Luke 1
1 Forsothe for manye men enforceden to ordeyne the tellyng of thingis, whiche ben fillid in vs,
Forasmuch as many haue taken in hand to set foorth the storie of those things, whereof we are fully persuaded,
2 as thei that seyn atte the bigynnyng, and weren ministris of the word,
As they haue deliuered them vnto vs, which from the beginning saw them their selues, and were ministers of ye word,
3 bitaken, it is seen also to me, hauynge alle thingis diligentli bi ordre, to write to thee,
It seemed good also to me (most noble Theophilus) assoone as I had searched out perfectly all things from the beginning, to write vnto thee thereof from point to point,
4 thou best Theofile, that thou knowe the treuthe of tho wordis, of whiche thou art lerned.
That thou mightest acknowledge the certaintie of those things, whereof thou hast bene instructed.
5 In the daies of Eroude, kyng of Judee, ther was a prest, Sakarie bi name, of the sorte of Abia, and his wijf was of the douytris of Aaron, and hir name was Elizabeth.
In the time of Herod King of Iudea, there was a certaine Priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabet.
6 And bothe weren iust bifor God, goynge in alle the maundementis and iustifiyngis of the Lord, withouten pleynt.
Both were iust before God, and walked in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord, without reproofe.
7 And thei hadden no child, for Elizabeth was bareyn, and bothe weren of grete age in her daies.
And they had no childe, because that Elisabet was barren: and both were well stricken in age.
8 And it bifel, that whanne Zacarie schulde do the office of preesthod, in the ordre of his cours tofor God,
And it came to passe, as he executed the Priestes office before God, as his course came in order,
9 aftir the custome of the preesthod, he wente forth bi lot, and entride in to the temple, to encense.
According to the custome of the Priests office, his lot was to burne incense, when he went into the Temple of the Lord.
10 And al the multitude of the puple was with outforth, and preiede in the our of encensyng.
And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, while the incense was burning.
11 And an aungel of the Lord apperide to hym, and stood on the riythalf of the auter of encense.
Then appeared vnto him an Angel of the Lord standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And Zacarie seynge was afraied, and drede fel vpon hym.
And when Zacharias sawe him, he was troubled, and feare fell vpon him.
13 And the aungel seide to hym, Zacarie, drede thou not; for thi preyer is herd, and Elizabeth, thi wijf, schal bere to thee a sone, and his name schal be clepid Joon.
But the Angel saide vnto him, Feare not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wise Elisabet shall beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iohn.
14 And ioye and gladyng schal be to thee; and many schulen `haue ioye in his natyuyte.
And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnes, and many shall reioyce at his birth.
15 For he schal be greet bifor the Lord, and he schal not drynke wyn and sidir, and he schal be fulfillid with the Hooli Goost yit of his modir wombe.
For he shalbe great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drinke wine, nor strong drinke: and he shalbe filled with the holy Ghost, euen from his mothers wombe.
16 And he schal conuerte many of the children of Israel to her Lord God;
And many of the children of Israel shall he turne to their Lord God.
17 and he schal go bifor hym in the spirit and the vertu of Helie; and he schal turne the hertis of the fadris in to the sones, and men out of bileue to the prudence of iust men, to make redi a perfit puple to the Lord.
For he shall goe before him in the spirite and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 And Zacarie seide to the aungel, Wherof schal Y wite this? for Y am eld, and my wijf hath gon fer in to hir daies.
Then Zacharias said vnto ye Angel, Whereby shall I knowe this? for I am an olde man, and my wife is of a great age.
19 And the aungel answeride, and seide to hym, For Y am Gabriel, that stonde niy bifor God; and Y am sent to thee to speke, and to euangelize to thee these thingis.
And the Angell answered, and sayde vnto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speake vnto thee, and to shew thee these good tidings.
20 And lo! thou schalt be doumbe, and thou schalt not mow speke til in to the dai, in which these thingis schulen be don; for thou hast not bileued to my wordis, whiche schulen be fulfillid in her tyme.
And beholde, thou shalt be domme, and not be able to speake, vntill the day that these things be done, because thou beleeuedst not my words, which shalbe fulfilled in their season.
21 And the puple was abidynge Zacarie, and thei wondriden, that he tariede in the temple.
Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marueiled that he taried so long in the Temple.
22 And he yede out, and myyte not speke to hem, and thei knewen that he hadde seyn a visioun in the temple. And he bikenyde to hem, and he dwellide stille doumbe.
And when hee came out, hee coulde not speake vnto them: then they perceiued that hee had seene a vision in the Temple: For he made signes vnto them, and remained domme.
23 And it was don, whanne the daies of his office weren fulfillid, he wente in to his hous.
And it came to passe, when the daies of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his owne house.
