¹But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.

¹Siku zile, tangazo rasmi lilitolewa na Kaisari Augusto kuwataka watu wote chini ya utawala wake wajiandikishe.

²The census itself first took place when Cyrenius had the government of Syria.

²Kuandikishwa huku kulikuwa mara ya kwanza, wakati Kirenio alipokuwa mkuu wa mkoa wa Siria.

³And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city:

³Basi, wote waliohusika walikwenda kujiandikisha, kila mtu katika mji wake.

⁴and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David's city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁴Yosefu pia alifanya safari kutoka mjini Nazareti mkoani Galilaya. Kwa kuwa alikuwa wa jamaa na ukoo wa Daudi alikwenda mjini Bethlehemu mkoani Yuda alikozaliwa Mfalme Daudi.

⁵to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him [as his] wife, she being great with child.

⁵Alikwenda kujiandikisha pamoja na mchumba wake Maria ambaye alikuwa mja mzito.

⁶And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth [to her child] were fulfilled,

⁶Walipokuwa huko, siku yake ya kujifungua ikawadia,

⁷and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁷akajifungua mtoto wake wa kwanza wa kiume, akamvika nguo za kitoto, akamlaza horini kwa sababu hawakupata nafasi katika nyumba ya wageni.

⁸And there were shepherds in that country abiding without, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

⁸Katika sehemu hizo, walikuwako wachungaji wakikesha usiku mbugani kulinda mifugo yao.

⁹And lo, an angel of [the] Lord was there by them, and [the] glory of [the] Lord shone around them, and they feared [with] great fear.

⁹Malaika wa Bwana akawatokea ghafla, na utukufu wa Bwana ukawaangazia pande zote. Wakaogopa sana.

¹⁰And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people;

¹⁰Malaika akawaambia, "Msiogope! Nimewaleteeni habari njema ya furaha kuu kwa watu wote.

¹¹for to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ [the] Lord.

¹¹Kwa maana, leo hii katika mji wa Daudi, amezaliwa Mwokozi kwa ajili yenu, ndiye Kristo Bwana.

¹²And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger.

¹²Na hiki kitakuwa kitambulisho kwenu: mtamkuta mtoto mchanga amevikwa nguo za kitoto, amelazwa horini."

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

¹³Mara kundi kubwa la jeshi la mbinguni likajiunga na huyo malaika, wakamsifu Mungu wakisema:

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

¹⁴"Utukufu kwa Mungu juu mbinguni, na amani duniani kwa watu aliopendezwa nao!"

¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

¹⁵Baada ya hao malaika kuondoka na kurudi mbinguni, wachungaji wakaambiana: "Twendeni moja kwa moja mpaka Bethlehemu tukalione tukio hili Bwana alilotujulisha."

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

¹⁶Basi, wakaenda mbio, wakamkuta Maria na Yosefu na yule mtoto mchanga amelazwa horini.

¹⁷and having seen [it] they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child.

¹⁷Hao wachungaji walipomwona mtoto huyo wakawajulisha wote habari waliyokuwa wamesikia juu yake.

¹⁸And all who heard [it] wondered at the things said to them by the shepherds.

¹⁸Wote waliosikia hayo walishangaa juu ya habari walizoambiwa na wachungaji.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these things [in her mind], pondering [them] in her heart.

¹⁹Lakini Maria aliyaweka na kuyatafakari mambo hayo yote moyoni mwake.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.

²⁰Wale wachungaji walirudi makwao huku wakimtukuza na kumsifu Mungu kwa yote waliyokuwa wamesikia na kuona; yote yalikuwa kama walivyokuwa wameambiwa.

²¹And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was the name given by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb.

²¹Siku nane baadaye, wakati wa kumtahiri mtoto ulipofika, walimpa jina Yesu, jina ambalo alikuwa amepewa na malaika kabla hajachukuliwa mimba.

²²And when the days were fulfilled for their purifying according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem to present [him] to the Lord

²²Siku zilipotimia za Yosefu na Maria kutakaswa kama walivyotakiwa na Sheria ya Mose, wazazi hao walimchukua mtoto, wakaenda naye Yerusalemu ili wamweke mbele ya Bwana.

²³(as it is written in the law of [the] Lord: Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),

²³Katika Sheria ya Bwana imeandikwa: "Kila mzaliwa wa kwanza wa kiume atawekwa wakfu kwa Bwana."

²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of [the] Lord: A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.

²⁴Pia walikwenda ili watoe sadaka: hua wawili au makinda wawili ya njiwa, kama ilivyotakiwa katika Sheria ya Bwana.

²⁵And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and pious, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and [the] Holy Spirit was upon him.

²⁵Wakati huo huko Yerusalemu kulikuwa na mtu mmoja, mwema na mcha Mungu, jina lake Simeoni. Yeye alikuwa akitazamia kwa hamu ukombozi wa Israeli. Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa pamoja naye.

²⁶And it was divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he should see [the] Lord's Christ.

²⁶Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa amemhakikishia kwamba hatakufa kabla ya kumwona Masiha wa Bwana.

