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

¹Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

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

²even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

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

³it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

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

⁴that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

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.

⁵There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

⁹according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

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

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

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

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

¹²Zakariya alipomwona alifadhaika, hofu ikamwingia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁵For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

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

¹⁶And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.

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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

²¹And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

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

²²And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

²³Zamu yake ya kuhudumu ilipokwisha, alirudi nyumbani.

²³And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

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

²⁴And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

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

²⁵Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon [me], to take away my reproach among men.

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

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

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

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

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

²⁸And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord [is] with thee.

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

²⁹But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

³⁵And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

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.

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

³⁷Kwa maana hakuna jambo lisilowezekana kwa Mungu."

³⁷For no word from God shall be void of power.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

⁴²and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.

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

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

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

⁴⁴For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

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

⁴⁵And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

⁴⁶Naye Maria akasema,

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

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

⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

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

⁴⁸For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

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

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

⁵⁰Huruma yake kwa watu wanaomcha hudumu kizazi hata kizazi.

⁵⁰And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

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

⁵¹He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

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

⁵²He hath put down princes from [their] thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

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

⁵³The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴Amemsaidia Israeli mtumishi wake, akikumbuka huruma yake.

⁵⁴He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

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

⁵⁵(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

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

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

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

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

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

⁵⁸And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

⁶⁴And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spake, blessing God.

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

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

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

⁶⁶And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

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

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

⁶⁸Blessed [be] the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

⁶⁹Ametupatia Mwokozi shujaa, mzawa wa Daudi mtumishi wake.

⁶⁹And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

⁷⁰Aliahidi hapo kale kwa njia ya manabii wake watakatifu,

⁷⁰(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

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

⁷¹Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

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

⁷²To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

⁷³Kiapo alichomwapia Abrahamu baba yetu, ni kwamba atatujalia sisi

⁷³The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,

⁷⁴tukombolewe kutoka adui zetu, tupate kumtumikia bila hofu,

⁷⁴To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

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

⁷⁵In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

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

⁷⁶Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

⁷⁷kuwatangazia watu kwamba wataokolewa kwa kuondolewa dhambi zao.

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

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

⁷⁸Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

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

⁷⁹To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

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

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