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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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:)

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

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

⁶Walipokuwa huko, siku yake ya kujifungua ikawadia,

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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;

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

³⁰Maana kwa macho yangu nimeuona wokovu utokao kwako,

³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

³¹ambao umeutayarisha mbele ya watu wote:

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

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

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

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

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

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;

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;

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

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

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.

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;

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

⁴⁵Kwa kuwa hawakumwona, walirudi Yerusalemu wakimtafuta.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

⁵⁰Lakini wazazi wake hawakuelewa maana ya maneno aliyowaambia.

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

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

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.

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

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