey God, and he will be called {[people] will say that he is} (the Son of God/the man who is also God).
36 Ɛbɛyɛ asram asia ni a wo busuani Elisabet mpo a ɔyɛ obonin anyinsɛn ɔbabarima wɔ ne mmerewabere mu.
[I also need to tell you something else]. Your cousin Elizabeth is very old, and it was thought {[people] said} that she could not bear any children. But she has been [pregnant] [EUP] [for almost] six months, and will bear a son!
37 Efisɛ Onyankopɔn de, biribiara nso no yɛ.”
[You should not be surprised at that], because God can do everything!”
38 Maria kae se, “Me de, meyɛ Awurade afenaa. Nea Awurade pɛ na ɛnyɛ.” Afei, ɔbɔfo no gyaw no hɔ kɔe.
Then Mary said, “All right, I want to serve (the Lord/God), so may what you [(sg)] have said about me come true!” Then the angel left her.
39 Nna kakra bi akyi no, Maria kɔɔ Yudea mmepɔw so kurow bi mu.
Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea [district] where Zechariah lived.
40 Saa kurow no mu na Sakaria te. Oduu kurow no mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ Sakaria fi kɔsraa Elisabet. Okyiaa no.
She entered his house and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.
41 Elisabet tee Maria nkyia no, ɔba a ɔda ne yam no kekaa ne ho; amono mu hɔ ara na Honhom Kronkron hyɛɛ Elisabet ma.
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby moved inside [Elizabeth’s] womb. The Holy Spirit took complete control of Elizabeth,
42 Elisabet de ahosɛpɛw teɛɛ mu se, “Maria, wɔahyira wo sen mmea nyinaa, na wo ba a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ onipa kɛse.
and she said loudly [to Mary], “[God] has blessed you [more than] he has blessed [any other] woman, and [he has] blessed the child you will bear!
43 Anuonyam bɛn na ɛsen eyi. Me sɛɛ ne hena a anka mʼAwurade bɛba abɛsra me?
(I am not worthy that [God would allow you] to visit me!/Why is [God allowing you] to visit me?) [RHQ] You will be the mother of my Lord!
44 Wukyiaa me pɛ, na abofra no de anigye kekaa ne ho.
[I realize this because] as soon as I heard you greet me, the baby inside my womb moved because he was so happy [that you had come].
45 Nhyira nka wo sɛ wugye dii sɛ nea Onyankopɔn aka no ɔbɛyɛ; ɛno nti na wɔadom wo yi.”
[God] is pleased with you [because] you believed that what (the Lord/God) told you would come true.”
46 Maria kae se, “Me kra kamfo Awurade.
Then Mary [praised God by] saying/singing: “, how I [SYN] praise (the Lord/God)!
47 Na me honhom ani gye mʼagyenkwa Nyankopɔn mu;
I am happy because God is the one who saves me.
48 efisɛ wahu nʼafenaa mmɔborɔni mmɔbɔ, na efi nnɛ, awo ntoatoaso nyinaa bɛfrɛ me nea Onyankopɔn ahyira no.
I was only his lowly servant girl, but he did not forget me. So from now on, everyone will say that God was pleased with me,
49 Efisɛ Ɔkronkronni Tumfo no ayɛ ade kɛse ama me;
because they will hear about the things that God [MTY], the mighty one, has done for me. He [MTY] is awesome!
50 nʼahummɔbɔ fi awo ntoatoaso kosi awo ntoatoaso ma wɔn a wosuro no na wodi no ni no nyinaa.
He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.
51 Ɔde ne nsa a tumi wɔ mu no abɔ ahomasofo ne ahantanfo ne wɔn nsusuwii apete.
He shows people that he [MTY] is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.
52 Watu abirɛmpɔn ade so ama ahobrɛasefo so.
He does not let mighty kings rule [MTY] any more, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).
53 Wama wɔn a ahia wɔn no nnepa na wagya ahonyafo kwan nsapan.
He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.
54 Waboa nʼakoa Israel na ne werɛ amfi ne mmɔborɔhunu ne ne bɔ
And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of [MTY] Israel who serve him.
He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Maria tenaa Elisabet nkyɛn bɛyɛ asram abiɛsa ansa na ɔresan akɔ ne kurom.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.
57 Elisabet awo duu so no, ɔwoo ɔbabarima.
When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.
58 Nʼafipamfo ne nʼabusuafo tee adɔe a Awurade ayɛ no no, wɔne no nyinaa de anigye dii ahurusi.
Her neighbors and relatives heard how (the Lord/God) had greatly blessed her [by enabling her to bear a child], so they were happy along with [Elizabeth].
59 Eduu nnaawɔtwe no, abusuafo ne adɔfo behyiaa sɛ wɔrebetwa abofra no twetia na wɔato ne din. Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔde abofra no to nʼagya Sakaria.
Seven days later they gathered together for the [ceremony for] circumcising the baby [to show that he belonged to God]. They wanted to give the baby the same name as his father, Zechariah.
60 Nanso ne na kae se, “Dabi! Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔfrɛ no Yohane.”
But his mother said, “No, [his name will not be Zechariah]. His name will be John!”
