2 EWE ame siwo tu woƒe ŋutinyawo ɖe nyadzɔdzɔ siwo woxɔ tso ame siwo nye nuteƒekpɔlawo le gɔmedzedzea me la gbɔ, eye wonye dɔlawo na nya la. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 EWE Eya ta enyo nye hã ŋunye, le esi medzro nuwo me tsitotsito tso gɔmedzedzea me ke, be magbugbɔ aŋlɔe ɖe ɖoɖo nu na wò, nye bubutɔ Teofilos, 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 EWE be wòagbugbɔ aɖo kpe edzi na wò be nu siwo katã wofia wò lae nye nyateƒea. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 EWE Wo kple evea wonye ame dzɔdzɔewo le Mawu ŋkume, eye wolé Aƒetɔ la ƒe sededewo kple ɖoɖowo me ɖe asi kpɔtsɔtsɔmanɔŋutɔe. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 EWE Gake vi aɖeke hã menɔ wo si o, elabena Elizabet nye konɔ, eye wo ame eve la katã wotsi ŋutɔ. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 EWE Eva eme be Zekaria ƒe hatsotso le nunɔdɔ wɔm le kɔnu la nu le Mawu ƒe ŋkume, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 EWE eye le nunɔdɔ ƒe kɔnu la nu la, woda akɔ, eye wotia Zekaria be wòawɔ subɔsubɔdɔ le Aƒetɔ la ƒe gbedoxɔ la me, eye wòado dzudzɔ. 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 EWE Esi dzudzɔdoɣi ɖo la, ameha si va be yewoasubɔ la nɔ xexe nɔ gbe dom ɖa. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 EWE Zekaria nɔ kɔkɔeƒe la, kasia mawudɔla aɖe va do ɖe edzi zi ɖeka, eye wònɔ tsitre ɖe vɔsamlekpui la ƒe nuɖusime. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 EWE Esi Zekaria kpɔe la, eɖi vo, eye vɔvɔ̃ dze edzi. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 EWE Gake mawudɔla la gblɔ nɛ be, “Mègavɔ̃ o, Zekaria, elabena meva be magblɔ na wò be Mawu se wò gbedodoɖa. Srɔ̃wò Elizabet le viŋutsuvi dzi ge na wò, eye nàna ŋkɔe be Yohanes. 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 EWE Mi ame eve la miakpɔ dzidzɔ manyagblɔ aɖe le edzidzi ta, eye ame geɖewo hã atso aseye kpli mi, BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 EWE elabena ɖevi la anye gã le Aƒetɔ la ŋkume. Mano wain alo aha sesẽ aɖeke o. Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ayɔ eme taŋtaŋtaŋ hafi woadzii gɔ̃ hã, eye 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 EWE akplɔ Israelvi geɖewo ava Mawu si nye woƒe Aƒetɔ la gbɔe. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 EWE Zekaria bia mawudɔla la be, “Aleke mawɔ anya be esia ate ŋu ava eme, elabena metsi ŋutɔ, eye srɔ̃nye hã ku nyagã?” 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 EWE Mawudɔla la gblɔ nɛ kple kakaɖedzi be, “Nyee nye Gabriel si nɔa Mawu ŋkume ɣe sia ɣi. Eyae dɔm be magblɔ dzidzɔnya sia na wò, 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 EWE gake esi mèxɔ dzinye se o ta la, wò aɖe atu, eye màgate ŋu aƒo nu o, va se ɖe esime woadzi ɖevi sia. Elabena woŋlɔ ɖi be nye nyawo ava eme pɛpɛpɛ nenye be ɣeyiɣi la ɖo.” 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 EWE Le ɣeyiɣi siawo katã me la, ameha si nɔ xexe la nɔ Zekaria lalam be wòado go, eye wòwɔ nuku na wo ŋutɔ be etsi gbedoxɔa me fũu nenema. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 EWE Esi wòdo go mlɔeba la, mete ŋu ƒo nu na ame aɖeke o, ke ewɔ dzesi na wo, esi fia be ekpɔ ŋutega alo ɖeɖefia aɖe le gbedoxɔ la me. 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 EWE Zekaria tsi gbedoxɔ la me va se ɖe esime eƒe subɔsubɔŋkeke mamlɛawo wu enu, eye wòtrɔ yi aƒe me. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 EWE Le ɣeyiɣi kpui aɖe megbe la srɔ̃a Elizabet fɔ fu, eye wòɣla eɖokui ɣleti atɔ̃ sɔŋ. BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 EWE Elizabet gblɔ kple dzidzɔ be, “Aƒetɔ la ƒe dɔ me nyo ŋutɔ be wòɖe kotsitsi ƒe ŋukpe gã sia ɖa le dzinye.” 