< Luka 1 >

1 Adamfo pa Teofilo, nnipa pii abɔ mmɔden atwerɛ Yesu ho nsɛm a akɔ so wɔ yɛn mu no.
Given that many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those things that really did take place among us,
2 Wɔtwerɛɛ sɛdeɛ nnipa a wɔhunuu saa nneɛma yi firi ahyɛaseɛ no daa no adi kyerɛɛ wɔn.
just as those who became eyewitnesses, from the beginning, and ministers of the Word delivered them to us,
3 Nanso, menyaa adwene bi sɛ, sɛ mehwehwɛ deɛ wɔatwerɛ no nyinaa mu yie na metwerɛ brɛ wo a, ɛyɛ.
it seemed good to me also, most excellent Theophilus, having taken careful note of everything from Above, to write to you with precision and in sequence,
4 Yei bɛboa wo ma woahunu nokorɛ a ɛwɔ deɛ woasua no nyinaa mu.
so that you may know the certainty of the things in which you were instructed.
5 Mede mʼasɛm no bɛfiri Yudafoɔ ɔsɔfoɔ Sakaria a ɔtenaa ase Yudeahene Herode berɛ so a na ɔfiri Abia asɔfokuo mu no so. Sakaria yere Elisabet nso, na ɔyɛ Aaron aseni.
In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Na Sakaria ne ne yere Elisabet som Onyankopɔn nokorɛm a wɔn ho nni asɛm wɔ Onyankopɔn anim.
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 Na wɔnni ba, ɛfiri sɛ, na Elisabet yɛ obonini. Na wɔn baanu nyinaa nso anyinyini.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and they both were well advanced in years.
8 Ɛda bi a ɛduruu Sakaria asɔfokuo so sɛ wɔyɛ asɔredan mu adwuma no,
Now it happened, as he was officiating as priest before God in the order of his division,
9 wɔtoo aba yii no sɛ, ɔnkɔhye aduhwam wɔ ɔhyeɛ afɔrebukyia no so.
according to the custom of the priesthood, that his lot was to burn incense, upon entering the sanctuary of the Lord;
10 Saa ɛberɛ yi ara nso na asafo no rebɔ mpaeɛ wɔ adihɔ hɔ sɛdeɛ wɔtaa yɛ no.
and the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Sakaria gu so rehye aduhwam no, prɛko pɛ, Awurade ɔbɔfoɔ bɛgyinaa afɔrebukyia no nkyɛn mu wɔ nifa so.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense;
12 Sakaria hunuu no no, ɔbɔɔ birim na ne ho popoeɛ.
and upon seeing him Zacharias was shaken, and a fear fell upon him.
13 Nanso, ɔsoro ɔbɔfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sakaria, nsuro, Awurade Onyankopɔn ate wo mpaeɛbɔ. Wo yere Elisabet bɛwo babarima na ɛsɛ sɛ woto ne din Yohane.
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your prayer was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 Nʼawoɔ bɛma wʼani agye na wo ho asɛpɛ wo. Saa ara na ɛbɛma nnipa bebree nso ani agye.
And you will have joy and exultation, and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 Ɔbɛyɛ kɛse Awurade anim. Ɔrennom nsã biara da, na Honhom Kronkron bɛyɛ no ma afiri ne maame yam.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must not drink either wine or strong drink; indeed, he will be filled with Holy Spirit already from his mother's womb.
16 Israelfoɔ pii nam nʼasɛnka so bɛnya adwensakyera asane aba Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn, nkyɛn.
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God;
17 Ɔbɛnya Odiyifoɔ Elia honhom ahoɔden no bi, na ɔbɛdi Agyenkwa no ba no anim abɛsiesie nnipa ama ne ba a ɔbɛba no. Nʼasɛnka bɛma nteaseɛ aba agyanom ne wɔn mma ntam. Na ɔbɛdane Awurade asɛm no ho asoɔdenfoɔ adwene akɔ Awurade pɛ ho.”
in fact he himself will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of fathers to children’ and the disobedient to the mindset of the righteous, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.”
18 Sakaria buaa ɔbɔfoɔ no sɛ, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na yei aba mu? Mabɔ akɔkoraa na me yere nso abɔ aberewa.”
