¹Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

¹Mheshimiwa Theofilo: Watu wengi wamejitahidi kuandika juu ya mambo yale yaliyotendeka kati yetu.

²Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

²Waliandika kama tulivyoelezwa na wale walioyaona kwa macho yao tangu mwanzo, na waliotangaza ujumbe huo.

³It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

³Inafaa nami pia, Mheshimiwa, baada ya kuchunguza kwa makini mambo yote tangu mwanzo, nikuandikie kwa mpango,

⁴That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

⁴ili nawe uweze kujionea mwenyewe ukweli wa mambo yale uliyofundishwa.

⁵THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁵Wakati Herode alipokuwa mfalme wa Yudea, kulikuwa na kuhani mmoja jina lake Zakaria, wa kikundi cha Abia. Mke wake alikuwa anaitwa Elisabeti, naye alikuwa wa ukoo wa kuhani Aroni.

⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

⁶Wote wawili walikuwa wanyofu mbele ya Mungu, wakiishi kwa kufuata amri na maagizo yote ya Bwana bila lawama.

⁷And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

⁷Lakini hawakuwa wamejaliwa watoto kwa vile Elisabeti alikuwa tasa, nao wote wawili walikuwa wazee sana.

⁸And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

⁸Siku moja, ilipokuwa zamu yake ya kutoa huduma ya ukuhani mbele ya Mungu,

⁹According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

⁹Zakariya alichaguliwa kwa kura, kama ilivyokuwa desturi, kuingia hekaluni ili afukize ubani.

¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

¹⁰Watu, umati mkubwa, walikuwa wamekusanyika nje wanasali wakati huo wa kufukiza ubani.

¹¹And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹¹Malaika wa Bwana akamtokea humo ndani, akasimama upande wa kulia wa madhabahu ya kufukizia ubani.

¹²And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹²Zakariya alipomwona alifadhaika, hofu ikamwingia.

¹³But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹³Lakini malaika akamwambia, "Zakariya, usiogope, kwa maana sala yako imesikilizwa, na Elisabeti mkeo atakuzalia mtoto wa kiume, nawe utampa jina Yohane.

¹⁴And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁴Utakuwa na furaha kubwa na watu wengi watashangilia kwa sababu ya kuzaliwa kwake.

¹⁵For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

¹⁵Atakuwa mkuu mbele ya Bwana. Hatakunywa divai wala kileo, atajazwa Roho Mtakatifu tangu tumboni mwa mama yake.

¹⁶And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁶Atawaelekeza wengi wa watu wa Israeli kwa Bwana Mungu wao.

¹⁷And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁷Atamtangulia Bwana akiongozwa na nguvu na roho kama Eliya. Atawapatanisha kina baba na watoto wao; atawafanya wasiotii wawe na fikira za uadilifu, na hivyo amtayarishie Bwana watu wake."

¹⁸And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁸Zakariya akamwambia huyo malaika, "Ni kitu gani kitakachonihakikishia jambo hilo? Mimi ni mzee, hali kadhalika na mke wangu."

¹⁹And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

¹⁹Malaika akamjibu, "Mimi ni Gabrieli, nisimamaye mbele ya Mungu, na nimetumwa niseme nawe, nikuletee hii habari njema.

²⁰And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²⁰Sikiliza, utakuwa bubu kwa sababu huyasadiki haya maneno yatakayotimia kwa wakati wake. Hutaweza kusema mpaka hayo niliyokuambia yatakapotimia."

²¹And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²¹Wakati huo, wale watu walikuwa wanamngoja Zakariya huku wakishangaa juu ya kukawia kwake Hekaluni.

²²And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

²²Alipotoka nje, hakuweza kusema nao. Ikawa dhahiri kwao kwamba alikuwa ameona maono Hekaluni. Lakini akawa anawapa ishara kwa mikono, akabaki bubu.

²³And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²³Zamu yake ya kuhudumu ilipokwisha, alirudi nyumbani.

