2 CUG Bɔ nì nyaka gia yiwɔ a liŋ liŋ num a yə buku nì wɔkɔ i bəni bə̀ bɔ nì yɛiŋ bəh dzə́kəh yibɔ, ka fukuki yi asi yi nì yisi. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 CUG Si mih dzɔ jɔbi, nəŋ gia yiwɔ yichi na i kin'yisi wə, ka yɛiŋ a yi si ndzɔŋki lə i mih i chiŋni nyaka tə i wɔ i dzəh yindzɔŋni wə. 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 CUG Mih fə lə ka wɔ kîə ŋkɔŋ bi gia yə bə kɔ bə fuku lɔ i wɔ. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 CUG Bəni bələ bəfa nì kɔ bəni bɔ num chəŋ i Nyɔ nshiŋ, bɔ jiə bənchi bə Bah bəchi, bɔ kaŋa kə ŋgbɔ widɔkɔ. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 CUG Ayakalə, bɔ nì kaŋaki kə waiŋ, kɔm Ɛlisabɛt nì kɔ kaiŋni, num bɔ bəchi nì kɔ bɔ jwiŋ lɔ. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 CUG Jɔbi dzə kpɛiŋ wə, mbaŋ wi Sakalia ni nɔmki i juŋ yi fəni yi gia yi Bah wə. A nì kɔ wi tii mfə gia i Nyɔ nshiŋ chɔkɔ biwɔ, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 CUG bə nì babwili wi, biəli asi bɔ nì bayiki bətii mfə gia i nɔni kibɔ wə. Wi ka liə i juŋ yi fəni yi gia wə i kpa njiəŋ. 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 CUG Ayaka jɔbi kpɛiŋ i kpa njiəŋ, bəni bəchi bə̀ bɔ nì kɔ biŋ bɔ tsa wə. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 CUG Chinda wi Bah tumbuku alə i wi nshiŋ, ka num i tsɛiŋ yiləkəli yi tɔŋ wi njiəŋ wə. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 CUG Jɔbi wə Sakalia ni yɛiŋ wi, shɔm təiŋ wi, wi lwa. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 CUG Ayakalə, chinda wə dzaka i wi a, “Sakalia ki lwâ kə. Nyɔ wɔkɔ lɔ ntsa wa. Nih juŋ wa Ɛlisabɛt bi bwɔ lə waiŋ wi nyukuni, wɔ ni du yɛli wi a Jɔn. 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 CUG Wi bi dzə bəh kinsaŋli bəh nlaŋ i wɔ, ayaka bəni bəduli bi num lə bəh kinsaŋli kɔm mbwɔ wi. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 CUG Wi bi num mi wimbum i Nyɔ nshiŋ. Kiə wi bi mû kə mbih, kighə miləkəli. Kiŋ'waka ki Baiŋni bi jiksiki lə wi, wi kɛiŋ i nih wi shɔm. 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 CUG Wi bi fə ka bəni bə Islae bəduli kwuni shɔ́m yibɔ, yi fiəni chu i Bah Nyɔ wibɔ wə. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 CUG Ayaka Sakalia nì bikə i chinda wi Nyɔ a, “Mih bi kiə gia yələ dəiŋ num buku nih juŋ wuŋ jwiŋ lɔ a?” 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 CUG Chinda wi Nyɔ chukuli a, “Akɔ mih Gabliya, mih numki a bəh gvu i Nyɔ nshiŋ jɔbi wichi, a faaŋ wi mih a mih dzə fuku ntum wi ndzɔŋni wələ i wɔ. 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 CUG Wɔ̂kɔli, si wɔ ka bum dəkə ja yiŋ yələ, jɔbi bi dzə kpɛiŋ lə wə yi kaŋa i bi num, i liə wɔ ki fîəniki lə kinchini, chu dzaka kə, i tsə̂ bûku i jɔbi wə gia yələ bi numki.” 