Luka 3
1 Mʼchaka cha 15 mu ulamuliro wa Tiberiyo Kaisara, Pontiyo Pilato ali bwanamkubwa wa Yudeya, Herode ankalamulira ku Galileya, mʼbale wake Filipo ankalamulira ku Iturea ndi ku dera la Trakoniti, ndipo Lusaniyo ankalamulira ku Abilene.
When the Emperor Tiberius had been ruling [the Roman Empire] for 15 years, and while Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea [district], and Herod [Antipas] was ruling Galilee [district], and his brother Philip was ruling Iturea and Trachonitis [districts], and Lysanius was ruling Abilene [district],
2 Inalinso nthawi ya mkulu wa ansembe wa Anasi ndi Kayafa, pamene mawu a Mulungu anabwera kwa Yohane mwana wa Zakariya mʼchipululu.
and while Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests [in Jerusalem], God gave messages to Zechariah’s son John while he was living in the desolate region.
3 Iye anapita ku dziko lonse lozungulira mtsinje wa Yorodani, nalalikira ubatizo wa kulapa ndi kukhululukidwa kwa machimo.
[So] John went all over the area close to the Jordan [River]. He kept telling people, “If you want [God] to forgive you for your sins, you must (repent/turn away from your sinful behavior) [before you ask me] to baptize [you]!”
4 Monga analembera mʼbuku la Yesaya mneneri kuti: “Mawu a wofuwula mʼchipululu, konzani njira ya Ambuye, wongolani njira zake.
John was the one who [fulfilled] these words that had [been written] by the prophet Isaiah {that the prophet Isaiah had written} on a scroll [long ago]: In a desolate area, someone [SYN] will be heard shouting [to the people who pass by], “Prepare yourselves [to receive] the Lord when he comes! [Make yourselves ready so that you will be prepared when he comes], [just like people] straighten out the road [MET] [for an important official] [MET, DOU]!
5 Chigwa chilichonse chidzadzazidwa ndipo phiri lililonse ndi mtunda uliwonse zidzasalazidwa, misewu yokhotakhota idzawongoledwa, ndi njira zosasalala zidzasalazidwa.
[Just like people] level off all the places where the land rises and [just like they] fill all the ravines, and [just like people] make the road straight wherever it is crooked, and [just like people] make smooth the bumps in the road, [similarly you need to remove all the obstacles which prevent God from blessing you]!
6 Ndipo anthu onse adzaona chipulumutso cha Mulungu.”
Then people [SYN] everywhere will understand how God can save [MTY] [people].”
7 Yohane anati kwa magulu a anthu amene amabwera kudzabatizidwa ndi iye, “Ana anjoka inu! Anakuchenjezani ndani kuti muthawe mkwiyo umene ukubwera?
Although large groups of people came to John to be baptized {in order that he would baptize them}, [he knew that many of them were not sincere]. So he kept saying to them, “You [people are evil] [MET] [like] poisonous snakes! [I] warn you that [God] will some day punish [MTY] [everyone] who sins. And (do not think that you can escape [from his punishing] [MTY] [you if you do not turn from your sinful behavior!/did someone tell you] that you can escape [from his punishing] [MTY] [you if you do not turn from your sinful behavior]?) [RHQ] (OR, Who told you that you could escape [God’s punishment?])
8 Onetsani zipatso zakutembenuka mtima, ndipo musamanene mwa inu nokha kuti, ‘Tili nalo kholo lathu Abrahamu,’ pakuti ndikuwuzani kuti kuchokera ku miyala iyi, Mulungu akhoza kumuwutsira Abrahamuyo ana.
Do what is appropriate for people who have truly turned from their sinful behavior! [God promised to give Abraham many] descendants. In order to fulfill that promise, God does not need you! I tell you that he can change these stones to make them descendants of Abraham! So do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We [(exc)] are descendants of Abraham, [so God will not punish us, even though we have] sinned!’
9 Nkhwangwa ili kale pa muzu wamitengo, ndipo mtengo uliwonse umene subala chipatso chabwino udzadulidwa ndi kuponyedwa pa moto.”
[God is ready to punish you if you do not turn away from your sinful behavior, just like a man] [MET] lays his axe at the roots [of a fruit] tree [to chop it down and throw it into the fire if it does not produce good fruit] [MET].”
10 Gulu la anthuwo linafunsa kuti, “Nanga tsono tichite chiyani?”
[Then] various ones in the crowd asked John, “What shall we [(exc)] do [to escape God punishing us] (OR), [to show that we have repented]?”
11 Yohane anayankha kuti, “Munthu amene ali ndi malaya awiri apatseko amene alibe, ndi amene ali ndi chakudya achitenso chimodzimodzi.”
