1
Siku zile amri ilitoka kwa Kaisari Augusto ya kwamba iandikwe orodha ya majina ya watu wote wa ulimwengu.
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
2
Orodha hii ndiyo ya kwanza iliyoandikwa hapo Kirenio alipokuwa liwali wa Shamu.
This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3
Watu wote wakaenda kuandikwa, kila mtu mjini kwao.
And everyone went to his own town to register.
4
Yusufu naye aliondoka Galilaya, toka mji wa Nazareti, akapanda kwenda Uyahudi mpaka mji wa Daudi, uitwao Bethlehemu, kwa kuwa yeye ni wa mbari na jamaa ya Daudi;
So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
5
ili aandikwe pamoja na Mariamu mkewe, ambaye amemposa, naye ana mimba.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
6
Ikawa, katika kukaa huko, siku zake za kuzaa zikatimia,
While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
7
akamzaa mwanawe, kifungua mimba, akamvika nguo za kitoto, akamlaza katika hori ya kulia ng'ombe, kwa sababu hawakupata nafasi katika nyumba ya wageni.
And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8
Na katika nchi ile ile walikuwako wachungaji wakikaa makondeni na kulinda kundi lao kwa zamu usiku.
And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
9
Malaika wa Bwana akawatokea ghafula, utukufu wa Bwana ukawang'aria pande zote, wakaingiwa na hofu kuu.
Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10
Malaika akawaambia, Msiogope; kwa kuwa mimi ninawaletea habari njema ya furaha kuu itakayokuwa kwa watu wote;
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
11
maana leo katika mji wa Daudi amezaliwa, kwa ajili yenu, Mwokozi, ndiye Kristo Bwana.
Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
12
Na hii ndiyo ishara kwenu; mtamkuta mtoto mchanga amevikwa nguo za kitoto, amelala katika hori ya kulia ng'ombe.
And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13
Mara walikuwapo pamoja na huyo malaika, wingi wa jeshi la mbinguni, wakimsifu Mungu, na kusema,
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
14
Atukuzwe Mungu juu mbinguni, Na duniani iwe amani kwa watu aliowaridhia.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
15
Ikawa, malaika hao walipoondoka kwenda zao mbinguni, wale wachungaji waliambiana, Haya, na twendeni mpaka Bethlehemu, tukalione hilo lililofanyika, alilotujulisha Bwana.
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16
Wakaenda kwa haraka wakamkuta Mariamu na Yusufu, na yule mtoto mchanga amelala horini.
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
17
Walipomwona wakatoa habari waliyoambiwa juu ya huyo mtoto.
After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.
18
Wote waliosikia wakastaajabu kwa hayo waliyoambiwa na wachungaji.
And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19
Lakini Mariamu akayaweka maneno hayo yote, akiyafikiri moyoni mwake.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20
Wale wachungaji wakarudi, huku wanamtukuza Mungu na kumsifu kwa mambo yote waliyosikia na kuyaona, kama walivyoambiwa.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
21
Hata zilipotumia siku nane za kumtahiri, aliitwa jina lake Yesu; kama alivyoitwa na malaika kabla hajachukuliwa mimba.
When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
22
Kisha, zilipotimia siku za kutakasika kwao, kama ilivyo torati ya Musa walikwenda naye hata Yerusalemu, wamweke kwa Bwana,
And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23
(kama ilivyoandikwa katika sheria ya Bwana, Kila mtoto mwanamume aliye kifungua mimba ya mamaye na aitwe mtakatifu kwa Bwana),
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),
24
wakatoe na sadaka, kama ilivyonenwa katika sheria ya Bwana, Hua wawili au makinda ya njiwa wawili.
and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25
Na tazama, pale Yerusalemu palikuwa na mtu, jina lake Simeoni, naye ni mtu mwenye haki, mcha Mungu, akiitarajia faraja ya Israeli; na Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa juu yake.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26
Naye alikuwa ameonywa na Roho Mtakatifu ya kwamba hataona mauti kabla ya kumwona Kristo wa Bwana.
