< Luke 1 >

1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
Forasmuch as many have undertaken to compose a narrative of those things, which have been accomplished amongst us,
2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
as they, who were from the beginning, eye-witnesses, and afterwards ministers of the word, delivered them to us;
3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
I have also determined, having exactly traced everything from the first, to write a particular account for you, most excellent Theophilus;
4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
that you might know the certainty of those matters wherein you have been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Yehuda, a certain priest named Zekharya, of the division of Awiya. He had a wife of the daughters of Ahrun, and her name was Elishava.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah; and his wife, named Elizabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron.
6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
They were both righteous before God, blameless observers of all the Lord's commandments and ordinances.
7 But they had no child, because Elishava was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were advanced in years.
8 Now it happened, while he was performing the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
Now when he came to officiate as priest in the order of his course,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to offer incense in the sanctuary.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
And while the incense was burning, the whole congregation were praying without.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 Zekharya was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
And Zacharias was discomposed at the sight, and in great terror.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zekharya, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elishava, will bear you a son, and you are to name him Yukhanan.
But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias; for your prayer is heard, and Elizabeth your wife shall bear you a son, whom you shall name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
He shall be to you matter of joy and transport; and many shall rejoice because of his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Rukha d'Qudsha, even from his mother's womb.
For he shall be great before the Lord; he shall not drink wine nor any fermented liquor; but he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many of the people of Israyel to the Lord, their God.
And many of the sons of Israel he shall bring back to the Lord their God.
17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Eliya, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Moreover, he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children, and by the wisdom of the righteous, to render the disobedient a people well disposed for the Lord.
18 Zekharya said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this: for I am old man, and my wife is advanced in years?
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gavriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
The angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who attend in the presence of God, and am sent to tell you this joyful news.
20 And look, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
But know that you shall be dumb, and shall not recover your speech, till the day when these things happen, because you have not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in due time.
21 The people were waiting for Zekharya, and they were wondering why he was delayed in the temple.
Meanwhile the people waited for Zacharias, and wondered that he staid so long in the sanctuary.
22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; for he made them understand by signs, and remained speechless.
23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
And when his days of officiating were expired, he returned home.
24 After these days Elishava, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
Soon after, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and lived in retirement five months, and said,
25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my disgrace among people."
The Lord has done this for me, purposing now to deliver me from the reproach I lay under among men.
26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gavriel was sent from God to a city of Galila, named Natsrath,
Now, in the sixth month, God sent Gabriel his angel, to Nazareth, a city of Galilee;
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Yauseph, of the house of Dawid. The virgin's name was Maryam.
to a virgin betrothed to a man called Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you."
When the angel entered, he said to her, Hail, favorite of heaven! the Lord be with you, happiest of women!
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of greeting this might be.
At his appearance and words, she was perplexed, and revolved in her mind what this salutation could mean.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Maryam, for you have found favor with God.
And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And look, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Yeshua.'
And behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, whom you shall name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, Dawid,
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give him the throne of David his Father.
33 and he will reign over the house of Yaquv forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom." (aiōn g165)
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever: his reign shall never end. (aiōn g165)
34 Maryam said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, since I have no intercourse with man?
35 The angel answered her, "The Rukha d'Qudsha will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born will be called the Son of God.
The angel answering, said to her, The Holy Spirit will descend upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore the holy progeny shall be called the Son of God.
36 And look, Elishava, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
And lo! your cousin Elizabeth also has conceived, a son in her old age; and she who is called barren, is now in her sixth month;
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
for nothing is impossible with God.
38 And Maryam said, "See, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it to me according to your word. Then the angel departed.
39 Maryam arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Yehuda,
In those days Mary set out, and traveled expeditiously into the hill country; to a city of Judah;
40 and entered into the house of Zekharya and greeted Elishava.
where having entered the house of Zacharias, she saluted Elizabeth.
41 It happened, when Elishava heard Maryam's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elishava was filled with the Rukha d'Qudsha.
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's salutation, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
and cried with a loud voice, You are the most blessed of women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
But how have I deserved this honor, to be visited by the mother of my Lord!
44 For look, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
for know, that as soon as the sound of your salutation reached my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord."
And happy is she who believed that the things which the Lord has promised her, shall be performed.
46 Maryam said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
Then Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
48 for he has looked at the humble state of his servant girl. For look, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
because he has not disdained the low condition of his handmaid; for henceforth, all posterity will pronounce me happy.
49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
For the Almighty, whose name is venerable, has done wonders for me.
50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
His mercy on them who fear him, extends to generations of generations.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He displays the strength of his arm, and dispels the vain imaginations of the proud.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted the lowly.
He pulls down potentates from their thrones, and exalts the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
The needy he loads with benefits; but the rich he spoils of everything.
54 He has given help to Israyel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
He supports Israel his servant, ever inclined to mercy,
55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Avraham and his offspring forever." (aiōn g165)
(as he promised to our fathers) toward Abraham and his race. (aiōn g165)
56 Maryam stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
And Mary, after staying with Elizabeth about three months, returned home.
57 Now the time that Elishava should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
When the time for Elizabeth's delivery was come, she brought forth a son;
58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
and her neighbors and relations who heard that the Lord had shown her great kindness, rejoiced with her.
59 It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zekharya, after the name of the father.
And, on the eighth day, when they came to the circumcision of the child, they would have called him by his father's name, Zacharias.
60 His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called Yukhanan."
And his mother interposed, saying, No; but he shall be called John.
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
They said to her, There is none of your kindred of that name.
62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
They, therefore, asked his father by signs, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is Yukhanan." And they were all amazed.
He, having demanded a table-book, wrote upon it, His name is John, which surprised them all.
64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
And his mouth was opened directly, and his tongue loosed. And he spoke, praising God.
65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Yehuda.
Now all in the neighborhood were struck with awe; and the fame of these things spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.
And all who heard these things, pondering them in their hearts, said, What will this child hereafter be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 His father, Zekharya, was filled with the Rukha d'Qudsha, and prophesied, saying,
Then Zacharias, his father, being filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israyel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people;
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant Dawid
and has raised a Prince for our deliverance in the house of David his servant;
70 (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), (aiōn g165)
(as anciently he promised by his holy prophets) (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
for our deliverance from our enemies, and from the hands of all who hate us;
72 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
in kindness to our forefathers, and remembrance of his holy institution;
73 the oath which he spoke to Avraham, our father,
the oath which he swore to our father Abraham,
74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
to grant to us, that being rescued out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve him boldly,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
in piety and uprightness all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his ways,
And you, child, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the Lord, to prepare his way,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins,
by giving the knowledge of salvation to his people, in the remission of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
through the tender compassion of our God, who has caused a light to spring from on high to visit us,
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
to enlighten those who abide in darkness and in the shades of death; to direct our feet into the way of peace.
80 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israyel.
Meantime the child grew, and acquired strength of mind, and continued in the deserts, until the time when he made himself known to Israel.

< Luke 1 >