2 UTR ungwɔ olɔɔlɔ nɛ ba mbi eyi mi abɔ mgbi ama ndi inɛ-inɛ di li engbidɔ, ama nkye ewoma fifɛ mi elodzɛ na mani. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 UTR Nghanɛ, iTiofyilɔ otsungwudɛ, dafi ani abuani kya mi odzɛ nɛ saan mi owita-wita nɛ, n di gbɛɛ i tishi nin lɔn imbisɔn-mbisɔn mi ikye abu, 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 UTR zukwu ni abu difwi otsitsi mgbi ungwɔ ngwi a tso abu nani. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 UTR Ama efa duu le nyaan mi inɛ Imgbasho, a ngyo ola di gbela yi odzɛ owɛ-wɛ mgbi Otsɛ Imgbasho, a sulu idza ewo ba du. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 UTR Nghaduu a dzɛ yi ongwɛ ba, ikyesinɛ Elidzabeti li ogyoma; ama duu egbe mgbi ama kɛ. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 UTR Egbe oka nɛ, iDzakaria dzɛ ondidɔ mgban mgbi inggisɛ ofifɛ mgbi Imgbasho mi ozu okwukwo osunu Imgbasho mi iJerosalin mi onɔ ngwi idɔ dikyon. BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 UTR A sadun mi efa ogboogbo, dafi nli ola mgbi ama ofifɛ mgbi Imgbasho mani, gbɛɛ no kaka ozu idzidzɛ mgbi Imgbasho mi imbe iwashi okye ungwɔ ogbungbɛ toola. 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 UTR Onɔ ngwi iDzakaria kye ungwɔ ogbungbɛ na le toola nɛ, ibyi inggisɛ ama osunu Imgbasho kwutokɛ esɛ le bibɔ. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 UTR Man ongyesɔ mgbi Otsɛ Imgbasho mblegba tun, o kwudzɛkɛ abugye mgbi iwashi okye ungwɔ ogbungbɛ toola. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 UTR Ngwi iDzakaria di ongyesɔ nɛ, i kakan ewo, imio di won. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 UTR Ongyesɔ nyan gbɛɛ, <<Ka mio ba, iDzakaria; Imgbasho fwo ibɔ mgbi abu. Owaabu Elidzabeti ka mba abu ongwongyulɔ, o ka kwun iyi di iJɔn. 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 UTR Abu ka dzɛ yi atsa diyɛ shisha. Ibyi inggisɛ angbeka ka tsatsa mi ombaamba mgbi ongwɛ nani. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 UTR Ongwɛ na ka li angbodzi inggisɛ mi inɛ mgbi Otsɛ Imgbasho, o ka wa ɛbyɛ hona ungwɔ ofyumfye ba, o ka mbwo yi Onodzi Osaan wita mi onɔ ngwi onɔn byifun mani. 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 UTR O ka kyata emi Israi kwuba, yile ma luba mbi Otsɛ Imgbasho mgbi ama. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 UTR IDzakaria byi ongyesɔ na gbɛɛ, <<Li mi ali ofɛ ngwi ani ka ye gbɛɛ ungwɔnɛ ka wa dzɛ ngha? Bana ani kyɛ, owaani kpaa kyɛ.>> 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 UTR Ongyesɔ nun uka gbɛɛ, <<Li ani iGebre, ani kwudzɛ mi inɛ Imgbasho, ongwu ndɔ ani esɔ gbɛɛ ni ani gbɔ nya abu di kye elodzɛ osuse nɛ ba mbi abu mani. 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 UTR Dafi abu noyɛyɛ mi ungwɔ nka wa kyɔ mi onɔ mgban ba nɛ, o ka yɛɛ ikplima di yagba ogbɔdzɛ wuba, nghataa egbe ngwi owa abu ka wa fwise mani.>> 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 UTR Nghanɛ, ama ntole fɛ iDzakaria mi esɛ ma i kwulu ma ewo dafi o mbe onɔ kwuba mi ifoozu okwukwo osunu Imgbasho mi iJerosalin ngha mani. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 UTR Ngwi o wa tɔ luba esɛ ma, o yagba gbɔdzɛ yi ama wuba, man a difwi gbɛɛ o di ungwɔ mi ozu okwukwo osunu Imgbasho mi iJerosalin, o yɛ le gbɔdzɛ yi ama mi abɔ ta o si yɛɛ ikplima. 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 UTR Ngwi onɔ idɔ mgban mi ozu Imgbasho wa ngyɛ nɛman, o yɛ lu udan. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 UTR Onɔ wa nyɛ gwee nɛta, owan Elidzabeti si tiludɛ, o kye ewon da ofyia eda. BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 UTR O gbɛɛ, <<Li Otsɛ Imgbasho kyungwɔnɛ yi ani, mi olɛlɛ nɛ o nu ikyese dɔ ani di kyelu ayiwi mgbi ani mi inɛ inggisɛ.