2 KHJ Orokru men wɔri arʊ nɛmɛr kǝni sini akʊng, orong bi tee ni. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 KHJ Imyɛ kam, ipyerhe ʊʊmamen noshushong nɛmɛr wroo bai itee, Irii ini igyang iwɔrɔ atananw nɛmɛr kǝni ushoyoni ari ɔmɔmɔrʊ Itiyofalus. 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 KHJ Aki ʊkpɛrhi ngɛ nashisha asani imisini ɛmɛr nwʊ ʊbrʊbrʊwɔɔ. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 KHJ Izakariya kǝni eree Alisabatu kukumo aki nashisha bite Ʊnʊng. Asa nɛmɛr kǝni sini ɛwɛi bi ogro Ete pɛri ni. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 KHJ Asamɔ ni ɔnɔɔ, bɛkɛi sini Alisabatu saa ni ubyere ngɛ. Eme ɔkɔrɔmɔ kukummo. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 KHJ Akywa ka fwa sini Izakariya kǝni orobyoo amu ʊna Abija ani bi ʊtina, ani owroo ʊsa ʊtina ogoku bi ite Ʊnʊng. BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 KHJ Apari wɔ oko shoo nʊ uworo nge kǝni sini ɛrɛn uworo ogoku, ɛngɛɛ nʊ raa ubyen Ʊnʊng Ete aka pya ɛnyɛ ʊnyang ʊduduma. 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 KHJ Sini akywa ʊpya ɛkǝri ɛnyɛ ʊnyang ʊduduma fwa, kukum orokru ni besing asʊ sɔrhɔ Ʊnʊng. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 KHJ Atina Ete ko kuno bi itee, ka ting ba avu ʊra ʊnara ɛnyɛ ʊnyang ʊduduma. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 KHJ Akywa sini Izakariya rii ɛkǝri atina Ʊnʊng aka kung irung nge asuya owroo BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 KHJ Atina Ʊnʊng ka sani, “Izakariya bekya kung irung! Ʊnʊng kʊng ʊsɔrhɔnw, erenw Alisabatu nʊ byerenw ɛnɛ ɛrimɛ, inyi nʊ yirha ʊtʊwa ngɛ ni Iyohana. 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 KHJ Anʊ konyi ofofuru ba, orokru napany nʊmɛ ni ubyere nge. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 KHJ Anʊ shoo ɔrɔ mɔmɔrʊ eberi Ete. Ana ʊsaa omung inabi ko akama, wroo bai idɔɔ ofo akwaa Ering Ʊshisha nʊ shoo kǝni ɛngɛ ngɛ. 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 KHJ Anʊ tere arʊ Isrela na pany ke ba eberi Ete Ʊnʊng mɔ. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 KHJ Izakariya ko gyurho atina Ʊnʊng ka sani, “Ini sa nenyee kǝ kperhi ni iring yen nʊ tirɛ? Imye we ito ɛkpɛri, erem kaa ɔkɔrɔ ngɛ nagang.” 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 KHJ Ɛkǝri atina Ʊnʊng ka sani ɛngɛɛ ni, imyɛɛ ni Ijebrilu. Ko ikina ikpara ini bi ite Ʊnʊng. Ɛngɛɛ atʊmim iba pya onuo ni ɔnwɔ atananw iring ididima yen. 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 KHJ Bai kaimen ʊnʊ rana na kprʊkpring ʊna sʊ branw ʊpya onuo kekya ʊnʊng sini ʊring men nʊ tirɛ, bi ɛkɛi sini unoyorong ni iring mi, imisini inʊ tirɛ akywaa ba fwa. 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 KHJ Bakywa sini atina Ʊnʊng kʊ pɛrɛ ni Izakariya orokru kʊ shaa besing, akasʊ wɔrɔ ofo ikimɔ yɔ isi Izakariya dɛrhi ngɛ kǝn bi ubyen Ʊnʊng. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 KHJ Akywa sini obo kuno ana braa ʊpya onuo ni ɔmɔ, orokru kǝ kperhi ni ara ni ɔmɔrʊ bidɔɔ ubyen Ʊnʊng, ʊwɔɔ Izakariya kʊ pɛrɛ ni ɔmɔ ni ivʊ bau ʊbra ʊpya onuo. 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 KHJ Akywa sini awri ʊtʊna ngɛ tirɛ Izakariya kɔsɔɔ ngɛ apya. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 KHJ Anakywa naji eree Alisabatu ka kpin ofo kasa ipɛri itong bau ukuno esing. BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 KHJ Aka sani, “Ete karha sam inyen ima,” “Ete sam ima ididima, oworom ʊwaa bi eberi orokru.” 