He answered them, “If any of you has two shirts, you should give one of them to someone who has no shirt. If any of you has [plenty of] food, you should give some to those who have no food.”
12 Amisonkho nawonso anabwera kudzabatizidwa. Iwo anafunsa kuti, “Aphunzitsi, ife tichite chiyani?”
[Some] tax collectors came [and asked] to be baptized ([asked him] to baptize them}. They asked him, “Teacher, what shall we [(exc)] do [to please God]?”
13 Iye anawawuza kuti, “Musalandire moposa zimene muyenera.”
He said to them, “Do not take from the people any more money than [the Roman government] tells you to take!”
14 Kenaka asilikali ena anamufunsa kuti, “Nanga ife tichite chiyani?” Iye anayankha kuti, “Musamalande ndalama moopseza ndipo musamanamizire anthu, khutitsidwani ndi malipiro anu.”
Some soldiers asked him, “What about us? What should we [(exc)] do [to please God]?” He said to them, “Do not [say to anyone], ‘[If you(sg) do not give me] some money, I will hurt you,’ and do not take [people to court and] falsely accuse them of doing something wrong! And be content with your wages.”
15 Anthu ankadikira ndi chiyembekezo ndipo ankasinkhasinkha mʼmitima mwawo kuti mwina Yohane nʼkukhala Khristu.
People were expecting [that the Messiah would come soon]. Because of that, many of them wondered about John. [Some of them asked him] if he was the Messiah.
16 Yohane anayankha onse kuti, “Ine ndikubatizani ndi madzi. Koma wina wondiposa ine mphamvu adzabwera amene sindili woyenera kumasula lamba wa nsapato zake. Iyeyu adzakubatizani inu ndi Mzimu Woyera ndi moto.
John replied to them all, “No, [I am not]. I used [only] water when I baptized you. But [the Messiah] will soon come! He is far greater than I am. [He is so great that] I am not worthy to [be like his slave and] untie his sandals [MET] [like] a slave would do! He will put [his] Holy Spirit within [MTY] you [to truly change your lives], and [he will judge others of you and punish you in] the fire [MET] [in hell]. (questioned)
17 Mʼdzanja lake muli chopetera kuti ayeretse powomberapo tirigu ndi kusonkhanitsa tirigu ndipo adzatentha zotsalira zonse ndi moto wosazimitsika.”
He [is like a man] [MET] [who wants to] clear away the grain on the ground where it has been threshed {they have threshed it}. That man [uses] a huge fork [to throw the grain into the air] to separate the wheat from the chaff [MET], and then he cleans up the threshing area. [Similarly, God] will [separate righteous people from the evil people, like a man who] gathers the wheat into his storage area, and then he will burn [those who are like] chaff with a fire (that will never be put out/that will burn forever).”
18 Ndipo ndi mawu ena ambiri, Yohane anawachenjeza anthu ndi kuwalalikira Uthenga Wabwino.
John kept telling people many things to urge them [to turn to God], as he told them the good message [from God].
19 Koma pamene Yohane anadzudzula Herode wolamulirayo chifukwa chokwatira Herodia, mkazi wa mʼbale wake, ndi zoyipa zina zonse anazichita,
He also rebuked [the ruler of the district], Herod [Antipas. He rebuked him] for [marrying] Herodias, his brother’s wife, [while his brother was still alive], and for doing many other evil things.
20 Herode anawonjezanso choyipa ichi pa zonsezo: Anatsekera Yohane mʼndende.
But Herod [had his soldiers] put John in prison. That was another evil thing he did.
21 Pamene anthu onse ankabatizidwa, Yesu anabatizidwanso. Ndipo akupemphera, kumwamba kunatsekuka.
[But before John was put in prison], when many people were being baptized {when he was baptizing many people}, after Jesus was baptized {he baptized Jesus} and Jesus was praying, the sky opened.
22 Mzimu Woyera anatsika pa Iye mumaonekedwe a nkhunda ndipo mawu anamveka kuchokera kumwamba: “Iwe ndiwe Mwana wanga wokondedwa; ndimakondwera nawe.”
Then the Holy Spirit, resembling a dove, descended upon [Jesus]. And [God] [SYN/EUP] spoke to Jesus from heaven, saying, “You [(sg)] are my Son, whom I love dearly. I am very pleased with you!”
23 Ndipo Yesu anali ndi zaka makumi atatu pamene anayamba ntchito yake. Monga mmene anthu ankaganizira, Iyeyo anali mwana wa Yosefe, mwana wa Heli,
When Jesus began [his work for God], he was about 30 years old. It was {[People]} thought that he was [the son of] Joseph. [Joseph was the son] of Heli.
