¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

¹Zvino zvakaitika nemazuva iwayo, chiga chakabuda kubva kuna Kesari Agasto, kuti nyika yose inyorwe.

²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

²Kunyorwa uku kwaiva kwekutanga kwakaitwa Kuriniosi ari mutungamiriri weSiria.

³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

³Vose ndokuenda kunonyorwa, umwe neumwe kuguta rekwake.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁴NaJosefawo akakwira achibva Garirea muguta Nazareta, akaenda Judhiya kuguta raDhavhidhi, rinonzi Bhetirehemu, nekuti waiva weimba nedzinza raDhavhidhi,

⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁵kunonyorwa naMaria mukadzi wakange atsidzira kuwanikwa naye, ava nemimba.

⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁶Zvakaitika kuti vachipo, mazuva okusununguka kwake akazadzisika;

⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁷ndokuzvara mwanakomana wake wedangwe, akamuputira nemicheka, akamuvanzarika muchidyiro, nekuti makange musina nzvimbo yavo muimba yevaeni.

⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁸Zvino kwakange kune vafudzi munyika iyoyo vaigara kuuragu vachichengetedza nguva dzekurinda mapoka avo usiku.

⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

⁹Zvino tarira, mutumwa waIshe akamira pedo navo, nekubwinya kwaIshe kukapenya kwakavakomba; vakatya nekutya kukuru.

¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹⁰Zvino mutumwa akati kwavari: Musatya; nekuti tarirai, ndinokuparidzirai mashoko akanaka emufaro mukuru, uchava kuvanhu vose;

¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹¹nekuti mazvarirwa nhasi Muponesi, unova Kristu Ishe, muguta raDhavhidhi.

¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹²Zvino ichi chiratidzo kwamuri: Muchandowana mucheche akaputirwa nemicheka, avete muchidyiro.

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹³Uye pakarepo kukavapo pamwe nemutumwa chaunga chehondo yekudenga vachirumbidza Mwari, vachiti:

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁴Rumbidzo kuna Mwari kumusoro-soro, norugare panyika; chishuwo chakanaka kuvanhu.

¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁵Zvino kwakaitika kuti vatumwa vabva kwavari vaenda kudenga, vanhu vafudzi vakataurirana, vachiti: Ngatiende ikozvino Bhetirehemu, tinoona chinhu ichi chakaitika, Ishe chaatizivisa.

¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁶Zvino vakakurumidza kusvika, vakawana vose Maria naJosefa, nemucheche avete muchidyiro.

¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁷Vakati vaona, vakazivisa kose shoko ravakange vaudzwa maererano neucheche uyu.

¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁸Zvino vose vakanzwa vakashamisika nezvinhu zvakange zvataurwa kwavari nevafudzi.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

¹⁹Asi Maria wakachengeta zvinhu izvi zvose, achifungisisa mumoyo make.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

²⁰Zvino vafudzi vakadzokera, vachikudza nekurumbidza Mwari pamusoro pezvinhu zvose zvavakange vanzwa nekuona, sezvakange zvataurwa kwavari.

²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²¹Mazuva masere akati apera kuti mucheche adzingiswe, zita rake ndokunzi Jesu, raakange atumidzwa nemutumwa asati agamuchirwa mudumbu.

²²And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

²²Zvino mazuva ekunatswa kwake nemurairo waMozisi akati apera, vakauya naye kuJerusarema, kuti vamukumikidze kuna Ishe,

²³(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

²³(sezvazvakanyorwa pamurairo waIshe kuti: Chirume chose chinozarura chizvaro, chichanzi chitsvene kuna Ishe),

²⁴And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

²⁴uye vabayire chibayiro sezvazvakarehwa pamurairo waIshe, hangaiwa mbiri, kana njiva mbiri duku.

²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

²⁵Zvino tarira, kwakange kune munhu muJerusarema, zita rake raiva Simioni, ndiyewo munhu waiva akarurama akazvipira kushumira Mwari, akamirira kunyaradzwa kwaIsraeri, neMweya Mutsvene wakange uri pamusoro pake.