The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27
Basi akaja hekaluni ameongozwa na Roho; na wale wazazi walipomleta mtoto Yesu ndani, ili wamfanyie kama ilivyokuwa desturi ya sheria,
Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,
28
yeye mwenyewe alimpokea mikononi mwake, akamshukuru Mungu, akisema,
Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
29
Sasa, Bwana, wamruhusu mtumishi wako, Kwa amani, kama ulivyosema;
“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
30
Kwa kuwa macho yangu yameuona wokovu wako,
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31
Uliouweka tayari machoni pa watu wote;
which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
32
Nuru ya kuwa mwangaza wa Mataifa, Na kuwa utukufu wa watu wako Israeli.
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
33
Na babaye na mamaye walikuwa wakiyastaajabia hayo yaliyonenwa juu yake.
The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
34
Simeoni akawabariki, akamwambia Mariamu mama yake, Tazama, huyu amewekwa kwa kuanguka na kuinuka wengi walio katika Israeli, na kuwa ishara itakayonenewa.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
35
Nawe mwenyewe, upanga utaingia moyoni mwako, ili yafunuliwe mawazo ya mioyo mingi.
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
36
Palikuwa na nabii mke, jina lake Ana, binti Fanueli, wa kabila ya Asheri, na umri wake ulikuwa miaka mingi, alikuwa amekaa na mume miaka saba baada ya uanawali wake.
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
37
Naye ni mjane wa miaka themanini na minne; haondoki katika hekalu, ila huabudu usiku na mchana kwa kufunga na kuomba.
and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38
Huyu alitokea saa ile ile akamshukuru Mungu, na wote waliokuwa wakiutarajia ukombozi katika Yerusalemu akawatolea habari zake.
Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39
Basi, walipokwisha kuyatimiza yote kama yalivyoagizwa katika sheria ya Bwana, walirejea Galilaya mpaka mjini kwao, Nazareti.
When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40
Yule mtoto akakua, akaongezeka nguvu, amejaa hekima, na neema ya Mungu ilikuwa juu yake.
And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
41
Basi, wazee wake huenda Yerusalemu kila mwaka, wakati wa sikukuu ya Pasaka.
Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.
42
Na alipopata umri wake miaka kumi na miwili, walipanda kama ilivyokuwa desturi ya sikukuu;
And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
43
na walipokwisha kuzitimiza siku, wakati wa kurudi kwao, yule mtoto Yesu alibaki nyuma huko Yerusalemu, na wazee wake walikuwa hawana habari.
When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.
44
Nao wakadhani ya kuwa yumo katika msafara; wakaenenda mwendo wa kutwa, wakawa wakimtafuta katika jamaa zao na wenzao;
Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
45
na walipomkosa, wakarejea Yerusalemu, huku wakimtafuta.
When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
46
Ikawa baada ya siku tatu wakamwona hekaluni, ameketi katikati ya waalimu, akiwasikiliza na kuwauliza maswali.
Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47
Nao wote waliomsikia walistaajabia fahamu zake na majibu yake.
And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
48
Na walipomwona walishangaa, na mama yake akamwambia, Mwanangu, mbona umetutenda hivi? Tazama, baba yako na mimi tulikuwa tukikutafuta kwa huzuni.
When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”
49
Akawaambia, Kwani kunitafuta? Hamkujua ya kuwa imenipasa kuwamo katika nyumba ya Baba yangu?
“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
50
Nao hawakuelewa na neno hilo alilowaambia.
But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.
51
Akashuka pamoja nao mpaka Nazareti, naye alikuwa akiwatii; na mamaye aliyaweka hayo yote moyoni mwake.
Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52
Naye Yesu akazidi kuendelea katika hekima na kimo, akimpendeza Mungu na wanadamu.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.