24 And aftir these daies Elizabeth, his wijf, conseyuede, and hidde hir fyue monethis, and seide,
And after those daies, his wife Elisabet conceiued, and hid her selfe fiue moneths, saying,
25 For so the Lord dide to me in the daies, in whiche he bihelde, to take awei my repreef among men.
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the daies wherein he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men.
26 But in the sixte moneth the aungel Gabriel was sent fro God in to a citee of Galilee, whos name was Nazareth,
And in the sixth moneth, the Angell Gabriel was sent from God vnto a citie of Galile, named Nazareth,
27 to a maidyn, weddid to a man, whos name was Joseph, of the hous of Dauid; and the name of the maidun was Marie.
To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Marie.
28 And the aungel entride to hir, and seide, Heil, ful of grace; the Lord be with thee; blessid be thou among wymmen.
And the Angel went in vnto her, and said, Haile thou that art freely beloued: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And whanne sche hadde herd, sche was troublid in his word, and thouyte what maner salutacioun this was.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what maner of salutation that should be.
30 And the aungel seide to hir, Ne drede thou not, Marie, for thou hast foundun grace anentis God.
Then the Angel saide vnto her, Feare not, Marie: for thou hast found fauour with God.
31 Lo! thou schalt conceyue in wombe, and schalt bere a sone, and thou schalt clepe his name Jhesus.
For loe, thou shalt conceiue in thy wobe, and beare a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus.
32 This schal be greet, and he schal be clepid the sone of the Hiyeste; and the Lord God schal yeue to hym the seete of Dauid, his fadir,
He shall be great, and shall be called the Sonne of the most High, and the Lord God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid.
33 and he schal regne in the hous of Jacob with outen ende, and of his rewme schal be noon ende. (aiōn g165)
And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdome shall bee none ende. (aiōn g165)
34 And Marie seide to the aungel, On what maner schal this thing be doon, for Y knowe not man?
Then sayde Marie vnto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I knowe not man?
35 And the aungel answeride, and seide to hir, The Hooly Goost schal come fro aboue in to thee, and the vertu of the Hiyeste schal ouerschadewe thee; and therfor that hooli thing that schal be borun of thee, schal be clepid the sone of God.
And the Angel answered, and said vnto her, The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee, and the power of the most High shall ouershadowe thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall bee borne of thee, shall be called the Sonne of God.
36 And lo! Elizabeth, thi cosyn, and sche also hath conceyued a sone in hir eelde, and this moneth is the sixte to hir that is clepid bareyn;
And behold, thy cousin Elisabet, she hath also conceiued a sonne in her olde age: and this is her sixt moneth, which was called barren.
37 for euery word schal not be inpossible anentis God.
For with God shall nothing be vnpossible.
38 And Marie seide, Lo! the handmaydyn of the Lord; be it don to me aftir thi word. And the aungel departide fro hir.
Then Marie said, Behold the seruant of the Lord: be it vnto me according to thy woorde. So the Angel departed from her.
39 And Marie roos vp in tho daies, and wente with haaste in to the mounteyns, in to a citee of Judee.
And Marie arose in those daies, and went into ye hil countrey with hast to a citie of Iuda,
40 And sche entride in to the hous of Zacarie, and grette Elizabeth.
And entred into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabet.
41 And it was don, as Elizabeth herde the salutacioun of Marie, the yong child in hir wombe gladide. And Elizabeth was fulfillid with the Hooli Goost,
And it came to passe, as Elisabet heard the salutation of Marie, the babe sprang in her bellie, and Elisabet was filled with the holy Ghost.
42 and criede with a greet vois, and seide, Blessid be thou among wymmen, and blessid be the fruyt of thi wombe.
And she cried with a loud voice, and saide, Blessed art thou among women, because the fruit of thy wombe is blessed.
43 And whereof is this thing to me, that the modir of my Lord come to me?
And whence commeth this to mee, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For lo! as the voice of thi salutacioun was maad in myn eeris, the yong child gladide in ioye in my wombe.
For loe, assoone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the babe sprang in my bellie for ioye,
45 And blessid be thou, that hast bileued, for thilke thingis that ben seid of the Lord to thee, schulen be parfitli don.
And blessed is shee that beleeued: for those things shall be perfourmed, which were tolde her from the Lord.
46 And Marie seide, Mi soule magnyfieth the Lord,
Then Marie sayde, My soule magnifieth the Lord,
47 and my spirit hath gladid in God, myn helthe.
And my spirite reioyceth in God my Sauiour.
48 For he hath biholdun the mekenesse of his handmaidun.
For hee hath looked on the poore degree of his seruaunt: for beholde, from henceforth shall all ages call me blessed,
49 For lo! of this alle generaciouns schulen seie that Y am blessid. For he that is myyti hath don to me grete thingis, and his name is hooli.
