Luke 1
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and 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 had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to thee in order, 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 mayest know the certainty of those things, in which thou hast been 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, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
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 before 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 Elisabeth was barren, and they both were well 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 executed the priest’s office 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 priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
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 were praying outside at the time of 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 side 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 when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, 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, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth 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 shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Yoʋ will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
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 children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him 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 just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
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 Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well 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 am sent to speak to thee, and to show 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, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall 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 waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering about his delay in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he made signs 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, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own 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 Elisabeth 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 when 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 the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called 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 betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came to her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with yoʋ! Blessed are yoʋ among women!”
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered in her mind what manner of greeting this should be.
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 favour with God.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for yoʋ have found favor with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth 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 Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David:
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, seeing I know not a man?
Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing who shall be born of thee shall 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, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was 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 with God nothing shall be impossible.
For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it 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 in those days, and went 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 entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth.
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth 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 she spoke 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 why is this granted 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 greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
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 that believed: that there shall be a performance 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 doth magnify the Lord,
Then Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall 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 he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
because the Mighty One has done great things for me; holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
From generation to generation his mercy is upon those who fear him.
51 He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
53 He hath filled the hungry 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 helped his servant Israel, 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 Elisabeth’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 neighbours and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon 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 called him Zacharias, 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 answered and 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 none 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 called.
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 marvelled.
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 loosed, and he spoke, and praised 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 sayings were noised abroad throughout all 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 they that had heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And 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 his father Zacharias 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 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 an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
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 That we should be saved 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 the mercy promised to 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 our father Abraham,
the oath he swore to Abraham our father, to grant us
74 That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve 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 the days of our life.
in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives.
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;
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 by 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; with which the dayspring 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 them that sit in darkness and in 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 became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing 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.