24 mwana wa Matate, mwana wa Levi, mwana wa Meliki, mwana wa Yaneyi, mwana wa Yosefe
[Heli was the son] of Matthat. [Matthat was the son] of Levi. [Levi was the son] of Melchi. [Melchi was the son] of Jannai. [Jannai was the son] of Joseph.
25 mwana wa Matati, mwana wa Amosi, mwana wa Naomi, mwana wa Esli, mwana wa Nagai,
[Joseph was the son] of Mattathias. [Mattathias was the son] of Amos. [Amos was the son] of Nahum. [Nahum was the son] of Esli. [Esli was the son] of Naggai.
26 mwana wa Maati, mwana wa Matatiyo, mwana wa Simeoni, mwana wa Yosefe, mwana wa Yoda
[Naggai was the son] of Maath. [Maath was the son] of Mattathias. [Mattathias was the son] of Semein. [Semein was the son] of Josech. [Josech was the son] of Joda.
27 mwana wa Yohanani, mwana wa Resa, mwana wa Zerubabeli, mwana wa Salatieli, mwana wa Neri,
[Joda was the son] of Joanan. [Joanan was the son] of Rhesa. [Rhesa was the son] of Zerubbabel. [Zerubbabel was the son] of Shealtiel. [Shealtiel was the son] of Neri.
28 mwana wa Meliki, mwana wa Adi, mwana wa Kosamu, mwana wa Elmadama, mwana wa Ere,
[Neri was the son] of Melchi. [Melchi was the son] of Addi. [Addi was the son] of Cosam. [Cosam was the son] of Elmadam. [Elmadam was the son] of Er.
29 mwana wa Jose, mwana wa Eliezara, mwana wa Yorimu, mwana wa Matati, mwana wa Levi,
[Er was the son] of Joshua. [Joshua was the son] of Eliezer. [Eliezer was the son] of Jorim. [Jorim was the son] of Matthat. [Matthat was the son] of Levi.
30 mwana wa Simeoni, mwana wa Yuda, mwana wa Yosefe, mwana wa Yonamu, mwana wa Eliakimu,
[Levi was the son] of Simeon. [Simeon was the son] of Judah. [Judah was the son] of Joseph. [Joseph was the son] of Jonam. [Jonam was the son] of Eliakim.
31 mwana wa Meleya, mwana wa Mena, mwana wa Matata, mwana wa Natani, mwana wa Davide,
[Eliakim was the son] of Melea. [Melea was the son] of Menna. [Menna was the son] of Mattatha. [Mattatha was the son] of Nathan. [Nathan was the son] of David.
32 mwana wa Yese, mwana wa Obedi, mwana wa Bowazi, mwana wa Salimoni, mwana wa Naasoni,
[David was the son] of Jesse. [Jesse was the son] of Obed. [Obed was the son] of Boaz. [Boaz was the son] of Sala. [Sala was the son] of Nahshon.
33 mwana wa Aminadabu, mwana wa Arni, mwana wa Hezronu, mwana wa Perezi, mwana wa Yuda,
[Nahshon was the son] of Amminadab. [Amminadab was the son] of Admin. [Admin was the son] of Arni. [Arni was the son] of Hezron. [Hezron was the son] of Perez. [Perez was the son] of Judah.
34 mwana wa Yakobo, mwana wa Isake, mwana wa Abrahamu, mwana wa Tera, mwana wa Nakoro,
[Judah was the son] of Jacob. [Jacob was the son] of Isaac. [Isaac was the son] of Abraham. [Abraham was the son] of Terah. [Terah was the son] of Nahor.
35 mwana wa Serugi, mwana wa Reu, mwana wa Pelegi, mwana wa Eberi, mwana wa Sela,
[Nahor was the son] of Serug. [Serug was the son] of Reu. [Reu was the son] of Peleg. [Peleg was the son] of Eber. [Eber was the son] of Shelah.
36 mwana wa Kainane, mwana wa Arfaksadi, mwana wa Semu, mwana wa Nowa, mwana wa Lameki,
[Shelah was the son] of Cainan. [Cainan was the son] of Arphaxad. [Arphaxad was the son] of Shem. [Shem was the son] of Noah. [Noah was the son] of Lamech.
37 mwana wa Metusela, mwana wa Enoki, mwana wa Yaredi mwana wa Malaleeli, mwana wa Kainane,
[Lamech was the son] of Methuselah. [Methuselah was the son] of Enoch. [Enoch was the son] of Jared. [Jared was the son] of Mahalalel. [Mahalalel was the son] of Cainan.
38 mwana wa Enosi, mwana wa Seti, mwana wa Adamu, mwana wa Mulungu.
[Cainan was the son] of Enos. [Enos was the son] of Seth. [Seth was the son] of Adam. [Adam was the man] God created.