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 EWE Ame si gbɔ wòdɔe ɖo la nye ɖetugbi aɖe si menya ŋutsu o, eye woyɔnɛ be Maria. Wodo Maria ŋugbe na David ƒe dzidzimevi aɖe si woyɔna be Yosef la be wòaɖe. 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 EWE Gabriel va do ɖe Maria gbɔ le vo me, eye wògblɔ nɛ be, “Ŋutifafa na wò! Wò ɖetugbi si kpɔ amenuveve! Aƒetɔ la li kpli wò.” BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 EWE Maria ɖi vo, eye eƒe susu ɖe fu nɛ ŋutɔ. Edze agbagba bu ta me le nu si tututu mawudɔla la wɔnɛ la ŋu. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 EWE Mawudɔla la yi edzi gblɔ nɛ be, “Maria, mègavɔ̃ kura o, elabena Mawu ɖoe be yeayra wò nukutɔe! BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 EWE Èle fu fɔ ge adzi ŋutsuvi, eye nàna ŋkɔe be ‘Yesu.’ BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 EWE Anye ame xɔŋkɔ aɖe, eye woayɔe be Mawu Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la ƒe Vi. Aƒetɔ Mawu la atsɔ tɔgbuia David ƒe fiazikpui la nɛ. 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 EWE Ale wòaɖu fia ɖe Yakob ƒe aƒe dzi, eye eƒe fiaɖuƒe mawu nu akpɔ o.” BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 EWE Mawudɔla la ɖo eŋu be, “Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la ava dziwò, eye Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la ƒe ŋusẽ ayɔ mewò, eya ta ɖevi si nàdzi la anɔ Kɔkɔe, eye wòanye Mawu ƒe Vi. 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 EWE Gawu la, anɔ abe ɣleti adee nye esi va yi ene la, wò ƒometɔ Elizabet, ame si woyɔna be ‘konɔ’ la fɔ fu le eƒe nyagãkuku me. 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 EWE Elabena ŋugbe ɖe sia ɖe si Mawu do la ava me pɛpɛpɛ.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 EWE Le ŋkeke siawo me la, Maria tso, eye wòɖe abla yi Yudea dua me, BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 EWE eye wòge ɖe Zekaria ƒe aƒe me, eye wòdo gbe na Elizabet. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 EWE Esi Elizabet se Maria ƒe gbedodo nɛ ko la, vidzĩ si le dɔ me nɛ la ʋã kple dzidzɔ, eye Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la yɔ Elizabet me fũu. BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 EWE Elizabet do dzidzɔɣli, eye wògblɔ na Maria be, “Mawu ve nuwò le nyɔnuwo katã dome, eye wòɖoe be viwò la naxɔ eƒe yayra gãtɔ kekeake. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 EWE Bubu kae nye gã si nède ŋunye, be wò si nye Aƒetɔ la dada nàva kpɔm ɖa! BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 EWE Esi nèva do gbe nam teti ko la, vinye la ʋã le dɔ me nam le dzidzɔ ta. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 EWE Èxɔe se be Mawu awɔ ɖe ale si wògblɔ la dzi, esia tae wòyra wò alea gbegbe ɖo.” BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 EWE Eye nye gbɔgbɔ tso aseye le Mawu nye xɔla la ŋuti. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 EWE Elabena Ŋusẽtɔ la wɔ nu gãwo nam. Kɔkɔe nye eƒe ŋkɔ. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 EWE Eƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ li na ame siwo vɔ̃nɛ tso dzidzime yi dzidzime. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 EWE Ewɔ nu dzɔtsuwo kple eƒe alɔ, eye wòkaka ame siwo dana le woƒe tamesusuwo me. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 EWE Eɖe fiawo ɖa le woƒe zi dzi, ke edo ame siwo bɔbɔ wo ɖokuiwo ɖe anyi la ɖe dzi. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 EWE Etsɔ nu nyuiwo ɖi ƒo na dɔwuitɔwo, ke edo mɔ kesinɔtɔwo asigbɔloe. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 EWE Ekpe ɖe eƒe dɔla Israel ŋu, eye wòɖo ŋku eƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ na wo dzi BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 EWE be wòakpɔ nublanui na Abraham kple eƒe dzidzimeviwo tegbee, abe ale si wòdo ŋugbee na mía fofowo ene.” BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 EWE Maria nɔ Elizabet gbɔ abe dzinu etɔ̃ ene hafi trɔ yi aƒe. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 EWE Elizabet ƒe vidziɣi va ɖo, eye wòdzi ŋutsuvi. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 EWE Nya sia kaka ɖo eƒe aƒelikawo kple ƒometɔwo dome kaba, ame sia ame se ale si Aƒetɔ la nyo dɔ me na Elizabet, eye wo katã wokpɔ dzidzɔ. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 EWE Esi ɖevia xɔ ŋkeke enyi la, ƒometɔwo kple wo xɔlɔ̃wo va kpe be yewoawɔ aʋatsotsokɔnu alo ŋkeke enyi ƒe kɔnu la. Amewo katã bu be woatsɔ fofoa ƒe ŋkɔ Zekaria nɛ, BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 EWE gake Elizabet gblɔ be, “Gbeɖe, woana ŋkɔe be Yohanes.” BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 EWE Amewo do ɣli be, “Nu ka? Ame aɖeke mele wò ƒome blibo la me si woyɔna nenema o.” BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 EWE Ale womia asi ɖevia fofo, eye wobiae to asidzesiwɔwɔ me be wòayɔ ŋkɔ si woatsɔ na ɖevia. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 EWE Zekaria na wotsɔ nuŋlɔkpe aɖe vɛ nɛ, eye nukutɔe la, eŋlɔ ɖe kpe la dzi be, “Eŋkɔe nye Yohanes.” BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 EWE Enumake Zekaria ƒe nu ʋu, eye wògadze nuƒoƒo gɔme abe tsã ene. Ekafu Mawu kple dzidzɔ geɖe. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 EWE Nyadzɔdzɔ blibo la wɔ nuku na woƒe aƒelikawo ŋutɔ, eye wòkaka ɖe du siwo le Yudea togbɛ la dzi la katã me. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 EWE Ame sia ame si se nya sia la bua ta me le eŋu ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe, eye wòbiaa eɖokui be, “Ame ka ƒomevi ɖevi sia atsi ava zu? Elabena le nyateƒe me la, Aƒetɔ la ƒe asi le edzi le mɔ tɔxɛ aɖe nu.” 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 EWE Gbɔgbɔ Kɔkɔe la yɔ fofoa Zekaria me, eye wògblɔ nya siawo ɖi be, BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 EWE “Woakafu Aƒetɔ, Israel ƒe Mawu la, elabena eva, eye wòɖe eƒe dukɔ. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 EWE Eɖo ɖeɖe ƒe ŋusẽ anyi na mí le eƒe dɔla, David ƒe aƒe me BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 EWE (abe ale si wògblɔe to eƒe Nyagblɔɖila kɔkɔewo dzi le blema ene), BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 EWE be yeaɖe mí tso míaƒe futɔwo kple ame siwo lé fu mí la ƒe asi me, BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 EWE ne wòakpɔ nublanui na mía fofowo, eye wòaɖo ŋku eƒe nubabla kɔkɔe, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 EWE kple atam si wòka na mía fofo Abraham la dzi BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 EWE be yeaɖe mí tso míaƒe futɔwo ƒe asi me, ne míasubɔe vɔvɔ̃manɔmetɔe BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 EWE le eŋkume le kɔkɔenyenye kple dzɔdzɔenyenye me le míaƒe ŋkekewo katã me. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 EWE “Ke wò, vinye, woayɔ wò be Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la ƒe Nyagblɔɖila, elabena àdze Aƒetɔ la ŋgɔ be nàdzra mɔ ɖo ɖi nɛ, 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 EWE ne nàtsɔ xɔxɔ ƒe sidzedze na eƒe dukɔ to woƒe nu vɔ̃wo ƒe tsɔtsɔke me, BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 EWE le míaƒe Mawu la ƒe nublanuikpɔkpɔ sɔgbɔ la ta, to esia dzi ɣedzedze nyui la ava na mí tso dziƒo, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 EWE ne wòaklẽ na ame siwo le viviti me kple ku ƒe vɔvɔli te, ne wòada míaƒe afɔwo ɖe ŋutifafa ƒe mɔ dzi.” 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 EWE Ɖevi la tsi, eye wòsẽ ŋu le gbɔgbɔ me. Enɔ gbedzi va se ɖe esime woɖee fia Israel blibo la le gaglãgbe. 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.