Luke 1
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;
Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:
just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
So it seemed good to me also, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.
so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, from the division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.
They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.
8 And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,
Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.
9 According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.
According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.
10 And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.
The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.
Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar.
12 And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on him.
13 But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.
16 And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
Many of the people of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.
He will go before the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18 And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old.”
19 And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.
The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news.
20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.
Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time.”
21 And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.
Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.
But when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision while he was in the temple. He kept on making signs to them and remained silent.
23 And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.
24 And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:
After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.
“This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked at me with favor in order to take away my shame before people.”
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. He belonged to the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
He came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.
30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will call his name 'Jesus.'
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father;
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I have not slept with any man?”
35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will come over you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
See, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her, she who was called barren.
37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
For nothing will be impossible for God.”
38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Mary said, “See, I am the female servant of the Lord. Let it be for me according to your message.” Then the angel left her.
39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.
Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.
40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.
She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Now it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
She raised her voice and said loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”
46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.
48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he has looked at the low condition of his female servant. For see, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.
51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has displayed strength with his arm; he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He has thrown down princes from their thrones and he has raised up those of low condition.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
He has given help to Israel his servant, so as to remember to show mercy
(as he said to our fathers) to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.
Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby and she gave birth to a son.
58 And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name Zachary.
Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him “Zechariah,” after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.
But his mother answered and said, “No. He will be called John.”
61 And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named.
63 And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.
His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” They all were astonished at this.
64 And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and praised God.
65 And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.
Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
All who heard them stored them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
“Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to help and he has accomplished redemption for his people.
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago), (aiōn g165)
71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,
He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,
the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father.
74 That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
He swore to grant to us that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and justice before him, all our days.
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:
Yes, and you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his paths, to prepare people for his coming,
77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
This will happen because of the tender mercy of our God, because of which the sunrise from on high will come to help us,
79 To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He will do this to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Now the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
