2 ASJ Be tsɛɛ baa biee bilu nɛɛ tsaaŋ si bi tɛ tɛ̀ woo bɛ bɛniiŋ bɛ tɛ̀ ŋɛŋ bɛ lii yibe, mɔɔ bɛniiŋ bɛ tɛ̀ laanchɛ nsa wulu si wu tɛ̀ bɛchi. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 ASJ Mi nse ndzɔɔ mfi le ntaashɛ lɛ biee bini-i lɛnti bichu fɛmbɛɛchɛ-ɛ, mi nse ŋɛŋ le fi dzɔɔŋ le mbanchɛ ntsɛɛ tɛ li wɛ-ɛ lɛ dze yi tsaaŋ li. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Mi mfɛɔ ni le ɔ kɛɛ chɛɛŋ wu biee bi bɛ tɛ̀ saa bɛ tifi wɛ ŋkosi. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 ASJ Bɛniiŋ bɛ bɛfɛ bani tɛ̀ nuuŋ bɛniiŋ bɛ tsaaŋ lɛ Nyɔ lii, be kichi bɛnchi bɛ Taa lɛ bɛchu, be nuuŋ findzɔŋ siŋ. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 ASJ Se nuuŋ le, be ti mɛɛŋ ki kɛmɛ kɛ ŋwaŋ kɛ, kifɛ Lisabɛ tɛ̀ nuuŋ kaa, be bɛchu tɛ̀ nuuŋ ɛ be doŋ kituŋ. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 ASJ Mfi tɛ̀ kɔchɛ le kintutu ki Sakariya ni ki nindi li yih yi muntofi-i yi Taa li. Ɛ tɛ̀ nuuŋ te muntofi lɛ Nyɔ lii booyaa, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 ASJ ɛ bɛ tɛ̀ tsaa wu biki si bɛ tɛ̀ shiiŋ bɛ tsɛki bɛte muntofi li ntsɛ wube-e. Se tɛ̀ lɛ li yih yi muntofi le tɔŋ kidzoma. BSB BSB: he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 ASJ Mfi se tɛ̀ kɔchɛ le tɔŋ kidzoma ɛ bɛniiŋ bɛchu tɛ̀ nuuŋ lɛkuuŋ be lɛki li Nyɔ-ɔ. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 ASJ Nchindaa wu Taa, taa busɛ wu lii, leŋ lɛ kibɛnɛ ki kigɔŋɛ ki taantaa chi muntofi-i. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 ASJ Mfi wu Sakariya tɛ̀ ŋɛŋ wu, dzakɛ bɛchi kɛɛti bɛ chɛnɛ. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 ASJ Se nuuŋ le, nchindaa wulu tɛ̀ tuu tee li wuu le, “Kiiŋ ɔ ni chɛŋ kɛ Sakariya. Nyɔ woo yɛ nlɛkɛ li Nyɔ-ɔ wa kituŋ. Ni yih wa wu Lisabɛ gii biɛ ŋwaŋ wu nyuŋ ɔ choŋ wu bukooŋ le Jɔɔŋ. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Gii bɛ bɛ kinɛɛtinɛ li wɛ-ɛ, bɛniiŋ ŋge se woo bujɔŋ kii biɛrɔ chee. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 ASJ Gii ni nuuŋ wi wu nyɔŋa lɛ Nyɔ lii. Kiiŋ ni ni wundi mbiiŋ kɛ, teege mɛ tɛɛmi. Fiana yi Waaŋ gii yi yisɛ li wuu mɛɛŋ lɛ ni shéŋ. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Gii fɛ le bɛniiŋ bɛ Isɛlɛɛ ŋge fiiki shéŋ yibe, be kaari be to bɛ Taa wu Nyɔ yibe. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 ASJ Sakariya se bii li nchindaa wu Nyɔ wulu-u laa, “Fiee fi gii fi fɛ nse ŋkɛɛ lɛ nuuŋ la, si tɛɛ ni yi wɛŋ nuuŋ ɛ tɛ̀ doŋ kituŋ ni?” BSB BSB: “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 ASJ Nchindaa wulu se tuu le, “Ɛ mi Gabriya, nlemi lɛ Nyɔ lii mfi kwi, ɛ yi yi toŋ mi le mbɛ nlaŋɛ ntoŋ wu dzeeŋ wuni li wɛ-ɛ. BSB BSB: “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 ASJ Bichɛ ɔ ŋɛŋ, si ɔ mɛɛŋ ɔ ki beŋ kɛ ntoŋ wuni kɛ lɛ, mfi gii bɛ kɔchɛ le fi dzɔɔ kintsii, ɔ gii ɔ to kinchiinchii, ɔ tɛ̀ yɔ kɛ, giiŋgi buti mfi wu fiee fini gii fi yenɛ.” BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Si fi tɛ̀ kɛti lɛ, bɛniiŋ bɛ tɛ̀ nuuŋ lɛkuuŋ be tɛŋgi Sakariya baa tɛ̀ ta maa laa, ɛ la fi fɛ wu se ba li yih yi muntofi-i ŋge lɛ le. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 ASJ Mfi wu tɛ̀ bo lu, tɛ̀ mɛɛŋ yɛ kii n'yɔru li bee kɛ. Be se kɛɛ le Nyɔ doonchɛ yɛ fiee fi kimfimɛ wondini li wuu lu. Se tɛ̀ to mɛki biee li bee nuuŋ bɛ tsaŋ, tɛ̀ yɔ kɛ. BSB BSB: 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 unable to speak.