But Zacharias said to the angel: “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 Ɔbɔfoɔ no kaa sɛ, “Mene Gabriel a megyina Onyankopɔn anim daa no. Ɔno na ɔsomaa me sɛ memmɛka asɛmpa yi nkyerɛ wo.
So in answer the angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news.
20 Esiane sɛ woagye akyinnyeɛ enti, wobɛtɔ mumu kɔsi sɛ wɔbɛwo abɔfra no. Na deɛ maka akyerɛ wo yi nyinaa bɛba mu pɛpɛɛpɛ wɔ ne berɛ a ɛsɛ mu.”
Now look, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day in which these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21 Saa ɛberɛ yi nyinaa na asafo mma no retwɛn Sakaria sɛ ɔbɛba. Na ɛyɛ wɔn nwanwa sɛ wakyɛ saa.
Now the people were waiting for Zacharias and wondering at his delay in the sanctuary.
22 Ɛberɛ a ɔbaeɛ no, wantumi ankasa ankyerɛ asafo mma no. Wɔhunu firii ne nneyɛeɛ mu sɛ wahunu nʼani so adeɛ wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ.
But when he came out he was unable to speak to them, and they understood that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary—he kept gesturing to them while remaining mute.
23 Ɔwiee nʼasɔfodwuma wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ efie.
And so, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he took off for home.
24 Nna bi akyi no, ne yere Elisabet nyinsɛnee na ɔde ne ho siee abosome enum.
Well after those days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and stayed in seclusion five months. She kept saying,
25 Ɔde anigyeɛ kaa sɛ, “Awurade ayɛ me adɔeɛ. Wayi animguaseɛ a ɛkaa me wɔ nnipa anim no afiri me so.”
“So that's what the Lord has done for me in the days when He concerned Himself to take away my reproach among the people!”
26 Elisabet nyinsɛnee abosome nsia no, Onyankopɔn somaa ɔbɔfoɔ Gabriel kɔɔ Galilea akuraa bi a wɔfrɛ no Nasaret no ase
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee named Natsareth,
27 sɛ, ɔnkɔ ɔbaa kronkron bi a wɔfrɛ no Maria a na wɔde no ama Yosef a ɔfiri Ɔhene Dawid abusua mu no awadeɛ no nkyɛn.
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; the virgin's name was Mary.
28 Gabriel hunuu no ara pɛ, ɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Asomdwoeɛ nka wo! Awurade ka wo ho, wo a Awurade adom wo.”
So upon entering where she was the angel said, “Rejoice, recipient of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 Ɔbɔfoɔ no asɛm no maa Maria adwenem yɛɛ no nnaa ma ɔbisaa ne ho sɛ, “Na saa nkyea yi, ase ne sɛn?”
But upon seeing him she was perplexed at his word and was trying to figure out what sort of greeting it might be.
30 Ɔbɔfoɔ no sane ka kyerɛɛ Maria bio sɛ, “Maria, nsuro, ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade adom wo.
The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God.
31 Tie! Ɛrenkyɛre biara wobɛnyinsɛn na woawo ɔbabarima na woato ne din Yesu.
Now then, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS.
32 Ɔbɛyɛ ɔkɛseɛ, na wɔbɛfrɛ no Ɔsorosoro Onyankopɔn Ba. Na Awurade de ne nana Dawid ahennwa no bɛma no.
He will be great, and will be called ‘Son of the Most High’; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 Na ɔbɛdi Yakob efie so ɔhene daa; na nʼahennie to rentwa da.” (aiōn g165)
and He will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages; indeed, of His kingdom there will be no end!” (aiōn g165)
34 Maria bisaa ɔbɔfoɔ no sɛ, “Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mawo wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbarima nhunuu me da?”
So Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 Ɔbɔfoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Honhom Kronkron bɛba wo so na Ɔsorosoro Onyankopɔn tumi abɛkata wo so, yei enti abɔfra a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ kronkron na wɔbɛfrɛ no Onyankopɔn Ba.
In answer the angel said to her: “Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will hover over you; precisely for this reason the holy One who is to be born will be called ‘Son of God’!
36 Ɛbɛyɛ abosome nsia ni a wo busuani Elisabet mpo a ɔyɛ obonini anyinsɛn ɔbabarima wɔ ne mmerewaberɛ mu.
