Luke 1
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to arrange a narrative of those things which are fully believed among us,
Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 even as they were delivered to us by those who were eye-witnesses from the beginning and became ministers of the word,
just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,
3 it seemed good to me also, having accurately traced up all things from the first, to write to thee a connected account, most excellent Theophilus,
it seemed good to me also, having carefully investigated all things from the beginning, to write an orderly account for yoʋ, most excellent Theophilus,
4 that thou mightst know the exact truth with regard to those things in which thou wast instructed.
so that yoʋ may know the certainty of the things about which yoʋ have been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.
7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.
But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in their days.
8 And it came to pass, that, while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his course,
While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God when his division was on duty,
9 according to the custom of the priesthood the lot fell to him to go into the temple of the Lord and burn the incense.
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying without at the time of the incense.
At the hour of incense a great crowd was assembled outside, praying.
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zachariah; for thy prayer was 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, for yoʋr prayer has been heard. Yoʋr wife Elizabeth will bear yoʋ a son, and yoʋ shall name him John.
14 And thou wilt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice for his birth.
Yoʋ will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and will drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his very birth.
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God.
He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.
And he will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 And Zachariah said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years.
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her days.”
19 And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to thee, and to tell thee these glad tidings.
The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and was sent to speak to yoʋ and bring yoʋ this good news.
20 And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, until the day when these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their season.
But behold, yoʋ will be silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because yoʋ did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their appointed time.”
21 And the people were looking for Zachariah, and wondering that he remained so long in the temple.
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering about his delay in the temple.
22 And on coming out, he was not able to speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he was beckoning to them, and remained speechless.
When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, because he kept making signs to them and remained unable to speak.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were completed, that he returned to his house.
And when the days of his service had come to an end, he returned to his home.
24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men.
“The Lord has done this for me. In these days he has looked upon me with favor and taken away my reproach among the people.”
26 And in her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored! the Lord is with thee.
The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with yoʋ! Blessed are yoʋ among women!”
29 And she was troubled at the words, and was considering what this salutation could mean.
But when Mary saw him, she was greatly perplexed by his statement and began wondering what sort of greeting this could be.
30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for yoʋ have found favor with God.
31 And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and hear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
And behold, yoʋ will conceive in yoʋr womb and give birth to a son, and yoʋ shall name him Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father;
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
33 and he shall reign over 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 of his kingdom there will be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?
Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee; wherefore the holy one that is to be born will be called the Son of God.
The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon yoʋ, and the power of the Most High will overshadow yoʋ; therefore the holy child that is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 And lo! Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren.
And behold, yoʋr relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.
For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, Lo, the handmaid of the Lord! May it be to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it happen to me according to yoʋr word.” And the angel left her.
39 And Mary arose and went in those days into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah.
In those days Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to a town of Judah,
40 And she entered the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 and cried out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!
Then she exclaimed with a loud voice, “Blessed are yoʋ among women, and blessed is the fruit of yoʋr womb!
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
How has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For lo! as soon as the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, the babe leaped in my womb in exultation.
For behold, when the sound of yoʋr greeting came into my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who hath believed that there will be an accomplishment of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Blessed is she who has believed, for what the Lord has spoken to her will be fulfilled.”
46 And Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,
Then Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit hath exulted in God my Saviour;
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden. For lo! from this time all generations will call me blessed;
because he has looked favorably on the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One hath done great things for me; and holy is his name;
because the Mighty One has done great things for me; holy is his name.
50 and his mercy is from generation to generation on them that fear him.
From generation to generation his mercy is upon those who fear him.
51 He hath wrought mightily with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the device of their heart.
He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He hath cast down princes from thrones, and exalted men of low degree.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
53 The hungry he hath filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, in remembrance of his mercy
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
And Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned to her house.
57 Now Elizabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had showed great mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her.
Then her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with 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 were about to call him Zachariah, after the name of his father.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.
60 And his mother answering said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
But the child's mother responded, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 And they said to her, There is no one of thy kindred that is called by this name.
But they said to her, “There is no one among yoʋr relatives who has that name.”
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him named.
Then they began making signs to the child's father to find out what he wanted to name him.
63 And he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled.
So he asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue was loosed; and he spoke, blessing God.
At once Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, blessing God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt around them; and all these things were talked of throughout the whole of the hill-country of Judaea.
Then fear came upon all who dwelt around them, and in the entire hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed.
66 And all that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
All who heard about this laid it up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
Then Zechariah, the child's father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited his people and brought them redemption.
69 and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, —
He has raised up for us a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David
(just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets 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 accomplish his mercy toward our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
to deal mercifully with our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
the oath he swore to Abraham our father, to grant us
74 to grant to us, that being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we might worship him without fear,
that we, having been rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days.
in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called a prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go in advance before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
And yoʋ, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for yoʋ will go before the presence of the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins
to give his people knowledge of salvation through the remission of their sins,
78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us,
through the tender mercy of our God, by which the sunrise has visited us from on high,
79 to give light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit; and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