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 CUG Si yi nì numki yaka, bəni bə̀ bɔ nì kɔ i biŋ wɔkɔli Sakalia ka num bəh ŋkaŋyi a, a num nə wi mɔtsəsi i fɛiŋ numə i juŋ yi fəni yi gia lə a? BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 CUG Jɔbi wə wi nì buku dzə fɛiŋ, wi chu kiə kə i dzaka i bɔ. Ayaka bɔ ka kiə a Nyɔ si chusi gia yi kaŋyini i wi fɛiŋ numə i juŋ yi fəni yi gia wə. Wi bə́ fəkəliki kinchəsi ki gia i bɔ bəh kaŋ, chu dzaka kə. 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 CUG Jɔbi wə Sakalia nì kaasi nɔm wi i juŋ yi fəni yi gia wə, wi ka fiəni tsə i wi dzu. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 CUG Asi kaŋ yidɔkɔ tsə, kpə wi Ɛlisabɛt num bəh tɔɔ, ka numki a dzu i kifiəŋŋ kite wə. BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 CUG Ayaka Ɛlisabɛt ka dzaka a, “I liə Bah nì kwasi lɔ nshɛiŋ i mih, ka bwili kiŋgəmni i fwu wuŋ wə i bəni kintəəŋ.” 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 CUG Wi nì tsə bəh ntum i waiŋ sumi widɔkɔ bə bɔɔŋ a Meli wi kɛiŋ a shu wi waiŋkpaŋni. Wi nì kɔ num bə kɛiŋsi a wi bi num kpə Yɔsɛf wə wi nì kɔ i chwɔŋkijuŋ ki Ŋkuŋ Dɛbit wə. 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 CUG Chinda wi Nyɔ wiwɔ tsə yɛiŋ Meli ka bɔni i wi a, “Mih bɔniki wɔ, Bah chusi lɔ shɔm yi yindzɔŋni i wɔ ka num bəh wɔ.” BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 CUG Meli wɔkɔ yaka yi fumsi wi bəh ŋga, wi ka məŋki a kələ ki bɔni kɔ kinaiŋ lə. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 CUG Ayakalə, chinda wi Nyɔ dzaka i wi a, “Meli ki lwâki kə, Nyɔ baa wɔ. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 CUG Wɔ̂kɔli, wɔ bi num lə bəh tɔɔ, wɔ bwɔ waiŋ nyukuni, ma wɔ bi du yɛli wi a Jisɔs. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 CUG Wi bi num mi wimbum, ma bə bi bɔɔŋki wi a Waiŋ Nyɔ, Nyɔ wə wi kɔ Fwu wi Biɛiŋ Bichi wə. Bah Nyɔ bi tɔm lə wi i kiŋgbɔkɔ ki Ŋkuŋ Dɛbit wə wi kɔ tikwili i chwɔŋkijuŋ kibɔ wə. 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 CUG Wi bi sakaki lə chwɔŋkijuŋ ki Yakɔb jɔbi wichi, ayaka ŋkuŋ bi bi kaŋa kə kiŋgɔksi.” BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 CUG Chinda wi Nyɔ wiwɔ chukuli i wi a, “Kiŋ'waka ki Baiŋni bi dzə lə i wɔ wə, ayaka ŋga bi Nyɔ wə wi kɔ Fwu wi Biɛiŋ Bichi wə bi kumi baŋ wɔ. Ayakadəiŋ, waiŋ wə wɔ bi bwɔki bi numki wə wi baiŋki, bə bi bɔɔŋki wi a Waiŋ 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 CUG Wɔ̂kɔli, waiŋ winnah Ɛlisabɛt kɔ wi jwiŋ, a num wə bə nì bɔɔŋki a kaiŋni, wi kɔ i liə bəh tɔɔ i kifiəŋŋ kisɔɔ wə, wi bi bwɔ lə waiŋ nyukuni. 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 CUG Kîə a gia yidɔkɔ kɔkə yə yi kɔ i gaka Nyɔ.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 CUG A kaŋ yiwɔ wə, Meli kɛiŋsi gwu ka kɔmsi nyə tsə i kwili widɔkɔ wə i tumi ki ŋkwuŋ wi Judea wə, BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 CUG wi tsə buku fɛiŋ, liə i Sakalia dzu ka bɔni i nih juŋ wi Ɛlisabɛt. