 | But
they had no children. It was God’s thought for them. [This
clarification was added to prevent the Oreo people from assuming that
Elizabeth’s relatives
had cursed her with barrenness because they had not received enough
bride price.] That is how they were until they had become old. 1:8-10. When it was time for Abia’s group to work in God’s house, during those days they appointed Zakaria to enter inside God’s house . . . for him to burn good smelling tree sap for God. … When it came time to do this, many people were outside praying to the Lord/Father. |
1:24-25. Not very long (after), then his wife Elisabet became pregnant. And then she stayed in the house for five months. She thought, “I {shouldn’t/won’t} tell them too soon. Let all recognize me (like this), ‘The Lord has had {pity/mercy} on her.’ Even though I am old, God is washing away my public shame for not having children.”
1:26-30. When Elisabeth was pregnant for six months, then God told his angel Gabriel to go to Nazaret, again in Galilea’s area. Gabriel was then sent to a young-unmarried girl who was being kept (to marry someone). She was named Maria and she was promised to Yusup. The ancestor of Yusup was King Daud. That angel then came to Maria and said, “Hello! You live in the place of God’s loving-kindness!” Then Maria was startled at hearing his words, and then she asked herself in her heart, questioning this, “Why did he say that?” But he said to her, “Don’t fear, Maria, because you are pleasing in God’s sight. You will become pregnant and will give birth to a son. Later name him Yesus. He will be {great/rule}, so He will be called, ‘Great God’s Son.’”
1:39-43. When that angel left her, not long after Maria then went somewhat {strongly/quickly} to a mountainous part of Jerusalem's region— to Zakaria and Elisabet's town. When she came to Zakaria’s house, she greeted Elisabet as she entered. When Elisabet heard Maria’s hello, the child inside her womb stronged [normal term for baby moving]. Then God’s Spirit entered down into Elisabet, and she said to Maria in a loud voice, “Over all women you are {seeing/finding} {blessing(s)/good}! And God will give blessing to your child. I am {small/unimportant}, but you, the Great Lord’s mother, have come to my house!” . . .
| 1:46-55: Maria then said, “I lift up the Lord, and my {heart/spirit} rejoices in God, because He saves me. . . . God, the Strong One, (even though) He is very {pure/holy}, He is doing big things for me. From generation to generation, to those who fear the Lord, He therefore gives his love to them repeatedly. . . . God made the hungry full with delicious things, but those who had no {wants/needs} before, to those he said, ‘Go away hungry.’ As he (repeatedly) promised to our ancestor Abraham and his children&grandchildren, (even) so He is now helping Israel. He promised like this, ‘My love for you is forever, it will not stop.’” He is remembering that now. |  |
2:1-7. At that time there was a very high king, who ruled very many lands from (the city of) Rome. He commanded for all men of his rule to be counted. This was the first counting, back when Kirenius was GUBERNOR of Siria’s area. [Words borrowed from the national language are in CAPs.] All people then went to their own ancestors’ village, to have their names written there. And then Yusup also went for that purpose from Nazaret in Galilea’s area, to Betlehem in Yudea’s area— where Raja [King] Daud was born long ago. For Yusuf’s ancestors were from Daud. His promised girl, Maria, was then pregnant. When they were not long at Betlehem, Maria then gave birth to a son— (her) first son. She wrapped that child in strips of cloth and laid him in a DOMBA-SAPI’s [sheep’s cow’s] eating basket. Because all of the houses were full just with people.
2:8-20. In that area at night care-for-DOMBA [sheep] people were watching their DOMBA at a grassy place. And then the Lord’s angel came and appeared to them, and the Lord’s light shined down on them. Then they were very afraid. But the angel then said to them, “Don’t fear, because I bring good news here for you. When this news is heard, then all people will very exceedingly rejoice. Today in Daud’s village a woman has given birth to the King-(Christ)-To-Save-You— the One God appointed. I am giving this {word/sign} to you: You will see a child wrapped in strips of cloth. He is sleeping in a DOMBA’s eating place. That's how you will recognize Him like this, ‘This is the One.’” Then suddenly many of God’s angels appeared there, and then they rejoiced in God: “God You truly are very {great/powerful/glorious}! Let all lift up your name continually. For now You are making peace with men on earth— with those who are fitting in your sight.”
| When the angels went up again up into heaven, then those men said, “Let's go quickly over to Betlehem— so that we can see it, that which the Lord has just told us.” Then right away they went. And soon after they saw Yusup and Maria, and then they saw that little son— sleeping in a place like a DOMBA's eating basket. When they saw him, they told everyone about the child— that which the Lord’s angel had told them. Upon hearing that news, everyone was very amazed. But Maria herself, that which was happening, she saved all that in her heart and thought repeatedly about it. And then those men went back again praising God with songs. Because all which they heard and saw, it was just like what God's angel had said to them. |  |
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