< Luke 1 >

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
Whereas many have undertaken to compose a narrative of the things, which have been fully certified among us;
2 even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,
as they delivered them to us, who were from the beginning eye-witnesses of them, and ministers of the word;
3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;
it seemed good to me also, having thoroughly traced them all from the very first, to write an account of them in order to thee,
4 that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.
most excellent Theophilus, that thou mayst know the certainty of the things wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
There was in the days of Herod king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.
And they had no child, for Elisabeth was barren; and they were both far advanced in years.
8 Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
And it came to pass, while he was in the order of his course performing the priest's office before God,
9 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
according to the custom of dividing the office of the priests, that it fell to his lot to burn incense, entring into the temple of the Lord:
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.
and all the people were praying without at the time of offering incense.
11 And there appeared unto 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 hand of the altar of incense.
12 And Zacharias was troubled when he saw [him], and fear fell upon him.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was startled and struck with fear:
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
but the angel said unto 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:
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
and he shall be a joy and transport to thee, yea, many shall rejoice on account of his birth; for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord,
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
and he shall drink neither wine nor any other strong liquor; and he shall be filled with the holy Spirit even from his birth;
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God.
and many of the children of Israel shall he convert unto the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient [to walk] in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared [for him].
And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to prepare for the Lord a people well-disposed.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife far advanced in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.
And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God, and I am sent to speak to thee, and to tell thee this good news:
20 And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
and now shalt thou be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass; because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled at their season.
21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.
And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondered at his staying so long in the temple:
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.
but when he came out he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them, and continued speechless:
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.
and as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,
And after these days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and retired five months,
25 Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon [me], to take away my reproach among men.
saying, the Lord hath thus dealt with me in the days wherein he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men.
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
But in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
to a virgin who was betrothed to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord [is] with thee.
And when the angel came in to the room to her, he said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured; the Lord is with thee;
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.
blessed art thou among women! and when she saw him, she was confused at what he said, and pondered in her mind what sort of salutation this could be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast 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 thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS:
32 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 his father David:
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of David his father,
33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Then said Mary to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.
And the angel answered and said unto her, The holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, and therefore thine holy offspring shall be called the Son of God: and lo,
36 And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.
thy cousin Elisabeth also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren;
37 For no word from God shall be void of power.
for nothing is impossible with God.
38 And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Then Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord, may it be unto me according to thy word. So the angel departed from her.
39 And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;
Then Mary arose and went with speed into the hill-country, to a city of Juda,
40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.
and came into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;
And as soon as Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the child leaped in her womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the holy Spirit:
42 and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.
and she cried out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb:
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?
and whence is this honor to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
for behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy:
45 And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.
and blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of the things that were told her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour;
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
for He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid:
48 For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
for behold, from henceforth shall all generations call me blessed:
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.
for He that is mighty hath done great things for me,
50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.
and his name is holy, and his mercy is on them that fear Him, unto all generations.
51 He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
He hath wrought powerfully with his arm; He hath confounded those that were proud in the imagination of their heart.
52 He hath put down princes from [their] thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.
He hath cast down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the humble.
53 The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent away empty.
54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy
He hath supported Israel his servant,
55 (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever. (aiōn g165)
in remembrance of his mercy (even as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed, ) for ever." (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.
And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her own house.
57 Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
Now when Elisabeth's time for her delivery was fully come, she brought forth a son:
58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.
and her neighbours and kindred heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they congratulated her;
59 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
and on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child: and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father:
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
but his mother said, No, but he shall be called John:
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
and they said to her, There is none of thy relations of this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
And they made signs to his father, what name he would have him called by.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
And he called for a writing-tablet, and wrote upon it, His name is John: and they all wondered.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spake, blessing God.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake and praised God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.
And an awe fell upon all that dwelt round about them; and all these things were divulged through the whole hill-country of Judea.
66 And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
And all that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What a child will this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Spirit,
68 Blessed [be] the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David
and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us,
70 (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old), (aiōn g165)
in the house of his servant David, as He spake by the mouth of his holy prophets from the beginning, (aiōn g165)
71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
even salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us,
72 To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;
to display his mercy towards our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
73 The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,
according to the oath which He sware to Abraham our father,
74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,
to grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
all the days of our life.
76 Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;
And thou, my child, shalt be called the prophet of the most High; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord,
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,
to make known salvation to his people,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,
in the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring hath visited us from on high,
79 To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way 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 waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit: and he was in the deserts till the time of his being manifested to Israel.

< Luke 1 >