²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and as the parents brought in the child Jesus that they might do for him according to the custom of the law,

²⁷Basi, akiongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu, Simeoni aliingia Hekaluni; na wazazi wa Yesu walipomleta Hekaluni mtoto wao ili wamfanyie kama ilivyotakiwa na Sheria,

²⁸*he* received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

²⁸Simeoni alimpokea mtoto Yesu mikononi mwake huku akimtukuza Mungu na kusema:

²⁹Lord, now thou lettest thy bondman go, according to thy word, in peace;

²⁹"Sasa Bwana, umetimiza ahadi yako, waweza kumruhusu mtumishi wako aende kwa amani.

³⁰for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

³⁰Maana kwa macho yangu nimeuona wokovu utokao kwako,

³¹which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;

³¹ambao umeutayarisha mbele ya watu wote:

³²a light for revelation of [the] Gentiles and [the] glory of thy people Israel.

³²Mwanga utakaowaangazia watu wa mataifa, na utukufu kwa watu wako Israeli."

³³And his father and mother wondered at the things which were said concerning him.

³³Baba na mama yake Yesu walikuwa wakistaajabia maneno aliyosema Simeoni juu ya mtoto.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Lo, this [child] is set for the fall and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against;

³⁴Simeoni akawabariki, akamwambia Maria mama yake, "Mtoto huyu atakuwa sababu ya kupotea na kuokoka kwa watu wengi katika Israeli. Naye atakuwa ishara itakayopingwa na watu;

³⁵(and even a sword shall go through thine own soul;) so that [the] thoughts may be revealed from many hearts.

³⁵na hivyo mawazo ya watu wengi yataonekana wazi. Nawe mwenyewe, uchungu ulio kama upanga mkali utauchoma moyo wako."

³⁶And there was a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of [the] tribe of Asher, who was far advanced in years, having lived with [her] husband seven years from her virginity,

³⁶Palikuwa na nabii mmoja mwanamke, mzee sana, jina lake Ana, binti Fanueli, wa kabila la Asheri. Alikuwa ameishi na mumewe kwa miaka saba tangu alipoolewa.

³⁷and herself a widow up to eighty-four years; who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers;

³⁷Halafu alibaki mjane hadi wakati huo akiwa mzee wa miaka themanini na minne. Wakati huo wote alikaa Hekaluni akifunga na kusali usiku na mchana.

³⁸and she coming up the same hour gave praise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem.

³⁸Saa hiyohiyo alijitokeza mbele, akamshukuru Mungu, na akaeleza habari za huyo mtoto kwa watu wote waliokuwa wanatazamia ukombozi wa Yerusalemu.

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

³⁹Hao wazazi walipokwisha fanya yote yaliyoamriwa na Sheria ya Bwana, walirudi makwao Nazareti, mkoani Galilaya.

⁴⁰And the child grew and waxed strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom, and God's grace was upon him.

⁴⁰Mtoto akakua, akazidi kupata nguvu, akajaa hekima, na neema ya Mungu ilikuwa pamoja naye.

⁴¹And his parents went yearly to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.

⁴¹Wazazi wa Yesu walikuwa na desturi ya kwenda Yerusalemu kila mwaka wakati wa sikukuu ya Pasaka.

⁴²And when he was twelve years old, and they went up [to Jerusalem] according to the custom of the feast

⁴²Mtoto alipokuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na miwili, wote walikwenda kwenye sikukuu hiyo kama ilivyokuwa desturi.

⁴³and had completed the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents knew not [of it];

⁴³Baada ya sikukuu, walianza safari ya kurudi makwao, lakini Yesu alibaki Yerusalemu bila wazazi wake kuwa na habari.

⁴⁴but, supposing him to be in the company that journeyed together, they went a day's journey, and sought him among their relations and acquaintances:

⁴⁴Walidhani alikuwa pamoja na kundi la wasafiri, wakaenda mwendo wa kutwa, halafu wakaanza kumtafuta miongoni mwa jamaa na marafiki.

⁴⁵and not having found him they returned to Jerusalem seeking him.

⁴⁵Kwa kuwa hawakumwona, walirudi Yerusalemu wakimtafuta.

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

⁴⁶Siku ya tatu walimkuta Hekaluni kati ya walimu, akiwasikiliza na kuwauliza maswali.

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

⁴⁷Wote waliosikia maneno yake walistaajabia akili yake na majibu yake ya hekima.

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

⁴⁸Wazazi wake walipomwona walishangaa. Maria, mama yake, akamwuliza, "Mwanangu, kwa nini umetutenda hivyo? Baba yako na mimi tumekuwa tukikutafuta kwa huzuni."

⁴⁹And he said to them, Why [is it] that ye have sought me? did ye not know that I ought to be [occupied] in my Father's business?

⁴⁹Yeye akawajibu, "Kwa nini mlinitafuta? Hamkujua kwamba inanipasa kuwa katika nyumba ya Baba yangu?"

⁵⁰And they understood not the thing that he said to them.

⁵⁰Lakini wazazi wake hawakuelewa maana ya maneno aliyowaambia.

⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was in subjection to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart.

⁵¹Basi, akarudi pamoja nao hadi Nazareti, akawa anawatii. Mama yake akaweka mambo hayo yote moyoni mwake.

⁵²And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

⁵²Naye Yesu akaendelea kukua katika hekima na kimo; akazidi kupendwa na Mungu na watu.