Lucam 1
1 Quoniam quidem multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem, quæ in nobis completæ sunt, rerum:
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 sicut tradiderunt nobis, qui ab initio ipsi viderunt, et ministri fuerunt sermonis:
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the message.
3 visum est et mihi, assecuto omnia a principio diligenter, ex ordine tibi scribere, optime Theophile,
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 ut cognoscas eorum verborum, de quibus eruditus es, veritatem.
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 Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judææ, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth.
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 Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suæ ante Deum,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini:
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 et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 Ait autem ad illum angelus: Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua: et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem:
But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt:
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
15 erit enim magnus coram Domino: et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suæ:
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 et multos filiorum Israël convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum:
and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 et ipse præcedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliæ: ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam.
He will 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 Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum: Unde hoc sciam? ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis.
‘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 Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Ego sum Gabriel, qui asto ante Deum: et missus sum loqui ad te, et hæc tibi evangelizare.
‘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 Et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo hæc fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quæ implebuntur in tempore suo.
And now you will 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 Et erat plebs exspectans Zachariam: et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo. Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus.
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 Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam:
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor ejus, et occultabat se mensibus quinque, dicens:
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 Quia sic fecit mihi Dominus in diebus, quibus respexit auferre opprobrium meum inter homines.
‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said, ‘he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.’
26 In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilææ, cui nomen Nazareth,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David: et nomen virginis Maria.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit: Ave gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus.
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, ‘You have been shown great favour – the Lord is with you.’
29 Quæ cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 Et ait angelus ei: Ne timeas, Maria: invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum.
when the angel spoke again, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum:
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus:
The child will be great and will be called “Son of the Most High,” and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.’ (aiōn g165)
34 Dixit autem Maria ad angelum: Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco?
‘How can this be?’ Mary asked the angel. ‘For I have no husband.’
35 Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei.
‘The Holy Spirit will descend on you,’ answered the angel, ‘and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called “holy,” and “Son of God.”
36 Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua: et hic mensis sextus est illi, quæ vocatur sterilis:
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 quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum.
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.’
38 Dixit autem Maria: Ecce ancilla Domini: fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.
‘I am the servant of the Lord,’ exclaimed Mary. ‘Let it be with me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.
39 Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione, in civitatem Juda:
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 et intravit in domum Zachariæ, et salutavit Elisabeth.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Et factum est, ut audivit salutationem Mariæ Elisabeth, exsultavit infans in utero ejus: et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth:
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 et exclamavit voce magna, et dixit: Benedicta tu inter mulieres, et benedictus fructus ventris tui.
and cried aloud, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 Et unde hoc mihi, ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me?
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuæ in auribus meis, exsultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 Et beata, quæ credidisti, quoniam perficientur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Domino.
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.’
46 Et ait Maria: [Magnificat anima mea Dominum:
And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord,
47 et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
and my spirit delights in God my Saviour,
48 Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ: ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,
for he has looked with favour on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et sanctum nomen ejus,
‘For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
‘Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 Esurientes implevit bonis: et divites dimisit inanes.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 Suscepit Israël puerum suum, recordatus misericordiæ suæ:
‘He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.’ (aiōn g165)
56 Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus: et reversa est in domum suam.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei.
and her neighbours and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 Et respondens mater ejus, dixit: Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes.
when his mother spoke up, ‘No, he is to be called John.’
61 Et dixerunt ad illam: Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocetur hoc nomine.
‘You have no relation of that name!’ they exclaimed;
62 Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens: Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi.
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised
64 Apertum est autem illico os ejus, et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum: et super omnia montana Judææ divulgabantur omnia verba hæc:
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes: Quis, putas, puer iste erit? etenim manus Domini erat cum illo.
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 Et Zacharias pater ejus repletus est Spiritu Sancto: et prophetavit, dicens:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 [Benedictus Dominus Deus Israël, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suæ:
‘Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui,
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 salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos:
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris: et memorari testamenti sui sancti:
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 jusjurandum, quod juravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamus illi
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 in sanctitate et justitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 Et tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis: præibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus,
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi ejus in remissionem peccatorum eorum
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto:
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent: ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.]
to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.’
80 Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur spiritu: et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suæ ad Israël.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
