Luka 1
1 Adamfo pa Teofilo, nnipa pii abɔ mmɔden akyerɛw Yesu ho nsɛm a akɔ so wɔ yɛn mu no.
To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,
2 Wɔkyerɛw faa nsɛm a wɔaka akyerɛ yɛn a nnipa a wohuu saa nneɛma yi fi mfiase no nam so daa no adi no ho.
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterward became bearers of the message.
3 Nanso minyaa adwene bi sɛ, sɛ mehwehwɛ nea wɔakyerɛw no nyinaa mu yiye na mekyerɛw brɛ wo a, eye.
And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,
4 Eyi bɛboa wo ma woahu nokware a ɛwɔ nea woasua no nyinaa mu.
in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.
5 Mede mʼasɛm no befi Yudafo sɔfo Sakaria a ɔtenaa ase wɔ Yudeahene Herode bere so a na ofi Abia asɔfokuw mu no so. Sakaria yere Elisabet nso, na ɔyɛ Aaron aseni.
In the reign of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 Na Sakaria ne ne yere Elisabet som Onyankopɔn nokware mu a wɔn ho nni asɛm wɔ Onyankopɔn anim.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 Na wonni ɔba, efisɛ na Elisabet yɛ obonin. Na wɔn baanu nyinaa nso anyinyin.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 Da bi a eduu Sakaria asɔfokuw so sɛ wɔyɛ asɔredan mu adwuma no,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 wɔtow aba yii no sɛ, ɔnkɔhyew aduhuam wɔ ɔhyew afɔremuka no so.
it fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;
10 Saa bere no ara nso na asafo no rebɔ mpae wɔ adiwo hɔ sɛnea wɔtaa yɛ no.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Sakaria gu so rehyew aduhuam no, prɛko pɛ, Awurade bɔfo begyinaa afɔremuka no nkyɛn mu wɔ nifa so.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 Sakaria huu no no, ɔbɔɔ piriw na ne ho popoe.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 Nanso ɔsoro ɔbɔfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Sakaria, nsuro, Awurade Nyankopɔn ate wo mpaebɔ. Wo yere Elisabet bɛwo ɔbabarima na ɛsɛ sɛ woto ne din Yohane.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 Nʼawo bɛma wʼani agye na wo ho asɛpɛw wo. Saa ara na ɛbɛma nnipa bebree nso ani agye.
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 Ɔbɛyɛ ɔkɛse wɔ Awurade anim. Ɔrennom nsa biara da, na Honhom Kronkron bɛyɛ no ma afi ne na yam.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 Israelfo pii nam nʼasɛnka so benya adwensakra asan aba Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn, nkyɛn.
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 Obenya Odiyifo Elia honhom ahoɔden no bi, na obedi Agyenkwa no ba no anim abesiesie nnipa ama ne ba a ɔbɛba no. Nʼasɛnka bɛma ntease aba agyanom ne wɔn mma ntam. Na ɔbɛdan Awurade asɛm no ho asoɔdenfo adwene akɔ Awurade pɛ ho.”
He will go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18 Sakaria buaa ɔbɔfo no se, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na eyi aba mu? Mabɔ akwakoraa na me yere nso abɔ aberewa.”
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 Ɔbɔfo no kae se, “Mene Gabriel a migyina Onyankopɔn anim daa no. Ɔno na ɔsomaa me se memmɛka asɛmpa yi nkyerɛ wo.
“I am Gabriel,” the angel answered, “who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 Esiane sɛ woagye akyinnye nti, wobɛtɔ mum akosi sɛ wɔbɛwo abofra no. Na nea maka akyerɛ wo yi nyinaa bɛba mu pɛpɛɛpɛ wɔ ne bere a ɛsɛ mu.”
And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.”
21 Saa bere yi nyinaa na asafo mma no retwɛn Sakaria sɛ ɔbɛba. Na ɛyɛ wɔn nwonwa sɛ wakyɛ saa.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 Bere a ɔbae no, wantumi ankasa ankyerɛ asafomma no. Wohu fii ne nneyɛe mu sɛ wahu nʼani so ade wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ.