Furthermore, your relative Elizabeth, she has actually conceived a son in her old age and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren;
37 Ɛfiri sɛ, Onyankopɔn deɛ, biribiara nso no yɛ.”
because any word spoken by God will be possible.”
38 Maria kaa sɛ, “Me deɛ, meyɛ Awurade afenaa. Deɛ Awurade pɛ na ɛnyɛ.” Ɛno akyi, ɔbɔfoɔ no gyaa no hɔ kɔeɛ.
So Mary said: “Yes, I am the Lord's slave! Let it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
39 Nna kakra bi akyi no, Maria kɔɔ Yudea mmepɔ so kuro bi mu.
Then Mary quickly got ready and went into the hill country in those days, to a town of Judah,
40 Saa kuro no mu na Sakaria te. Ɔduruu kuro no mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ Sakaria efie kɔsraa Elisabet. Ɔkyeaa no.
and entered the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.
41 Elisabet tee Maria nkyea no, ɔba a ɔda ne yam no kekaa ne ho; amonom hɔ ara, Honhom Kronkron hyɛɛ Elisabet ma.
Well it happened that as Elizabeth heard Mary's salutation the babe bounced up and down in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit.
42 Elisabet de ahosɛpɛ teaam sɛ, “Maria, wɔahyira wo sene mmaa nyinaa, na wo ba a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ onipa kɛseɛ.
And she cried out with a great voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb!
43 Animuonyam bɛn na ɛsene yei. Me sɛɛ ne hwan a anka mʼAwurade na bɛba abɛsra me?
Why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Wokyeaa me pɛ, na abɔfra no de anigyeɛ kekaa ne ho.
Yes indeed, because as the sound of your salutation came into my ears the babe bounced up and down in my womb for joy.
45 Nhyira nka wo sɛ wogye dii sɛ, deɛ Onyankopɔn aka no, ɔbɛyɛ; ɛno enti na wɔadom wo yi.”
Blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that have been spoken to her from the Lord.”
46 Maria kaa sɛ, “Me ɔkra kamfo Awurade.
So Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 Na me honhom ani gye mʼagyenkwa Onyankopɔn mu;
and my spirit has exulted over God my Savior,
48 ɛfiri sɛ, wahunu nʼafenawa mmɔborɔni mmɔbɔ, na ɛfiri ɛnnɛ, awontoatoasoɔ nyinaa bɛfrɛ me deɛ Onyankopɔn ahyira no.
in that He paid attention to the humble station of His slave (f). Yes indeed, because from now on all generations will declare me to be highly favored,
49 Ɛfiri sɛ, Ɔkronkronni Otumfoɔ no ayɛ ade kɛseɛ ama me;
in that the Mighty One did sublime things for me, and Holy is His name.
50 nʼahummɔborɔ firi awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ kɔsi awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ ma wɔn a wɔsuro no na wɔdi no ni no nyinaa.
His mercy is for generations of generations to those fearing Him.
51 Ɔde ne nsa a tumi wɔ mu no abɔ ahomasofoɔ ne ahantanfoɔ ne wɔn nsusuiɛ apete.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has dispersed the arrogant in the reasoning of their hearts.
52 Watu aberempɔn adeɛ so ama ahobrɛasefoɔ so.
He has dethroned rulers and exalted the lowly.
53 Wama wɔn a ahia wɔn no nnepa na wagya ahonyafoɔ kwan nsapan.
He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
54 Waboa nʼakoa Israel na ne werɛ amfiri ne mmɔborɔhunu ne ne bɔ
He has taken the part of His servant Israel, in remembrance of mercy,
55 a ɔhyɛɛ yɛn agya Abraham ne nʼasefoɔ no da.” (aiōn g165)
just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed while there is an age.” (aiōn g165)
56 Maria tenaa Elisabet nkyɛn bɛyɛ abosome mmiɛnsa ansa na ɔresane akɔ ne kurom.
So Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her house.
57 Elisabet awoɔ duruu so no, ɔwoo ɔbabarima.
Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth was completed and she bore a son.
58 Nʼafipamfoɔ ne nʼabusuafoɔ tee adɔeɛ a Awurade ayɛ no no, wɔne no nyinaa de anigyeɛ dii ahurisie.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had used His great mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Ɛduruu nnawɔtwe no, abusuafoɔ ne adɔfoɔ bɛhyiaa sɛ wɔrebɛtwa abɔfra no twetia na wɔato ne din. Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔde abɔfra no to nʼagya Sakaria.
