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

¹And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled —

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

²this enrollment first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria —

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

³and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper 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, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David,

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

⁵to enroll himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with child.

⁶Walipokuwa huko, siku yake ya kujifungua ikawadia,

⁶And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth,

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 son — the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber.

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

⁸And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the field, and keeping the night-watches over their flock,

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

⁹and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a great fear.

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

¹⁰And the messenger said to them, `Fear not, for lo, I bring you good news of great joy, that shall be to all the people —

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

¹¹because there was born to you to-day a Saviour — who is Christ the Lord — in the city of David,

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

¹²and this [is] to you the sign: Ye shall find a babe wrapped up, lying in the manger.`

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

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

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

¹⁴`Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men — good will.`

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, when the messengers were gone away from them to the heavens, that the men, the shepherds, said unto one another, `We may go over indeed unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that hath come to pass, that the Lord did make known to us.`

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

¹⁶And they came, having hasted, and found both Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger,

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

¹⁷and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the child.

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

¹⁸And all who heard, did wonder concerning the things spoken by the shepherds unto them;

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

¹⁹and Mary was preserving all these things, pondering 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 turned back, glorifying and praising God, for all those things they heard and saw, as it was spoken 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 fulfilled to circumcise the child, then was his name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before his being 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 their purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present to the Lord,

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

²³as it hath been written in the Law of the Lord, — `Every male opening a 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 give a sacrifice, according to that said in the Law of the Lord, `A pair of turtle-doves, 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 lo, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [is] Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him,

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

²⁶and it hath been divinely told him by the Holy Spirit — not to see death before he may see the Christ of the Lord.

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 in the Spirit to the temple, and in the parents bringing in the child Jesus, for their doing according to the custom of the law regarding him,

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

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

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

²⁹`Now Thou dost send away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace,

³⁰Maana kwa macho yangu nimeuona wokovu utokao kwako,

³⁰because mine eyes did see Thy salvation,

³¹ambao umeutayarisha mbele ya watu wote:

³¹which Thou didst prepare before the face of all the peoples,

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

³²a light to the uncovering of nations, 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 were wondering at the things spoken concerning 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, `Lo, this [one] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against —

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

³⁵(and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) — that the reasonings 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 Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having 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 [is] a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, 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, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the Lord, and was speaking concerning him, to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

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

³⁹And when they finished all things, according to the Law of the Lord, they turned back to Galilee, to their city Nazareth;

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

⁴⁰and the child grew and was strengthened in spirit, being 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.

⁴¹And his parents were going yearly to Jerusalem, 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 became twelve years old, they having gone up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,

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

⁴³and having finished the days, in their returning the child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother did not know,

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

⁴⁴and, having supposed him to be in the company, they went a day`s journey, and were seeking him among the kindred and among the acquaintances,

⁴⁵Kwa kuwa hawakumwona, walirudi Yerusalemu wakimtafuta.

⁴⁵and not having found him, they turned back to Jerusalem seeking him.

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

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

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

⁴⁷and all those hearing 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, having seen him, they were amazed, and his mother said unto him, `Child, why didst thou thus to us? lo, thy father and I, sorrowing, were seeking thee.`

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

⁴⁹And he said unto them, `Why [is it] that ye were seeking me? did ye not know that in the things of my Father it behoveth me to be?`

⁵⁰Lakini wazazi wake hawakuelewa maana ya maneno aliyowaambia.

⁵⁰and they did not understand the saying that he spake to 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 he was subject to them, and his mother was keeping all these sayings in her heart,

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

⁵²and Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour with God and men.