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

¹Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

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

²This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

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

³All went to enroll themselves, everyone to 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.

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

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

⁵to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶Walipokuwa huko, siku yake ya kujifungua ikawadia,

⁶It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.

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

⁷She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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

⁸There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

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

⁹Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

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

¹⁰The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

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

¹¹For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

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

¹²This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

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

¹³Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

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

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, 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."

¹⁵It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

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

¹⁶They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

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

¹⁷When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

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

¹⁸All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

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

¹⁹But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

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

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

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

²¹When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by 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.

²²When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up 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 who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), Exodus 13:2,12

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.” Leviticus 12:8

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.

²⁵Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

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

²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “Anointed One”

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

²⁷He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,

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

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

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

²⁹“Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;

³⁰Maana kwa macho yangu nimeuona wokovu utokao kwako,

³¹ambao umeutayarisha mbele ya watu wote:

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

³²a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

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

³³Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were 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 to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

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

³⁵Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, 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.

³⁶There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a 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 had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.

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

³⁸Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

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

³⁹When they had accomplished all things that were 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.

⁴⁰The child was growing, and was becoming strong 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.

⁴¹His parents went every year 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.

⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went 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 when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,

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

⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

⁴⁵Kwa kuwa hawakumwona, walirudi Yerusalemu wakimtafuta.

⁴⁵When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.

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

⁴⁶It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.

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

⁴⁷All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

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

⁴⁸When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”

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

⁴⁹He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

⁵⁰Lakini wazazi wake hawakuelewa maana ya maneno aliyowaambia.

⁵⁰They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke 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. He was subject to them, and 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 favor with God and men.