Luke 1
1 Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us, —
To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,
2 according as they who from the beginning became eye-witnesses and attendants of the Word delivered them unto us,
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
3 it seemed good, even to me, having closely traced from the outset all things accurately, to write unto thee, in order, most excellent Theophilus:
And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,
4 that, as touching the matters which thou hadst been taught by word of mouth, thou mightest obtain full knowledge, of the certainty.
in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.
5 It came to pass, in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, that there was a certain priest, by name Zachariah, of the daily course of Abia; and that he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and, her name, was Elizabeth.
In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the Division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 Now they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and righteous appointments of the Lord, blameless;
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 and they had no child, inasmuch as Elizabeth was barren, and, both, had become, advanced in their days.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 But it came to pass, as he was doing priestly service in the order of his daily course, before God,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
9 according to the custom of his priesthood, it fell to his lot to offer incense, entering into the Temple of the Lord;
it fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;
10 and, all the throng of the people, was praying outside, at the hour of the incense offering.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 And there appeared unto him a messenger of the Lord, standing on the right hand of the altar of incense;
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 and Zachariah was troubled when he beheld, and, fear, fell upon him.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 But the messenger said unto him—Do not fear, Zachariah! Inasmuch as thy supplication hath been hearkened to, —and, thy wife Elizabeth, shall bring forth a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name, John;
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall call by the name John.
14 And there shall be joy to thee and exulting, and, many, over his birth, shall rejoice;
He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
15 For he shall be great before the Lord, and, wine and strong drink, in nowise may he drink, and, with Holy Spirit, shall he be filled, already, from his mother’s womb;
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord; he shall not drink any wine or strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 And, many of the Sons of Israel, shall he turn towards the Lord their God;
and shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 And, he, shall go before him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, —To turn the hearts of fathers unto children, and the unyielding, into the prudence of the righteous, and to prepare, for the Lord, a people made ready.
He shall go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, ‘to reconcile fathers to their children’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18 And Zachariah said unto the messenger—Whereby, shall I know this? for, I, am, aged, and, my wife, advanced in her days.
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 And the messenger, answering, said unto him—I, am Gabriel, —he that standeth near before God; and have been sent forth to speak unto thee, and to deliver the joyful message unto thee, as touching these things.
“I am Gabriel,” the angel answered, “who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring 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 in my words, —the which shall be fulfilled for their season.
And now you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.”
21 And the people were expecting Zachariah, and began to marvel that he should tarry in the Temple;
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 and when he came forth he was not able to speak unto them, and they perceived that, a vision, he had seen in the Temple, —and, he, continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.
When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his public ministration were fulfilled, that he departed unto his house.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 And, after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she disguised herself five months, saying—
After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
25 Thus, for me, hath the Lord wrought, —in the days in which he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.
“This is what the Lord has done for me,” she said, “now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living.”
26 Now, in the sixth month, was the messenger Gabriel sent forth from God, into a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, —
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 unto a virgin, betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and, the name of the virgin, was, Mary;
to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 and entering in unto her, he said—Joy to thee, favoured one! The Lord, be with thee!
Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
29 And, she, at the word, was greatly troubled, and began to deliberate, of what kind, this salutation, might be.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 And the messenger said unto her—Do not fear, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God, —
when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name, Jesus:
And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
32 the same, shall be great, and, Son of the Most High, shall be called, and the Lord God, will give unto him, the throne of David his father, —
The child shall be great and shall be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob, unto the ages, and, of his kingdom, there shall be, no end. (aiōn g165)
and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 But Mary said unto the messenger—How, shall this thing be, seeing that, a man, I know not?
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 And answering, the messenger said unto her—The Holy Spirit, shall come upon thee, and, the power of the Most High, shall overshadow thee; wherefore, even that which is to be born, Holy, shall be called, Son of God.
“The Holy Spirit shall descend upon you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’
36 And lo! Elizabeth thy kinswoman, even she, hath conceived a son in, her old-age; —and, this month, is, the sixth, to her, the so-called barren one;
And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;
37 Because no declaration from God, shall be void of power.
for no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
38 And Mary said—Lo! the handmaid of the Lord! Might it come to pass unto me, according to thy declaration. And the messenger departed from her.
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 And Mary, arising, in these days, journeyed into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, —
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 and entered into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass that, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit, —
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 and lifted up her voice with loud exclamation, and said—Blessed, art thou among women, and, blessed, is the fruit of thy womb;
and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 And, whence, to me is, this, That the mother of my Lord should come, unto me?
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For lo! as the sound of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe in my womb, leapt in exultation.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 And, happy, is she who hath believed, that there shall be a perfecting of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 And Mary said—My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath exulted upon God my saviour;
my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
48 Because he hath looked upon the humbling of his handmaid; for lo! from the present time, all the generations, will pronounce me happy.
for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
49 Because he that is mighty hath done for me great things, and, holy, is his name;
Great things has the Almighty done for me; And holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations, to them who revere him;
From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
51 He hath wrought strength with his arm, He hath scattered men arrogant in the intention of their heart;
Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
52 He hath deposed potentates from thrones, and uplifted the lowly;
he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
53 The hungry, hath he filled with good things, and, the wealthy, hath he sent empty away;
the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
54 He hath laid hold of Israel his servant, to be mindful of mercies:
He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
55 According as he spake unto our fathers, —To Abraham, and to his seed, —Unto times age-abiding. (aiōn g165)
(As he promised to our forefathers) For Abraham and his race for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 And, to Elizabeth, was the time fulfilled, that she should be bringing forth, —and she gave birth to a son.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard, that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they were rejoicing with her.
and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and were calling it, after the name of its father, Zachariah.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
60 And his mother, answering, said—Nay! but he shall be called, John.
when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
61 And they said unto her—There is, no one from among thy kindred, who is called by this name!
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 And they began making signs unto his father, as to what he might be wishing it to be called.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 And, asking for a small tablet, he wrote, saying—John, is his name! and they marvelled all.
Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
64 And his mouth was opened instantly, and his tongue [loosed], and he began to speak, blessing, God.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 And fear came upon all the neighbours themselves; and, throughout all the hill-country of Judaea, were all these matters being much talked of;
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
66 and all who heard laid [them] up in their hearts, saying—What then shall his child be? for, even the hand of the Lord, was with him.
and all who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another — “What can this child be destined to become?” For the Power of the Lord was with him.
67 And, Zachariah his father, was filled with Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: —
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 Blessed, be the Lord, the God of Israel! Because he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, In the house of David his servant:
and has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation In the House of his servant David —
As he promised by the lips of his Holy Prophets of old — (aiōn g165)
71 Of salvation from among our foes, and out of the hand of all them that hate us:
Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant, —
showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
73 The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant us,
This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
74 without fear, from the hand of enemies rescued, to be rendering divine service unto him,
That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 in lovingkindness and righteousness before him, all our days.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
76 And, even thou, child, prophet of the Most High, shalt be called, —for thou shall march on before the Lord, to prepare his ways,
And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 Giving a knowledge of salvation unto his people, by a remission of their sins.
to give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the yearning compassion of the mercy of our God, wherein shall visit us a day-dawn from on high, —
through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
79 To shine on them who, in the darkness and shade of death, are sitting, to guide our feet into a way of peace.
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And, the child, went on growing, and being strengthened in spirit, and was in the deserts, until the day he was pointed out unto Israel.
The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.