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 KHJ kya eberi adira sini ɛnɛkpɛrhi ngɛ ɛrɛrimɛ sini owo lorho ʊbarha Isufu ɛyɛri Idouda. Ʊtʊwa ɛkǝri adira ni Imeri. 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 KHJ Atina Ʊnʊng kii eberi ngɛ, iku fong, ka sani ngɛ ni, “Ʊnwʊɔ ʊni arʊ sini Ʊnʊng wɛinwʊ nagang! Ete ni kǝni ɔnwɔɔ.” BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 KHJ Imeri kǝ pen uwure ngɛ nagang ni iring ngɛ, kasʊ wɔrɔ ofo ni akyina edei ufo ni kǝn. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 KHJ Ɛkǝri atina Ʊnʊng ka sani ɛngɛɛ ni, “Imeri bekya kung irung, kii upen ʊyirha eberi Ʊnʊng. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 KHJ Ʊnʊ kpara ofo ebyere ɔnɔ ɛrɛrimɛ, ʊnʊ yirha ʊtʊwa ngɛ ni Iyesu. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 KHJ Anʊ shoo ɔrɔ mɔmɔrʊ, anʊ yirha ngɛ ni Ɔnɔ Arayaya Ʊnʊng, Ete Ʊnʊng nʊ maa igɔgɔrʊ Igumo Ɛkpɛri ngɛ Idouda. 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 KHJ Anʊ kong igumo ʊna Iyakubu ishishaa, igumo nge sayo na akʊrha ngɛ.” BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 KHJ Atina Ʊnʊng ko yoro ngɛ ka sani, “Ering Ʊshisha nʊ shuro ba yanw, ikrʊ Ʊnʊng ara yaya nʊ franw. Bi kǝna Ɔnɔ sini ʊnʊ byere anʊ shoo nashisha, anʊ yirha ngɛ ni Ɔnɔ Ʊnʊng. 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 KHJ Kǝnawo arʊpyanw Alisabatu nʊ byere ɔnɔ bi idɔɔ ʊkɔrɔ ngɛ. Kǝni sini akpari ni anasʊ ubyere ngɛ ni, nɛchiyɛn okofo ipɛri iten, 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 KHJ bai ima sini igyi ni Ʊnʊng ʊsa.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 KHJ Akywa dang, Imeri ko tuno ʊʊma akpin ʊtira nekǝkǝrhe kyaa ki opyo apya ki oyokro sini ayirhi ni Iyahudiya. BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 KHJ Sini afwi ɛkǝri apya, aka raa ʊna Izakariya, oko rong Alisabatu nge ofoo. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 KHJ Ni sini Alisabatu kʊng ufo Imeri Ɔnɔ idɔfoo kǝyin ni ɛmɛ, Ering Ʊshisha karaa ngɛ. BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 KHJ Aka takpa ayaya kani: “Ʊnʊng tanw onuo adadʊma. Ʊnʊng ta Ɔnɔ sini ʊnʊ byere onuo adadʊma. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 KHJ Ikisi Ʊnʊng pri ni ʊwaami kǝn, sini ogro Etem nʊ ba bi owrom? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 KHJ Ikpara sini ikʊng ihywi oshongnwu, ɔnɔ idɔɔ ofom kǝ yin ni ɛmɛ. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 KHJ Ʊnʊng ta arʊ sini oyori ni Ete nʊsa ima sini ɛpɛri bi ikywi ngɛ onuo adadʊma!” BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 KHJ kǝnawo ʊring mi ku mɛ ni imisini Ʊnʊng mi arʊsam oforo sim, BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 KHJ kii Arayaya sam nɛgbɛn. Ʊtʊwa ni ashisha. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 KHJ Ese kʊng okwo arʊ sini akʊng irung ngɛ, bai ituo kyekya ituo. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 KHJ Ʊnʊng sarʊ ʊring ujujire ni avuɔ, eyeri arʊ fwa igɔng bidɔɔ ikywimo, BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 KHJ oshuro ogumo bi igɔgɔrʊ igumo mo, eke shwe arʊ sini akpari ʊkamɔ atata ayaya. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 KHJ Ama arʊ kʊng ihywʊng ʊmʊduduma, Aka shirha arʊ shoo nʊ ʊmaa avu akʊrʊ. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 KHJ Ekǝ shɛ agara ngɛ Isrela, ka dirha ni okwo, BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 KHJ kya eberi Ibraim kǝni ɛyɛri ngɛ ishishaa, kǝni sini atani ɛkpɛri arʊ ni.” BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 KHJ Imeri kikii kǝni Alisabatu nge, etekya ʊsa ipɛri itaru ko shoo nʊ sɔɔ ngɛ kidɔɔ Ʊnaa. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 KHJ Sini akywa fwi ami ubyere Alisabatu ekǝ byere ɛnɛɛrimɛ. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 KHJ Ariyoyou kǝni arʊpyaa akʊng sini Ete kʊng okwo ngɛ nagang ɛkǝ mɛ kǝni ɛngɛɛ. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 KHJ Sini Ɔnɔ fwa awri ochupari, aka ba ushoo igang, aka waa ʊyirha ngɛ ni ʊtʊwa ɛkpɛri ngɛ Izakariya, BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 KHJ Akwa ɔnɔ ka sani, “O-o anu yirha ngɛ ni Iyohana.” BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 KHJ Aka sani ɛngɛɛ ni, “Bi idɔɔ arupyanw ararʊ saa ni ʊtʊwa dang ngɛ.” BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 KHJ Oko gyurho ɛkpɛri ɔnɔ ni ivu ʊwaa ʊkpɛrhi, ni ʊkina ʊtuwawɔɔ ɛwɛi ni ama ɔnɔɔ. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 KHJ Ekǝ yen ni, amaa ima ʊwɔrɔ. Ikʊ iyang ko gyo avu bi kɔw nisini ɔwɔri, “ʊtʊwa ni Iyohana”. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 KHJ Akywakywa dang onuo kɔ furɔ irimɛɛ ka shire, akasʊ pya onuo, asu dɔɔ Ʊnʊng ngɛ. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 KHJ Kukum arʊ iyoyow ka kʊng irung, kukum bi ibʊng oyokro Iyahudiya orokru ku pɛrɛ ʊring men kukum. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 KHJ Ikuyaa sini akung iring yen akasu wɔrɔ ofo bi ikywimɔ ko gyurho, “Ɔnɔ wen anushoo ikimɔyɔ?” Kii Ete niskǝni ɛngɛɛ. 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 KHJ Ʊring Ʊshisha kǝ tirɛ ɛkpɛri ngɛ Izakariya, ka tana itina Ʊnʊng: BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 KHJ “Arʊ dɔ Ete, Ʊnʊng Isrela, kii ɛngɛɛ abii eberi aruo asamɔ oforo. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 KHJ Ɛshinɛ arʊ ni arʊ sa oforo ɛrɛrɛ baa ʊduna agara ngɛ Idouda BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 KHJ (kǝni sini ɛpɛri uwruwroo ni bi onuo arʊ tana onuo Ʊnʊng ʊshisha), BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 KHJ ani ɛngɛɛ nʊsa arʊ oforo bai avu arʊ sini atiirʊ bi ite, kǝni bai ivʊ arʊ sini ana waamɔ arʊ BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 KHJ ka kʊng okwo ɛkpɛri arʊ aka dirha ni imi sini olorhi iring nashisha, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 KHJ ɔkɔ kro ukro kǝni ɛkpɛri arʊ Ibraim kani: BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 KHJ anʊ karha arʊ bavu arʊ sini ana waamɔ arʊ, sini arʊ nʊ sa ʊtina ngɛ bai irung BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 KHJ arʊ nʊ sa ʊtina ngɛ shoo nashisha, ʊpʊpʊrhi bite Ʊnʊng kukum bi ʊkiki arʊ bi eyesing. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 KHJ “Ʊnwɔ, ɔnɔm, anʊ yirhanw ni arʊ tana onuo Ʊnʊng Ayaya, unuvo Ete ngɛ ite ʊkya ukyene nge ʊtira, 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 KHJ ʊnʊ tana orokru ngɛ ani anʊ pen oforo akywa sini Ʊnʊng nʊ pʊnanyi ʊyanyi, BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 KHJ bekai sini okwo Ʊnʊng ni ɔgrɔɔ Ʊnʊng nʊ marʊ arʊ sa oforo kǝni sini Ʊnʊng nʊta arʊ baa ayaya ni, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 KHJ ata arʊ shoo idɔɔ eting kǝni idɔɔ uwru ukpo, ekyeng ni arʊ bi ʊtira ʊyari ikywi.” 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 KHJ Ɛkǝri ɔnɔ ko fɔnɔ kasa ikrʊ bi idɔɔ ʊring Ʊnʊng, aka kiki bi idɔɔ orumo kekya akywa sini okuni eyen ʊkaa owro ɔnɔ Isrela. 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.