²⁴And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁴Baadaye Elisabeti mkewe akapata mimba. Akajificha nyumbani kwa muda wa miezi mitano, akisema:

²⁵Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

²⁵"Hivi ndivyo alivyonitendea Bwana; ameniangalia na kuniondolea aibu niliyokuwa nayo mbele ya watu."

²⁶And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁶Mnamo mwezi wa sita, malaika Gabrieli alitumwa na Mungu aende kwenye mji uitwao Nazareti huko Galilaya,

²⁷To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

²⁷kwa msichana mmoja aitwaye Maria, mchumba wa mtu mmoja jina lake Yosefu, wa ukoo wa Daudi.

²⁸And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁸Malaika akamwendea, akamwambia, "Salamu Maria! Umejaliwa neema nyingi! Bwana yu pamoja nawe."

²⁹And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

²⁹Maria aliposikia maneno hayo alifadhaika sana, akawaza: maneno haya yanamaanisha nini?

³⁰And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

³⁰Malaika akamwambia, "Usiogope Maria, kwa maana Mungu amekujalia neema.

³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³¹Utachukua mimba, utamzaa mtoto wa kiume na utampa jina Yesu.

³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³²Yeye atakuwa mkuu na ataitwa Mwana wa Mungu Mkuu. Bwana Mungu atampa kiti cha mfalme Daudi, babu yake.

³³And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³³Kwa hivyo atautawala ukoo wa Yakobo milele, na ufalme wake hautakuwa na mwisho."

³⁴Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁴Maria akamjibu, "Yatawezekanaje hayo, hali mimi ni bikira?"

³⁵And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁵Malaika akamjibu, "Roho Mtakatifu atakushukia, na uwezo wake Mungu Mkuu utakujia kama kivuli; kwa sababu hiyo, mtoto atakayezaliwa ataitwa Mtakatifu, Mwana wa Mungu.

³⁶And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁶Ujue pia kwamba hata Elisabeti, jamaa yako, naye amepata mimba ingawa ni mzee, na sasa ni mwezi wa sita kwake yeye ambaye watu walimfahamu kuwa tasa.

³⁷For with God nothing shall be impossible.

³⁷Kwa maana hakuna jambo lisilowezekana kwa Mungu."

³⁸And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁸Maria akasema, "Mimi ni mtumishi wa Bwana, nitendewe kama ulivyosema." Kisha yule malaika akaenda zake.

³⁹And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

³⁹Siku kadhaa baadaye, Maria alifunga safari akaenda kwa haraka hadi mji mmoja ulioko katika milima ya Yuda.

⁴⁰And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴⁰Huko, aliingia katika nyumba ya Zakariya, akamsalimu Elisabeti.

⁴¹And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

⁴¹Mara tu Elisabeti aliposikia sauti ya Maria, mtoto mchanga tumboni mwake Elisabeti akaruka. Naye Elisabeti akajazwa Roho Mtakatifiu,

⁴²And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴²akasema kwa sauti kubwa, "Umebarikiwa kuliko wanawake wote, naye utakayemzaa amebarikiwa.

⁴³And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴³Mimi ni nani hata mama wa Bwana wangu afike kwangu?

⁴⁴For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁴Nakwambia, mara tu niliposikia sauti yako, mtoto mchanga tumboni mwangu aliruka kwa furaha.

⁴⁵And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⁴⁵Heri yako wewe uliyesadiki kwamba yatatimia yale Bwana aliyokwambia."

⁴⁶And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁶Naye Maria akasema,

⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁷"Moyo wangu wamtukuza Bwana, roho yangu inafurahi kwa sababu ya Mungu Mwokozi wangu.

⁴⁸For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁸Kwa kuwa amemwangalia kwa huruma mtumishi wake mnyenyekevu. Hivyo tangu sasa watu wote wataniita mwenye heri.

⁴⁹For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

⁴⁹Kwa kuwa Mwenyezi Mungu amenitendea makuu, jina lake ni takatifu.

⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

⁵⁰Huruma yake kwa watu wanaomcha hudumu kizazi hata kizazi.

⁵¹He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵¹Amefanya mambo makuu kwa mkono wake: amewatawanya wenye kiburi katika mawazo ya mioyo yao;

⁵²He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

⁵²amewashusha wenye nguvu kutoka vitu vyao vya enzi, akawakweza wanyenyekevu.