When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 Owiee nʼasɔfodwuma wɔ asɔredan mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ fie.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 Nna bi akyi no, ne yere Elisabet nyinsɛnee, na ɔde ne ho siee asram anum.
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 Ɔde anigye kae se, “Awurade ayɛ me adɔe. Wayi animguase a ɛkaa me wɔ nnipa anim no afi me so.”
“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.”
26 Elisabet nyinsɛn asram asia no, Onyankopɔn somaa ɔbɔfo Gabriel kɔɔ Galilea akuraa bi a wɔfrɛ no Nasaret no ase
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 se, ɔnkɔ ɔbea kronkron bi a wɔfrɛ no Maria a na wɔde no ama Yosef a ofi Ɔhene Dawid abusua mu no aware no nkyɛn.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 Gabriel huu no ara pɛ, ɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Asomdwoe nka wo! Awurade ka wo ho, wo a Awurade adom wo.”
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favor – the Lord is with you.”
29 Ɔbɔfo no asɛm no maa Maria adwene mu yɛɛ no nnaa ma obisaa ne ho se, “Na saa nkyia yi ase ne dɛn?”
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 Ɔbɔfo no san ka kyerɛɛ Maria bio se, “Maria, nsuro, efisɛ Awurade adom wo.
when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Tie! Ɛrenkyɛ biara wubenyinsɛn na woawo ɔbabarima na woato ne din Yesu.
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 Ɔbɛyɛ ɔkɛse, na wɔbɛfrɛ no Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn Ba. Na Awurade de ne nena Dawid ahengua no bɛma no.
The child will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Maria bisaa ɔbɔfo no se, “Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mawo wɔ bere a ɔbarima nhuu me da?”
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 Ɔbɔfo no buae se, “Honhom Kronkron bɛba wo so na Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn tumi abɛkata wo so, eyi nti abofra a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ kronkron na wɔbɛfrɛ no Onyankopɔn Ba.
“The Holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’
36 Ɛbɛyɛ asram asia ni a wo busuani Elisabet mpo a ɔyɛ obonin anyinsɛn ɔbabarima wɔ ne mmerewabere mu.
And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;
37 Efisɛ Onyankopɔn de, biribiara nso no yɛ.”
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.”
38 Maria kae se, “Me de, meyɛ Awurade afenaa. Nea Awurade pɛ na ɛnyɛ.” Afei, ɔbɔfo no gyaw no hɔ kɔe.
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary. “Let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 Nna kakra bi akyi no, Maria kɔɔ Yudea mmepɔw so kurow bi mu.
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 Saa kurow no mu na Sakaria te. Oduu kurow no mu hɔ no, ɔkɔɔ Sakaria fi kɔsraa Elisabet. Okyiaa no.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Elisabet tee Maria nkyia no, ɔba a ɔda ne yam no kekaa ne ho; amono mu hɔ ara na Honhom Kronkron hyɛɛ Elisabet ma.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 Elisabet de ahosɛpɛw teɛɛ mu se, “Maria, wɔahyira wo sen mmea nyinaa, na wo ba a wobɛwo no no bɛyɛ onipa kɛse.
and cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 Anuonyam bɛn na ɛsen eyi. Me sɛɛ ne hena a anka mʼAwurade bɛba abɛsra me?
But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Wukyiaa me pɛ, na abofra no de anigye kekaa ne ho.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 Nhyira nka wo sɛ wugye dii sɛ nea Onyankopɔn aka no ɔbɛyɛ; ɛno nti na wɔadom wo yi.”
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 Maria kae se, “Me kra kamfo Awurade.
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 Na me honhom ani gye mʼagyenkwa Nyankopɔn mu;
and my spirit delights in God my Savior,
48 efisɛ wahu nʼafenaa mmɔborɔni mmɔbɔ, na efi nnɛ, awo ntoatoaso nyinaa bɛfrɛ me nea Onyankopɔn ahyira no.
for he has looked with favor on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 Efisɛ Ɔkronkronni Tumfo no ayɛ ade kɛse ama me;
“For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 nʼahummɔbɔ fi awo ntoatoaso kosi awo ntoatoaso ma wɔn a wosuro no na wodi no ni no nyinaa.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 Ɔde ne nsa a tumi wɔ mu no abɔ ahomasofo ne ahantanfo ne wɔn nsusuwii apete.
“Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 Watu abirɛmpɔn ade so ama ahobrɛasefo so.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 Wama wɔn a ahia wɔn no nnepa na wagya ahonyafo kwan nsapan.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 Waboa nʼakoa Israel na ne werɛ amfi ne mmɔborɔhunu ne ne bɔ
“He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 Maria tenaa Elisabet nkyɛn bɛyɛ asram abiɛsa ansa na ɔresan akɔ ne kurom.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Elisabet awo duu so no, ɔwoo ɔbabarima.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 Nʼafipamfo ne nʼabusuafo tee adɔe a Awurade ayɛ no no, wɔne no nyinaa de anigye dii ahurusi.
and her neighbors and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 Eduu nnaawɔtwe no, abusuafo ne adɔfo behyiaa sɛ wɔrebetwa abofra no twetia na wɔato ne din. Wɔpɛɛ sɛ wɔde abofra no to nʼagya Sakaria.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 Nanso ne na kae se, “Dabi! Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔfrɛ no Yohane.”
when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”
61 Wɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Obiara nni abusua yi mu a wɔfrɛ no saa.”
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 Eyi ma wɔde wɔn nsa yɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bisaa nʼagya, din a wɔmfa nto abofra no.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 Sakaria ma wɔde krataa brɛɛ no na ɔkyerɛw so se, “Ne din de Yohane.” Eyi yɛɛ wɔn nyinaa nwonwa.
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was surprised
64 Amono mu hɔ ara, Sakaria tumi kasaa bio, na ofii ase yii Onyankopɔn ayɛ.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 Wɔn a wɔtee nyinaa ho dwiriw wɔn, na saa asɛm yi trɛw faa Yudea mmepɔw so hɔ nyinaa.
All their neighbors were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 Obiara a ɔtee saa nsɛm yi bisaa ne ho se, “Ɛno de, na dɛn na abofra yi rebenyin ayɛ? Ɛda adi pefee sɛ Awurade nsa wɔ ne so.”
All who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another – “What can this child be destined to become?” For the Power of the Lord was with him.
67 Honhom hyɛɛ nʼagya Sakaria ma ma ɔhyɛɛ nkɔm se,
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 “Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, sɛ waba abegye ne manfo.
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 Ɔde Agyenkwa Tumfo a ɔyɛ ne somfo Dawid aseni rebrɛ yɛn,
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 sɛ, ɔbɛma yɛn Agyenkwa a obegye yɛn afi yɛn atamfo ne wɔn a wokyi yɛn no nsam no,
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 sɛ obehu yɛn agyanom mmɔbɔ na wakae nʼapam kronkron no,
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 ntam a ɔka kyerɛɛ yɛn agya Abraham no:
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 sɛ obegye yɛn afi yɛn atamfo nsam no, na yɛasom no a osuro biara nni mu.
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 Na yɛn nkwa nna nyinaa mu, yɛayɛ kronkron ne atreneefo wɔ nʼanim.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 “Na wo, akokoaa yi, wɔbɛfrɛ wo Ɔsorosoroni no Odiyifo efisɛ wo na wubesiesie ɔkwan ama Agyenkwa no,
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 na wobɛkyerɛ ne manfo kwan a wɔnam bɔnefakyɛ so nya nkwa a enni awiei;
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 na eyinom nyinaa bɛba mu efisɛ Onyankopɔn mmɔborɔhunu a ɛdɔɔso no,
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 na ɛbɛma hann a efi ɔsoro abepue yɛn so ahyerɛn wɔn a wɔte sum ne owu sum mu no so, na akyerɛ yɛn kwan akɔ asomdwoe mu.”
to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 Abofra no nyinii na honhom hyɛɛ no ma; ɔtenaa sare so kosii bere a ofii nʼasɛnka adwuma ase.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