23 ASJ Le Sakariya mɛɛshi nimɛ chee li yih yi muntofi-i, kaari to lijiŋ fɛ wuu kuuŋ. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 ASJ Le jo yimi ka, kwɛsi wu Lisabɛ fwee. Tɛ̀ to li yih, li yih kii tiŋ. BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 ASJ Lisabɛ se tee le, “Dɛɛni Taa kɔɔ ɔ nshiiŋ bɛ mi, wu buu buya li kikoo ke-eŋ.” BSB BSB: “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
27 ASJ Tɛ̀ gɛɛŋ bɛ ntoŋ lɛ sɔɔnɛ kwɛɛŋ wumu wu bɛ tɛ teenyi le Maariya, wu tɛ̀ mɛɛŋ saa nyuŋ ki kɛɛ kɛ. Tɛ̀ nuuŋ ɛ bɛ tɛ̀ nachɛ le gii naa nuuŋ kwɛɛ Jɔsɛ wu li kini ki Mfɔŋ Daafi-i. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Nchindaa wu Nyɔ wulu se gɛɛŋ ŋɛŋ Maariya tee li wuu le, “N'yɛɛshɔɔ wɛ. Taa tsaaɔ wɛ kituŋ wɛ bɛ wɛ.” BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 ASJ Le Maariya woo lɛ fi fieeŋgi wu ŋge, se ta maa laa ŋwaani wuni n'yɛɛshɛ nuuŋ wu niŋ le. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 ASJ Se nuuŋ le, nchindaa wu Nyɔ wulu tɛ̀ tee li wuu le, “Maariya kiiŋ ɔ ni chɛŋ kɛ. Nyɔ tsaa yɛ wɛ kituŋ. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 ASJ Bichɛ ɔ ŋɛŋ, ɔ gii ɔ fwee, ɔ biɛ ŋwaŋ wu nyuŋ, ɔ choŋ bukooŋ bwee le Jiso. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 ASJ Gii ni nuuŋ wi wu nyɔŋa, bɛ ni bɛ teenyi wu le Ŋwanɛ Nyɔ, Nyɔ yi nuuŋ Kikoo ki biee bichu-u. Taa wu Nyɔ gii biiŋgi wu li kabara wu Mfɔŋ Daafi-i wu te kini ki bee. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Gii ni taanchi kini ki Yakɔ-ɔ mfi kwi, bumfɔŋ bwee nuuŋ tɛ naa ma kɛ.” BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 ASJ Nchindaa wu Nyɔ wulu se tuu li wuu le, “Fiana yi Waaŋ gii yi bɛ li wɛɛ, buŋga bu Nyɔ yi liboo yi nuuŋ kikoo ki biee bichu gii bu yisɛ li wɛ-ɛ. Bɛdɛɛni, ŋwaŋ wu ɔ gii ɔ biɛ wulu gii ni nuuŋ waaŋ, bɛ se teeŋ wu le Ŋwanɛ Nyɔ. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Bichɛ ɔ ŋɛŋ, ŋwanchaa wu Lisabɛ wu tɛ nyiichɛ bɛ budonu bɛ teenyi wu le kaa, wɛ dɛɛni bɛ fwe kii busɔɔ, gii biɛ ŋwaŋ wu nyuŋ. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Bɛ Nyɔ fiee fimu lu fi nuuŋ fi yaa yi kɛ.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 ASJ Mbɛɛchɛ li jo yilu-u, Maariya dza bakɛ gɛɛŋ li kitoŋ kimu ki li kwɛɛŋ wu Juda wu nuuŋ li ŋkumɛ-ɛ, BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 ASJ le gɛɛŋ bo le, lɛ li Sakariya yih, yɛsi ni yih we wu Lisabɛ. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 ASJ Le Lisabɛ woo n'yɛɛshɛ wu Maariya wɛ, ŋwaŋ nduuŋ wu lɛ shéŋ ŋge. Fiana yi Waaŋ yisɛ li wuu. BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 ASJ Se wuri lɛwe ŋge, tee le, “Kimbɔnɛ ki Nyɔ-ɔ kɛɛ li wɛɛ yɛki bukɛɛŋ bɛchu, kimbɔnɛ kilu kɛɛ tɛ li ŋwaŋ wu ɔ gii ɔ biɛ-ɛ. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 ASJ Ŋwaani fiee fi nɔŋa fini geeŋ fi ka bɛ mi, le ni Taa wɛŋ la ŋka lɛ mi-i? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 ASJ Bichɛ ɔ ŋɛŋ, mfi wu mbee ŋ'woo n'yɛɛshɛ wa, ŋwaŋ nduuŋ mi lɛ shéŋ bɛ kinɛɛtinɛ ŋge. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 ASJ Bujɔŋ bunɔŋa bwɛɛ bwo, kifɛ ɔ beŋɔ le ŋkaachɛ wu Nyɔ tɛ̀ kaachɛ gii naa bɛ kɔchɛ.” BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 ASJ ŋ'wuki bujɔŋ kii Nyɔ yi nuuŋ Kinsofu keŋ. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 ASJ kifɛ Nyɔ yi Buŋga Buchu fɛ yɛ biee bi nɔŋa bi nɔŋa ŋge li mi-i. Bukooŋ bu yi kɛmi yɛ mawu kɛ. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 ASJ Yi ti keeti nshiiŋ bɛ bɛniiŋ bɛ guundi li yi-i. Nshiiŋ yini se nuuŋ li kiŋgɔkɛ kichu-u. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 ASJ Yi doonchɛ yɛ buŋga bu kibɛnɛ kee lɛ, yi shaanshɛ yɛ bɛniiŋ bɛ tsakisi yí, bɛmbeechɛ bɛ bee layɛ. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 ASJ Yi shɔni yɛ bɛmfɔŋ bɛ nɔŋa bɛ nɔŋa li bɛkabara, yi se tsaaki bɛniiŋ bɛ yee liwe. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 ASJ Yi nyɛkɛ yɛ bɛniiŋ bɛ dzeeŋ wuu be, be fukɛ bɛ biee bi dzeeŋ kituŋ, Yi kooŋ bɛ bɛniiŋ bɛ biee lɛ bɔ kilɛrɛ. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 ASJ Yi fi yɛ wi we wu nimɛ wu Isɛlɛɛ, Yi kimi ndoonchɛ nshiiŋ li Abrahaŋ bɛ kini kee, yi gɛɛŋ yi mɛɛshi nɛɛ si yi tɛ̀ kaachɛ li bɛte taa bɛsɛ-ɛŋ.” BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
56 ASJ Le Maariya, tsi bee Lisabɛ, kii tɛɛ, tuu kaari to lijiŋ fɛ kuuŋ. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 ASJ Le mfi wu Lisabɛ wu biɛrɔ kɔchɛ, biɛ ŋwaŋ wu nyuŋ. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 ASJ Le kini kee mɔɔ bɛniiŋ bɛ tɛ̀ tsiiŋ tsɛkɛ tsɛkɛ fe woo le Nyɔ doonchɛ yɛ nshiiŋ li wuu ŋge, be nɛɛtɛ. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 ASJ Le jo bo nyaaŋ, be bɛ le bɛ sɛɛ ŋwaŋ wulu dzoo, be tuu be wɛki tɛ le be nyɛ wu bukooŋ le Sakariya nɛɛ si bu Tee lɛ, BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 ASJ se nuuŋ le, ni tɛ̀ faaŋ fiee, tee le bɛ gii bɛ ni bɛ teenyi wu le Jɔɔŋ. BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 ASJ Be se tee li wuu le, “Wi nuuŋ yɛ li kini kinɛ bɛ bukooŋ buni kɛ.” BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 ASJ Be se bɛchi be mɛki bɛ tsaŋ li te ŋwa-aŋ, le be kɛɛ laa wɛki le bɛ nyɛ bukooŋ bu ŋwaŋ le noo le. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 ASJ Se maa le be bɛ bɛ fiee tsɛɛ fe fɛwe. Be bɛ bɛ fi, se tsɛɛ le, “Bukooŋ bwee bwɛɛ le Jɔɔŋ.” Le be ŋɛŋ lɛ bimfimu wondɛ be. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 ASJ Mfwaa mumkpaŋ, kimfimɛ ki Sakariya biee ki gwiyɛ, nimi chee fanchɛ, tuu bɛchi n'yɔru, piɛti Nyɔ. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 ASJ Bɛniiŋ bɛ kitoŋ kilu-u tɛ̀ tɛ wa ŋge. Ntoŋ wu biee bini bichu se saaŋgɛ wu gɛɛŋ li kwɛɛŋ wu Judiya wu nuuŋ li ŋkumɛ-ɛ kwikwi. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 ASJ Bɛniiŋ bɛchu bɛ tɛ̀ woo biee bini tɛ̀ gɛɛ li shéŋ yi bee, be se biiti laa wuni ŋwaŋ gii naa nuuŋ wu la le? Kifɛ fi tɛ̀ gbɛŋgi fi doonchi le kimbɔnɛ ki Nyɔ-ɔ kɛɛ li wuu. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Fiana yi Waaŋ tɛ̀ dza yi yisɛ li Sakariya wu te Jɔɔŋ li, se dza yeti nɛɛ si ntomfɔŋ wu Nyɔ, tiiti le, BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 ASJ “Tɛ pia Taa wu nuuŋ Nyɔ yi bɛniiŋ bɛ Isɛlɛɛ. Yi bɛ yɛ kituŋ le yi soo bikoo bi bɛniiŋ bee li, li ŋgɛ-ɛ. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 ASJ Yi gɛɛ yɛ wi wu buŋga kituŋ wu gii soo bee, wu bo li kini ki wi we wu nimɛ-ɛ wu Mfɔŋ Daafi. BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 ASJ Fini nuuŋ si yi tɛ̀ kaachɛ mɛɛŋ lindɛɛri lɛ bimfimu bi bɛntomfɔŋ bee bɛ waaŋ bɛ tɛ̀ gɛɛ, BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 ASJ le yi gii naa yi soo bee li tsaŋ yi bɛniiŋ bɛ wɛki le be lɛɛshɛ bee, mɔɔ bɛniiŋ bɛsɛŋ bɛ mbani-i. BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 ASJ Yi tɛ̀ kaachɛ le yi gii naa yi kɔɔ nshiiŋ li bɛte taa bɛsɛŋ yi se shiiŋ yi kiimi leh wu yi yi Nyɔ tɛ̀ ji. BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 ASJ Yi tɛ̀ kaachɛ li te bɛtaa bɛsɛŋ wu Abraha-aŋ bɛ nchini, yi chini le, BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 ASJ yi gii yi buu bee li tsaŋ yi bɛniiŋ bɛsɛŋ bɛ mbani-i, ke tɛ ni tɛ nindi li yi-i nchɛnu nsiŋ, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 ASJ tɛ ni tɛ tsiiŋ ntsɛ wu waaŋ bɛ wu tsaaŋ lɛ yi-i lii jo chichi li ntsɛ wusɛ-ɛŋ. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 ASJ Wɛ ŋwanɛŋ, bɛ gii bɛ ni bɛ teenyi wɛ le ntomfɔŋ wu Nyɔ, Nyɔ yi nuuŋ kikoo ki biee bichu-u, kifɛ ɔ gii naa ɔ gɛɛŋ limfwe li Taa li ɔ ni ɔ nachi dze ye. BSB BSB: 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 ASJ Ɔ gii ɔ ni ɔ tiifi bɛniiŋ bee, dze yibe gii be kɛmɛ Kinsofu le, ki nuuŋ kimfekisɛ ki Nyɔ gii yi feeki bibifi bi bee, BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ASJ kii nshiiŋ yi Nyɔ ŋge yi keeti li bɛniiŋ li. Yi gii yi tuumi Kinsofu ki ni ki shiiti ki bɛɛ liwe si jobɛ ti tɛti lɛ. BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 ASJ Yi gii yi nyɛ kiŋ'wofu li bɛniiŋ bɛ nuuŋ li kijibɛ-ɛ mɔɔ bɛ nuuŋ lɛ kwe wa, se leeki bee lɛ dze yi mbɛɛŋgii li.” BSB BSB: to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 ASJ Ŋwaŋ wulu se gii kuu li nyaŋ ye-e, kuu tɛ bɛ fiana. Se dza gɛɛŋ le ni tsiiŋ tɛ li buka, gɛɛŋ bo jobɛ chi tɛ̀ bo le doonchɛ yi yee li bɛniiŋ bɛ Isɛlɛɛ. BSB BSB: And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.