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 CUG Si Ɛlisabɛt nì wɔkɔ mbɔni wi Meli yaka, waiŋ ka təkəli i wi shɔm. Kiŋ'waka ki Baiŋni jikə i wi wə. BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 CUG Wi ka yɔŋsi bəh ŋga, dzaka a, “Kimbɔiŋsi ki Nyɔ kɔ i gwu ya wə tsə bəkaŋa bəchi, ayaka kimbɔiŋsi num i waiŋ wə wɔ bi bwɔki. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 CUG Yələ gia yimbum lə num dəiŋ lə, a nih Bah wuŋ laa njikə i mih a? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 CUG Wɔ̂kɔli, jɔbi wə mih si wɔkɔ mbɔni wa, waiŋ təkəli i mih shɔm bə kinsaŋli. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 CUG Kinsaŋli kimbum kɔ i wɔ kɔm wɔ bum a, gia yə Ba nì dzaka i wɔ, bi dzə kpɛiŋ lə.” BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 CUG mih saŋliki lə bəh Nyɔ wə wi kɔ Mbwili wuŋ. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 CUG kɔm Nyɔ wi Ŋga Bichi fə lɔ, gia yimbum yiduli i mih. Yɛli wi kaŋaki kə kinsini. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 CUG Wi chusiki nshɛiŋ i bəni bə̀ bɔ kɔksiki wi, nshɛiŋ yələ num i ŋgɔkɔ wichi. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 CUG Wi chusi ŋga bi bəh tsɛiŋ yi, wi shakyi bəni bə̀ bɔ ghaŋsiki gwu, kimfasi kibɔ shakyi. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 CUG Wi shisi bəŋkuŋ bəmbum bəmbum i biŋgbɔkɔ bibɔ wə, ka yaksi a num kanti bəni bə kilɔlɔ. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 CUG Wi saŋsi bəni bə dzɔŋ, bɔ fwuli bəh biɛiŋ bindzɔŋni, ayaka ka kɔŋŋ bəni bə kidəəŋ bəh kaŋ yiyəə. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 CUG Wi gamti mi wi wi nɔm wə Islae, ka kwaka i chusi nshɛiŋ i Ablaham bəh chwɔŋkijuŋ ki, i tsə buku asi wi nì kaka i bətii tii bəbuku.” BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
56 CUG Si Meli dzaka yaka wi nɔ bəh Ɛlisabɛt i kifiəŋŋ kitali wə ka fiəni kwɛ i wa wibɔ. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 CUG Ayaka jɔbi dzə kpɛiŋ wə Ɛlisabɛt nì kɔ i bwɔ, wi bwɔ waiŋ nyukuni. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 CUG Chwɔŋkijuŋ ki bəh bəni bə̀ bɔ nì nɔki kɔmsiki i di biwɔ wə nì wɔkɔ a Bah chusi nshɛiŋ yi i wi, bɔ ka laŋki bəh wi. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 CUG Si kaŋ nì dzə buku nyaŋ, bɔ dzə i suuŋ waiŋ, ka nəŋki i du yɛli wi i yɛli wi ba wi wə a Sakalia, BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 CUG ayakalə nih wi nəiŋ chiksi, dzaka a bə bɔ̂ɔŋ wi a Jɔn. BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 CUG Ayaka bɔ dzaka i wi a, “Mi widɔkɔ mɔŋ i chwɔŋkijuŋ kimbɛiŋ wə bəh yɛli wələ.” BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 CUG Ayaka bɔ ka fəkəliki kinchəsi ki gia bəh kaŋ i kiə i tii waiŋ, a wi nəŋki a bə du yɛli wi waiŋ a ndə a. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 CUG Wi tə ka fəkəli tsə a bɔ dzə bəh naka ki nyakani, bɔ dzə bəh ki wi ka nyaka yɛiŋ a “Yɛli wi kɔ Jɔn.” Bɔ yɛiŋ yaka dzaka wɔm bɔ. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 CUG Akisəkə, dzaka ki Sakalia ka yasi, lɔm wi yaŋsi, wi ka chu yisi ndzaka. Wi yisi i tumki bikum bi Nyɔ. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 CUG Ayaka bəni bə̀ bɔ nì nɔki i kwili wiwɔ wə num bəh ŋkaŋyi. Gia yiwɔ yichi waŋ tsə i tumi ki ŋkwuŋ wi Judea wə kichi. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 CUG Bəni bəchi bə̀ bɔ nì wɔkɔ gia yiwɔ yichi num bəh ŋkaŋyi ka bikəki a wələ waiŋ bi num winaiŋ na, kɔm yi nì chusiki a kimbɔiŋsi ki Nyɔ kɔlə i wi wə. 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 CUG Ayaka Kiŋ'waka ki Baiŋni dza jikə i Sakalia wə tii Jɔn, wi yisi i dzakaki aka mi wi ntum wi Nyɔ, dzakayi a, BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 CUG “Bukumbɛiŋ kɔ̂ksi Bah wə wi kɔ Nyɔ wi bəni bə Islae. Wi nì dzə i yɛlih bəni bu. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 CUG Wi jiə mi wi, wi ləkəli wə wi ni bwili buku, num wi buku i chwɔŋkijuŋ ki mi wi, wi nɔm Ŋkuŋ Dɛbit. BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 CUG Yələ gia kɔ asi wi nì kaka i dzaka ki bəni bu bə ntum bə̀ bɔ baiŋki, bə̀ wi nì jiə a kɛiŋ i kikpu wə, BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 CUG a wi bi bwili buku i kaŋ yi bəni bə̀ bɔ baiŋŋki buku, bəh bəni bə̀ bɔ kɔŋki kə buku. BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 CUG Wi nì kaka a wi bi kwasi lə nshɛiŋ i bətii tii bəbuku, ka baaŋ a kwakaki ŋkaiŋ biə wi Nyɔ nì dzi. BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 CUG Wi nì təfi kichumi i tii bətii bəbukumbɛiŋ wə Ablaham, ka kaiŋ a, BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 CUG wi bi bwili lə buku i kaŋ yi bəni bə̀ bɔ baiŋŋki buku, ka buku bi nɔmki i wi, chu lwa kə, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 CUG nɔ nɔni ki baiŋni bəh ki chəŋ i wi nshiŋ, i kaŋ yichi wə, i nɔni kibukumbɛiŋ wə. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 CUG Ayaka wɔ waiŋ wuŋ, bə bi bɔɔŋki wɔ a mi ntum wi Nyɔ, Nyɔ wə wi kɔ Fwu wi Biɛiŋ Bichi wə, kɔm wɔ bi tsəki i Bah nshiŋ i kɛiŋsi dzəh yi. 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 CUG Wɔ bi fuku i bəni bu dzəh yə bɔ kɔ i kwatiki mbɔiŋ yɛiŋ, num ndalinya wə Nyɔ bi dalinyaki chu bibɔ, BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 CUG kɔm bə nshɛiŋ yimbum yə Nyɔ wibukumbɛiŋ kaŋaki i bəni wə. Wi bi chiŋsiki Mbwili wi, ma wi bi shiki dzəki i bɛiŋ aka wɔŋ wə wi kaka. BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 CUG Wi bi nya baiŋni i bəni bə̀ bɔ kɔ i jisi wə, bəh bə̀ bɔ kɔ a dzaka ki kpi wə, wi jiə bukumbɛiŋ i dzəh yi kimbɔiŋni wə.” 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 CUG Ayaka waiŋ Sakalia wiwɔ ka kɔki i nyam yi gwu wə, kɔ tə i kiŋ'waka wə. Wi dza tsə ka nɔki i chwa, i tsə buku jɔbi wə wi nì buku i chusi gwu yi i bəni bə Islae. 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.