Because hee that is mightie, hath done for me great things, and holy is his Name.
50 And his mercy is fro kynrede in to kynredes, to men that dreden hym.
And his mercie is from generation to generation on them that feare him.
51 He made myyt in his arme, he scaterede proude men with the thouyte of his herte.
Hee hath shewed strength with his arme: hee hath scattered the proude in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He sette doun myyti men fro sete, and enhaunside meke men.
Hee hath put downe the mighty from their seates, and exalted them of lowe degree.
53 He hath fulfillid hungri men with goodis, and he hath left riche men voide.
Hee hath filled the hungrie with good things, and sent away the rich emptie.
54 He, hauynge mynde of his mercy, took Israel, his child;
Hee hath vpholden Israel his seruaunt to be mindefull of his mercie
(As hee hath spoken to our fathers, to wit, to Abraham, and his seede) for euer. (aiōn g165)
56 And Marie dwellide with hir, as it were thre monethis, and turnede ayen in to hir hous.
And Marie abode with her about three moneths: after, shee returned to her owne house.
57 But the tyme of beryng child was fulfillid to Elizabeth, and sche bare a sone.
Nowe Elisabets time was fulfilled, that shee should be deliuered, and shee brought foorth a sonne.
58 And the neiyboris and cosyns of hir herden, that the Lord hadde magnyfied his mercy with hir; and thei thankiden hym.
And her neighbours, and cousins heard tell howe the Lord had shewed his great mercie vpon her, and they reioyced with her.
59 And it was don in the eiyte dai, thei camen to circumcide the child; and thei clepiden hym Zacarie, bi the name of his fadir.
And it was so that on the eight day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias after the name of his father.
60 And his moder answeride, and seide, Nay, but he schal be clepid Joon.
But his mother answered, and saide, Not so, but he shalbe called Iohn.
61 And thei seiden to hir, For no man is in thi kynrede, that is clepid this name.
And they saide vnto her, There is none of thy kindred, that is named with this name.
62 And thei bikeneden to his fadir, what he wolde that he were clepid.
Then they made signes to his father, howe he would haue him called.
63 And he axynge a poyntil, wroot, seiynge, Joon is his name.
So hee asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying, His name is Iohn, and they marueiled all.
64 And alle men wondriden. And anoon his mouth was openyd, and his tunge, and he spak, and blesside God.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake and praised God.
65 And drede was maad on alle her neiyboris, and alle these wordis weren pupplischid on alle the mounteyns of Judee.
Then feare came on all them that dwelt neere vnto them, and all these woordes were noised abroade throughout all the hill countrey of Iudea.
66 And alle men that herden puttiden in her herte, and seiden, What maner child schal this be? For the hoond of the Lord was with hym.
And al they that heard them, laid them vp in their hearts, saying, What maner childe shall this be! and the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And Zacarie, his fadir, was fulfillid with the Hooli Goost, and prophesiede,
Then his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 and seide, Blessid be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visitid, and maad redempcioun of his puple.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And he hath rerid to vs an horn of heelthe in the hous of Dauid, his child.
And hath raised vp the horne of saluation vnto vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid,
As he spake by ye mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying, (aiōn g165)
71 Helthe fro oure enemyes, and fro the hoond of alle men that hatiden vs.
That he would sende vs deliuerance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate vs,
72 To do merci with oure fadris, and to haue mynde of his hooli testament.
That he might shewe mercie towards our fathers, and remember his holy couenant,
73 The greet ooth that he swoor to Abraham, oure fadir, to yyue hym silf to vs.
And the othe which he sware to our father Abraham.
74 That we with out drede delyuered fro the hoond of oure enemyes,
Which was, that he would graunt vnto vs, that we being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, should serue him without feare,
75 serue to hym, in hoolynesse and riytwisnesse bifor hym in alle oure daies.
All the daies of our life, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him.
76 And thou, child, schalt be clepid the prophete of the Hiyest; for thou schalt go bifor the face of the Lord, to make redi hise weies.
And thou, babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord, to prepare his waies,
77 To yyue scyence of helthe to his puple, in to remyssioun of her synnes;
And to giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes,
78 bi the inwardnesse of the merci of oure God, in the whiche he spryngynge vp fro an hiy hath visitid vs.
Through ye tender mercy of our God, wherby the day spring from an hie hath visited vs,
79 To yyue liyt to hem that sitten in derknessis and in schadewe of deeth; to dresse oure feet in to the weie of pees.
To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feete into the way of peace.
80 And the child wexide, and was coumfortid in spirit, and was in desert placis `til to the dai of his schewing to Israel.
And the childe grewe, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the wildernesse, til the day came that he should shewe him selfe vnto Israel.