⁵³He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵³Wenye njaa amewashibisha mema, matajiri amewaacha waende mikono mitupu.

⁵⁴He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

⁵⁴Amemsaidia Israeli mtumishi wake, akikumbuka huruma yake.

⁵⁵As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁵Kama alivyowaahidia wazee wetu Abrahamu na wazawa wake hata milele."

⁵⁶And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁶Maria alikaa na Elisabeti kwa muda upatao miezi mitatu, halafu akarudi nyumbani kwake.

⁵⁷Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁷Wakati wa kujifungua kwake Elisabeti ulifika, akajifungua mtoto wa kiume.

⁵⁸And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁸Jirani na watu wa jamaa yake walipopata habari kwamba Bwana amemwonea huruma kubwa, walifurahi pamoja naye.

⁵⁹And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁵⁹Halafu siku ya nane walifika kumtahiri mtoto, wakataka kumpa jina la baba yake, Zakariya.

⁶⁰And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

⁶⁰Lakini mama yake akasema, "La, sivyo, bali ataitwa Yohane."

⁶¹And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

⁶¹Wakamwambia, "Mbona hakuna yeyote katika ukoo wake mwenye jina hilo?"

⁶²And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

⁶²Basi, wakamwashiria baba yake wapate kujua alitaka mtoto wake apewe jina gani.

⁶³And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

⁶³Naye akaomba kibao cha kuandikia, akaandika hivi: "Yohane ndilo jina lake." Wote wakastaajabu.

⁶⁴And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

⁶⁴Papo hapo midomo na ulimi wake Zakariya vikafunguliwa, akawa anaongea akimsifu Mungu.

⁶⁵And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

⁶⁵Hofu ikawaingia jirani wote, na habari hizo zikaenea kila mahali katika milima ya Yudea.

⁶⁶And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁶Wote waliosikia mambo hayo waliyatafakari mioyoni mwao wakisema: "Mtoto huyu atakuwa mtu wa namna gani?" Maana, hakika nguvu ya Bwana ilikuwa pamoja naye.

⁶⁷And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁷Zakariya, baba yake mtoto, akajazwa Roho Mtakatifu, akatamka ujumbe wa Mungu:

⁶⁸Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

⁶⁸"Asifiwe Bwana Mungu wa Israeli, kwani amekuja kuwasaidia na kuwakomboa watu wake.

⁶⁹And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

⁶⁹Ametupatia Mwokozi shujaa, mzawa wa Daudi mtumishi wake.

⁷⁰As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

⁷⁰Aliahidi hapo kale kwa njia ya manabii wake watakatifu,

⁷¹That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

⁷¹kwamba atatuokoa mikononi mwa adui zetu na kutoka mikononi mwa wote wanaotuchukia.

⁷²To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

⁷²Alisema atawahurumia wazee wetu, na kukumbuka agano lake takatifu.

⁷³The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

⁷³Kiapo alichomwapia Abrahamu baba yetu, ni kwamba atatujalia sisi

⁷⁴That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

⁷⁴tukombolewe kutoka adui zetu, tupate kumtumikia bila hofu,

⁷⁵In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

⁷⁵kwa unyofu na uadilifu mbele yake, siku zote za maisha yetu.

⁷⁶And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

⁷⁶Nawe mwanangu, utaitwa, nabii wa Mungu Mkuu, utamtangulia Bwana kumtayarishia njia yake;

⁷⁷To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

⁷⁷kuwatangazia watu kwamba wataokolewa kwa kuondolewa dhambi zao.

⁷⁸Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

⁷⁸Mungu wetu ni mpole na mwenye huruma. Atasababisha pambazuko angavu la ukombozi litujie kutoka juu,

⁷⁹To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

⁷⁹na kuwaangazia wote wanaokaa katika giza kuu la kifo, aongoze hatua zetu katika njia ya amani."

⁸⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

⁸⁰Mtoto akakua, akapata nguvu rohoni. Alikaa jangwani mpaka alipojionyesha rasmi kwa watu wa Israeli.