Luke 1
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to arrange a narrative of those things which are fully believed among us,
Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance 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,
on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
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 has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,
4 that thou mightst know the exact truth with regard to those things in which thou wast instructed.
that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
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.
There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant 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 of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
8 And it came to pass, that, while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his course,
Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
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.
it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;
10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying without at the time of the incense.
and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right 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 And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.
and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
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 your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.
14 And thou wilt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice for his birth.
Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over 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; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.
16 And many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God.
Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn 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 be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready 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.
"By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."
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.
"I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you 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.
And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--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 were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
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, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were completed, that he returned to his house.
When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men.
"Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
26 And in her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in 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 maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden'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.
So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."
29 And she was troubled at the words, and was considering what this salutation could mean.
She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God.
But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and hear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name 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 He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;
33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, 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?
"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
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, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring 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 see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.
For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."
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.
"I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.
39 And Mary arose and went in those days into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah.
Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.
40 And she entered the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
Here she came to 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,
and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. 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!
and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
But why is this honour done 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, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt 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.
And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."
46 And Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,
Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
47 and my spirit hath exulted in God my Saviour;
And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
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 not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
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.
And His compassion is, generation after generation, 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 manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He hath cast down princes from thrones, and exalted men of low degree.
He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
53 The hungry he hath filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.
The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, in remembrance of his mercy
His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
57 Now Elizabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son;
58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had showed great mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her.
and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on 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.
And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.
60 And his mother answering said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
His mother, however, said, "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.
"There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him named.
They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
63 And he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marveled.
So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue was loosed; and he spoke, blessing God.
Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless 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.
And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.
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 the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the lord's hand was indeed with him.
67 And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
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," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
69 and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, —
And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--
As He has spoken from all time by the lips of His holy Prophets-- (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us,
To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
72 to accomplish his mercy toward our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
73 the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
74 to grant to us, that being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we might worship him without fear,
To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days.
In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
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 you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins
To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us,
Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
79 to give light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path 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 character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.