²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

²⁶Zvino zvakange zvaratidzwa kwaari neMweya Mutsvene, kuti haangaoni rufu asati aona Kristu waIshe.

²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

²⁷Wakapinda mutembere neMweya; zvino vabereki vakati vachiuisa mucheche Jesu, kuti vaite pamusoro pake netsika yemurairo,

²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

²⁸iye akamutora mumaoko ake, akavonga Mwari, achiti:

²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

²⁹Tenzi, ikozvino regai muranda wenyu aende nerugare, seshoko renyu;

³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

³⁰nekuti meso angu aona ruponeso rwenyu,

³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

³¹rwamakagadzirira pamberi pezviso zvevanhu vose;

³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

³²chiedza chekuzarurira vahedheni, nekubwinya kwerudzi rwenyu Israeri.

³³And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

³³Josefa namai vake vakashamisika nezvinhu zvakarehwa pamusoro pake.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

³⁴Zino Simioni akavaropafadza, akati kuna Maria mai vake: Tarira, uyu wakaisirwa kuwa nekumuka kwevazhinji kuna Israeri, nekuva chiratidzo chichapikiswa;

³⁵(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

³⁵uye newe, munondo uchapinda nemweya wako pachako; kuti ndangariro dzemoyo mizhinji dzifukurwe.

³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

³⁶Zvino kwakange kuna Ana muporofitakadzi, mukunda waFanueri, wedzinza raAsheri; wakange akwegura kwazvo, wakararama nemurume makore manomwe kubvira paumhandara hwake.

³⁷And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

³⁷Uye ari chirikadzi yemakore angava makumi masere nemana, wakange asingabvi mutembere, achishumira nemitsanyo neminyengetero usiku nemasikati.

³⁸And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

³⁸Naiye wakati achisvika nenguva iyoyo akatenda Mwari, akataura pamusoro pake kuna vose vakange vachitarisira kusunungurwa muJerusarema.

³⁹And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

³⁹Zvino vakati vapedza zvinhu zvose zvaienderana nemurairo waIshe, vakadzokera Garirea kuguta ravo Nazareta.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴⁰Mucheche akakura, akasimba mumweya, akazara nenjere; nenyasha dzaMwari dzakange dziri pamusoro pake.

⁴¹Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

⁴¹Zvino vabereki vake vaienda kuJerusarema makore ose pamutambo wepasika.

⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

⁴²Zvino wakati ava nemakore gumi nemaviri, vakakwira kuJerusarema zvichienderana netsika yemutambo,

⁴³And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

⁴³vakati mazuva apera, pakudzoka kwavo, mwana Jesu akasara kuJerusarema, asi Josefa namai vake vasingazvizivi,

⁴⁴But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

⁴⁴asi vaimufungira kuva mune vamwe vevakange vachifamba navo, vakafamba mufambo wezuva, vakazomutsvaka pakati pehama nekuvazikanwi.

⁴⁵And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

⁴⁵Asi vakati vasingamuwani, vakadzokera kuJerusarema vachimutsvaka.

⁴⁶And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

⁴⁶Zvino zvakaitika shure kwemazuva matatu, vakamuwana mutembere, agere pakati pavadzidzisi, achivateerera, achivabvunza.

⁴⁷And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

⁴⁷Vose vakange vachimunzwa vakavhiringidzika nekuziva nemhinduro dzake.

⁴⁸And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

⁴⁸Zvino vakati vamuona vakakatyamara; mai vake vakati kwaari: Mwana, waitirei zvakadai kwatiri? Tarira, baba vako neni tanga tichikutsvaka tichishungurudzika.

⁴⁹And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

⁴⁹Akati kwavari: Munonditsvaka sei? Manga musingazivi kuti ndinofanira kuva pazvinhu zvaBaba vangu here?

⁵⁰And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

⁵⁰Asi ivo havana kunzwisisa shoko raakataura kwavari.

⁵¹And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

⁵¹Zvino akaburuka navo, akasvika Nazareta; akazviisa pasi pavo. Asi mai vake vakachengeta mashoko iwayo ose mumoyo mavo.

⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

⁵²Jesu akawedzera panjere nekukura, nepakudiwa naMwari nevanhu.