61 Wɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Obiara nni abusua yi mu a wɔfrɛ no saa.”
[So] they said to her, “[John] is not the name of any of your [(dl)] relatives, [so you(dl) should not give him that name]!”
62 Eyi ma wɔde wɔn nsa yɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bisaa nʼagya, din a wɔmfa nto abofra no.
Then they made motions with their hands to Zechariah, [for him] to indicate what name [he] wanted to be given {to give} to his son.
63 Sakaria ma wɔde krataa brɛɛ no na ɔkyerɛw so se, “Ne din de Yohane.” Eyi yɛɛ wɔn nyinaa nwonwa.
[So] he signaled that they [should give him] a tablet [to write on. When they gave him one], he wrote [on it], “His name is John.” All those [who were there] were surprised!
64 Amono mu hɔ ara, Sakaria tumi kasaa bio, na ofii ase yii Onyankopɔn ayɛ.
Immediately Zechariah was able to speak again [MTY], and he praised God.
65 Wɔn a wɔtee nyinaa ho dwiriw wɔn, na saa asɛm yi trɛw faa Yudea mmepɔw so hɔ nyinaa.
All their neighbors were amazed/awestruck! They told other people who lived all over the highlands of Judea about what had happened.
66 Obiara a ɔtee saa nsɛm yi bisaa ne ho se, “Ɛno de, na dɛn na abofra yi rebenyin ayɛ? Ɛda adi pefee sɛ Awurade nsa wɔ ne so.”
Everyone who heard about it kept thinking about it. They were saying, “We wonder what will this child do [for God when] he [grows up] [RHQ]!” They wondered that because [from what had happened they were sure that] God would be helping that child [SYN] [in a powerful way].
67 Honhom hyɛɛ nʼagya Sakaria ma ma ɔhyɛɛ nkɔm se,
[After] Zechariah’s [son was born], Zechariah was completely directed by the Holy Spirit {the Holy Spirit completely directed Zechariah} as he spoke these words that came from God:
68 “Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, sɛ waba abegye ne manfo.
“Praise the Lord, the God whom we(inc) people of Israel worship, because he has come to set us, his people, free from our enemies.
69 Ɔde Agyenkwa Tumfo a ɔyɛ ne somfo Dawid aseni rebrɛ yɛn,
He is sending us someone who will powerfully [MTY] save us, someone who is descended from [MTY] King David, who served God well.
Long ago God caused his prophets to say that he would do that. (aiōn g165)
71 sɛ, ɔbɛma yɛn Agyenkwa a obegye yɛn afi yɛn atamfo ne wɔn a wokyi yɛn no nsam no,
He will rescue us from our enemies, and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us.
72 sɛ obehu yɛn agyanom mmɔbɔ na wakae nʼapam kronkron no,
He will do this because he has not forgotten what he promised our ancestors; he made an agreement that he would act mercifully to us, their descendants.
73 ntam a ɔka kyerɛɛ yɛn agya Abraham no:
That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.
74 sɛ obegye yɛn afi yɛn atamfo nsam no, na yɛasom no a osuro biara nni mu.
God told him that we would be rescued {he would rescue us} from the power of our enemies, that he would enable us to serve him without being afraid,
75 Na yɛn nkwa nna nyinaa mu, yɛayɛ kronkron ne atreneefo wɔ nʼanim.
that he would cause us to be completely dedicated to him, and enable us to live righteously all of our lives.”
76 “Na wo, akokoaa yi, wɔbɛfrɛ wo Ɔsorosoroni no Odiyifo efisɛ wo na wubesiesie ɔkwan ama Agyenkwa no,
[Then Zechariah said this to] his little son: “My child, you will be called {people will say that you are} a prophet whom God [MTY/EUP] has sent; you will begin your work before (the Lord/Messiah) comes; you will prepare people so that they will be ready for him. (OR, you will begin your work before the Messiah comes).
77 na wobɛkyerɛ ne manfo kwan a wɔnam bɔnefakyɛ so nya nkwa a enni awiei;
You will tell God’s people how he will forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins.
78 na eyinom nyinaa bɛba mu efisɛ Onyankopɔn mmɔborɔhunu a ɛdɔɔso no,
Our God will do that because he is very kind to us. Just like a new day begins when the sun rises [MET], God will do that new thing for us when the Messiah comes to us from heaven.
79 na ɛbɛma hann a efi ɔsoro abepue yɛn so ahyerɛn wɔn a wɔte sum ne owu sum mu no so, na akyerɛ yɛn kwan akɔ asomdwoe mu.”
People who do not know God [MET] are like those who sit in the darkness. They are afraid [MTY] that they will soon die. But when the Messiah tells us God’s message, it will be like causing such people to see a bright light. He will guide us [SYN] so that we will be living peacefully.”
80 Abofra no nyinii na honhom hyɛɛ no ma; ɔtenaa sare so kosii bere a ofii nʼasɛnka adwuma ase.
[Later], Zechariah’s son grew up and became spiritually strong. Then he lived in a desolate region until he began to preach to the Israeli people.