So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they started calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
60 Nanso, ne maame kaa sɛ, “Dabi! Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔfrɛ no Yohane.”
His mother reacted and said, “Absolutely not; he shall be called John!”
61 Wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Obiara nni abusua yi mu a wɔfrɛ no saa.”
So they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 Yei maa wɔde wɔn nsa yɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ bisaa nʼagya din a wɔmfa nto abɔfra no.
So they started motioning to his father, as to what he would have him called.
63 Sakaria maa wɔde krataa brɛɛ no na ɔtwerɛɛ so sɛ, “Ne din de Yohane.” Yei yɛɛ wɔn nyinaa nwanwa.
Asking for a writing tablet he wrote this: “His name is to be John!” They all marveled.
64 Amonom hɔ ara, Sakaria tumi kasaa bio, na ɔhyɛɛ aseɛ yii Onyankopɔn ayɛ.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed and he started to speak, blessing God.
65 Wɔn a wɔteeɛ nyinaa ho dwirii wɔn, na saa asɛm yi trɛ faa Yudea mmepɔ so hɔ nyinaa.
(Well a fear came on all who lived around them; and all these sayings kept being talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 Obiara a ɔtee saa nsɛm yi bisaa ne ho sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na abɔfra yi bɛnyini ayɛ daakye? Ɛda adi pefee sɛ Awurade nsa wɔ ne so.”
All who heard kept them in their hearts saying, “What then will this child be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.)
67 Honhom hyɛɛ nʼagya Sakaria ma ma ɔhyɛɛ nkɔm sɛ,
Now his father Zacharias was filled with Holy Spirit and prophesied saying:
68 “Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, sɛ waba abɛgye ne manfoɔ.
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people;
69 Ɔde Agyenkwa Otumfoɔ a ɔyɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ Dawid aseni rebrɛ yɛn,
and has raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of His servant David
70 sɛdeɛ ɔnam nʼadiyifoɔ kronkron so firi teteete hyɛɛ bɔ (aiōn g165)
—just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from antiquity— (aiōn g165)
71 sɛ, ɔbɛma yɛn Agyenkwa a ɔbɛgye yɛn afiri yɛn atamfoɔ ne wɔn a wɔkyiri yɛn no nsam no.
deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us;
72 Na wama bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ yɛn agyanom wɔ nʼahummɔborɔ ho no aba mu na wakae nʼapam kronkron no,
to use mercy with our fathers, even to remember His Holy covenant,
73 na wakae nʼapam kronkron a ɔne Abraham pameeɛ no;
the oath that He swore to our father Abraham;
74 sɛ ɔbɛgye yɛn afiri yɛn atamfoɔ nsam no, na yɛasom no a osuro biara nni mu.
to grant to us (having been rescued from the hand of our enemies) to serve Him without fear,
75 Na yɛn nkwa nna nyinaa mu, yɛayɛ kronkron ne ateneneefoɔ wɔ nʼanim.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76 “Na wo, akɔkoaa yi, wɔbɛfrɛ wo Ɔsorosoroni no Odiyifoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, wo na wobɛsiesie ɛkwan ama Agyenkwa no,
And you, child, will be called Prophet of the Most High, because you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 na wobɛkyerɛ ne manfoɔ kwan a wɔnam bɔnefakyɛ so nya nkwa a ɛnni awieeɛ;
to give a knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins,
78 na yeinom nyinaa bɛba mu ɛfiri sɛ, Onyankopɔn mmɔborɔhunu a ɛdɔɔso no,
through the merciful compassions of our God, with which the divine Dawn has contemplated us,
79 na ɛbɛma hann a ɛfiri ɔsoro abɛpue yɛn so ahyerɛn wɔn a wɔte sum ne owuo sum mu no so, na akyerɛ yɛn ɛkwan akɔ asomdwoeɛ mu.”
to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 Abɔfra no nyinii na honhom hyɛɛ no ma; ɔtenaa ɛserɛ so kɔsii ɛberɛ a ɔfirii nʼasɛnka adwuma ase.
So the child kept growing and being strengthened in spirit, and he stayed in uninhabited areas until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

< Luka 1 >