>> 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 UTR mbi ibidrua ongyaa ngwu a li kwun gbɛɛ iMeri, ngwu inggisɛ oka mi etɔ mgbi iDevedi. Ongwu a li kwun di iJose, tsikwɔn dzɛ esɛ nani. 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 UTR Ongyesɔ na ba mbon, o tan angba di nyan gbɛɛ, <<Abu ngwu ikyese dɔ abu kpakpa nɛ! Otsɛ Imgbasho dzɛ yi abu.>> BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 UTR Itukwu gbo-gbo lo iMeri kwuba mi elodzɛ mgbi ongyesɔ nɛni, i di kwulun ewo mi itɔ angba na dafi ka dzɛ mani. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 UTR Ongyesɔ iGebre nyan gbɛɛ, <<Ka mio ba, iMeri, bana ikyese dɔ abu mbi Otsɛ Imgbasho. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 UTR Abu ka wa byifu di mba ongwongyulɔ, o ka kwun iyi gbɛɛ iYesu. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 UTR O ka li angbodzi inggisɛ a dika kwun gbɛɛ Ongwɛ mgbi Ongwu Nghaangha mi esho. Otsɛ Imgbasho dika kye itsuutɔ mgbi otsɔn iDevedi kye nun. 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 UTR O ka li Utɔ mi etɔ mgbi iJeko gyegwu, esutɔ mgban ka dondu ba.>> BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 UTR Ongyesɔ nu uka gbɛɛ, <<Onodzi Osaan ka kyi gbɛlu abu sɔ, mfye mgbi Ongwu Nnghaangha mi esho dika gbiiwulu tukwu abu. Nɛ Ongwɛ Osaan ngwu abu ka wa mba na, a ka kwun gbɛɛ Ongwɛ Imgbasho. 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 UTR Elidzabeti, odo abu ngwu a tsɛwɛ gbɛɛ o li ogyoma nani, o dzɛ yi ewefa ofyia egyin waani. 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 UTR Lubana ungwɔ ngwi Imgbasho ka kyɔ gbɛ ba dzɛma ba.>> BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 UTR Mi onɔ na iMeri wewo di yewo lu ogalu mi ewunggwɔ mi ɛsɛ iJudia. BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 UTR O ka kaka udɛ iDzakaria, man o ta Elidzabeti angba. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 UTR Ngwi Elidzabeti fwo angba mgbi iMeri nɛ, ongwɛ gbokyɛɛ lon mi ifu. Ta Elidzabeti si mbwo yi Onodzi Osaan. BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 UTR O gbɔ mi ela okwukwo gbɛɛ, <<Mse dzɛ yi abu mi idzidzɛ engyaa duu yi ongwɛ ngwu abu ka mba nani. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 UTR Kyɔsinɛ ngwi ikyese dɛn ngha, ngwi onɔ Otsɛ mgbi ani ba mbi ani? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 UTR Bana ngwi ani fwo angba mgbi abu mata, ongwɛ gbokyɛɛ len mi ifu yi atsa. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 UTR Mse no dzɛ yi abu ngwu noyɛyɛ gbɛɛ, odzɛ ngwi Otsɛ Imgbasho gbɔ yi abu ka wa dondu yɛyɛ mani.>> BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 UTR oshishe mgbɛn dzɛ yi atsa mi ikye Imgbasho Onagbɛ ani, BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 UTR bana Imgbasho odatu kyungwɔ okwukwo mi ikye ani, Osaan li iyi mgban. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 UTR Elela odiidi mgban li na kɛ, mbi ama nli sunun, mi etɔ nghataa kɛ etɔ. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 UTR O kyungwɔ ama odatu mi abɔ mgban; o kye ganya ama okyile ewo esho, mi ɛwɛ otsɛɛtsɛ mgbi ama. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 UTR O tashulu ama nsɔ utɔ mi itse mgbi ama kpaa o kyile ama oyile ewo esɛ esho. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 UTR Ama ngwu enbwa dɔ ma ma, o mbwo ma yi ungwɔ osuse, kpaa emi awuya yɔ, o wo ma ofɛ abubɔ. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 UTR O tobyi ongwongbɛ, mgban Israi, mi ondu odzɛɛdzɛ mgban yi emi otseyi BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 UTR mbi Abrahan bɛyi engwiba mgban gyegwu.>> BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 UTR IMeri la mbi Elidzabeti mɛ dafi ofyia eta man yɛ lu udɛ. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 UTR Ngwi onɔ imba mgbi Elidzabeti wa gyɔ nɛta, o mba ongwongyulɔ. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 UTR Emi ongwunɔn bɛyi ama owatse dɔn fwo gbɛɛ Otsɛ Imgbasho tso elela odiidi kpakpa mbon nɛ, a tsatsa yan. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 UTR Ongwɛ wa mbwo egbe egyata nɛ, a ba owa kyan ikyɛ, ma dzɛ mbisɔ ngwi a ka yile iyi otsɔn kyɔn gbɛɛ, iDzakaria. BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 UTR Nghaduu onɔn nya ma gbɛɛ, <<Ei! Dzɛ mbisɔ ngwi a ka kwun di iJɔn.>> BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 UTR A nyan gbɛɛ, <<Inggisɛ onyi mi etɔ mgbi abu dzɛ yi iyi na ba.>> BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 UTR A gbɔdzɛ yi iDzakaria mi abɔ gbɛɛ nu ma ye iyi ngwi o mina okyɔ ongwɛ na mani. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 UTR O kyɔ ambɛ gbɛɛ nu ma nun ongwɛ akwukwɔ olɔ ungwɔ, o si lɔ iyin gbɛɛ, <<IJɔn.>> Ta i kwulu ali inggisɛ duu ewo. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 UTR Labɔlabɔ nɛman ondu mgbi iDzakaria kwulu ta itiidɛ shɛ lon o di wita gbɔdzɛ, le tsɛ Imgbasho. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 UTR Ama nwatse dɔn duu i kwulu ma ewo, inggisɛ ama nto ɛsɛ undɔ mgbi iJudia duu le gbɔdzɛ ungwɔ okwulewo ntonɛni. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 UTR Ali inggisɛ nfwo odzɛ nɛ le tsɛwɛ mi ele, le byita gbɛɛ, <<Li ali itɔ inggisɛ ngwi ongwɛ nɛ ka wa dzɛ?>> Bana mfye mgbi Imgbasho dzɛyan. 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 UTR Ta otsɔn iDzakaria mbwo yi Onodzi Osaan man o wita ogbɔdzɛ mi ela oyegbɔ gbɛɛ: BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 UTR <<Nu ma tsɛ Otsɛ, Imgbasho mgbi emi Israi, lubana o ba wa tobyi emidan di nagbɛ ma. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 UTR O kye otlɛsɛ mgbi owatɔ-watɔ tuo ikye eyi, mi etɔ mgbi ongwongbɛ mgban iDevedi. BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 UTR Dafi o gbɔ nyɛ mbi oyegbɔ osaan emi tugbe BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 UTR gbɛɛ ongwu ka dulu eyi tɔ mi abɔ engyikyili mgbi eyi, bɛyi mi abɔ mgbi ama ngwu di eyi lanyi BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 UTR ikye otso elela odiidi mbi emi otseyi diyɛ wɛ ondu odzɛɛdzɛ mgban osaan, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 UTR ofaafa ngwi o fa yi otseyi Abrahan: BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 UTR odulu eyi tɔ mi abɔ engyikyili mgbi eyi, ikye onu eyi sunun yi imio ba BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 UTR mi osaan bɛyi osaan mi iyayi mgban, mi egbe oshishe mgbi eyi duu. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 UTR Abu ongwani, a ka kwu abu gbɛɛ, oyegbɔ mgbi Ongwu Nnghaangha mi esho; lubana abu ka teyi Otsɛ ikye omɛlun ofɛ. 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 UTR Onu emidan difwi odzɛ mgbi owatɔ-watɔ mi odzita ma yi ali ibwubwe. BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 UTR Mi ikye elela odiidi oleewo mgbi Imgbasho mgbi eyi, ikyegbɛɛ ni osa dafi onɔ mi esho, gbosa ba esɛ mbi eyi BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 UTR azukwu no wa nu osa mbi ama nwoto iyifu bɛyi iwulu ikwongye duu, ongyo eyi afɔ byi ofɛ iyu.>> 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 UTR Nɛ ongwɛ na she di yɛɛ kpɔklɔɔ mi onodzi, o la okwɛsɛ nghataa se o wa kye ewon tso emi Israi mi ododa. 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.