Luke 1
1 Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;
2 on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:
3 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,
It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.
5 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.
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.
6 They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8 Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,
9 it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;
According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.
10 and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.
11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense;
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.
12 and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 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.
But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:
14 Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.
15 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.
For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 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."
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.
18 "By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."
And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.
19 "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.
And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.
20 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."
And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.
21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 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.
And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:
25 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
27 to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."
And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
30 But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
31 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.
Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
32 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;
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father;
33 and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end." (aiōn g165)
and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 "How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"
And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
35 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.'
And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 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.
And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
37 For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."
Because no word shall be impossible with God.
38 "I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.
And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39 Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.
And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.
40 Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;
And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.
41 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.
For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."
And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
46 Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
47 And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--
Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
50 And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.
And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
51 He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
52 He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
53 The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
55 In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever. (aiōn g165)
56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.
57 Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son;
Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.
58 and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.
And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name Zachary.
60 His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 "There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.
64 Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 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.
And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.
66 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.
And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
69 And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--
And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:
As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning: (aiōn g165)
71 To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:
72 He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,
74 To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
75 In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
In holiness and justice before him, all our days.
76 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,
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:
77 To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:
78 Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,
Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
79 Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace."
To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.
80 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.
And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
