Luke 1
1 As a number of attempts have been made to put together in order an account of those events which took place among us,
Forsothe for manye men enforceden to ordeyne the tellyng of thingis, whiche ben fillid in vs,
2 As they were handed down to us by those who saw them from the first and were preachers of the word,
as thei that seyn atte the bigynnyng, and weren ministris of the word,
3 It seemed good to me, having made observation, with great care, of the direction of events in their order, to put the facts in writing for you, most noble Theophilus;
bitaken, it is seen also to me, hauynge alle thingis diligentli bi ordre, to write to thee,
4 So that you might have certain knowledge of those things about which you were given teaching.
thou best Theofile, that thou knowe the treuthe of tho wordis, of whiche thou art lerned.
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judaea, there was a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the order of Abijah; and he had a wife of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
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.
6 They were upright in the eyes of God, keeping all the rules and orders of God, and doing no wrong.
And bothe weren iust bifor God, goynge in alle the maundementis and iustifiyngis of the Lord, withouten pleynt.
7 And they were without children, because Elisabeth had never given birth, and they were at that time very old.
And thei hadden no child, for Elizabeth was bareyn, and bothe weren of grete age in her daies.
8 Now it came about that in his turn he was acting as priest before God,
And it bifel, that whanne Zacarie schulde do the office of preesthod, in the ordre of his cours tofor God,
9 And as was the way of the priests, he had to go into the Temple to see to the burning of perfumes.
aftir the custome of the preesthod, he wente forth bi lot, and entride in to the temple, to encense.
10 And all the people were offering prayers outside, at the time of the burning of perfumes.
And al the multitude of the puple was with outforth, and preiede in the our of encensyng.
11 And he saw an angel of the Lord in his place on the right side of the altar.
And an aungel of the Lord apperide to hym, and stood on the riythalf of the auter of encense.
12 And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear came on him.
And Zacarie seynge was afraied, and drede fel vpon hym.
13 But the angel said, Have no fear, Zacharias, for your prayer has come to the ears of God, and your wife Elisabeth will have a son, and his name will be John.
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.
14 And you will be glad and have great delight; and numbers of people will have joy at his birth.
And ioye and gladyng schal be to thee; and many schulen `haue ioye in his natyuyte.
15 For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord; he will not take wine or strong drink; and he will be full of the Spirit of God from his birth.
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.
16 And through him great numbers of the children of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.
And he schal conuerte many of the children of Israel to her Lord God;
17 And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness; to make ready a people whose hearts have been turned to the Lord.
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.
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, How may I be certain of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far on in years.
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.
19 And the angel, answering, said, I am Gabriel, whose place is before God; I have been sent to say these words to you and to give you this good news.
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.
20 Now, see, you will be without voice or language till the day when these things come about, because you had not faith in my words, which will have effect at the right time.
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.
21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias and were surprised because he was in the Temple for such a long time.
And the puple was abidynge Zacarie, and thei wondriden, that he tariede in the temple.
22 And when he came out he was not able to say anything, and they saw that he had seen a vision in the Temple; and he was making signs to them without words.
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.
23 And when the days of his work in the Temple were ended, he went back to his house.
And it was don, whanne the daies of his office weren fulfillid, he wente in to his hous.
24 After that time, Elisabeth, being certain that she was to become a mother, kept herself from men's eyes for five months, saying,
And aftir these daies Elizabeth, his wijf, conseyuede, and hidde hir fyue monethis, and seide,
25 The Lord has done this to me, for his eyes were on me, to take away my shame in the eyes of men.
For so the Lord dide to me in the daies, in whiche he bihelde, to take awei my repreef among men.
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee, named Nazareth,
But in the sixte moneth the aungel Gabriel was sent fro God in to a citee of Galilee, whos name was Nazareth,
27 To a virgin who was to be married to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
to a maidyn, weddid to a man, whos name was Joseph, of the hous of Dauid; and the name of the maidun was Marie.
28 And the angel came in to her and said, Peace be with you, to whom special grace has been given; the Lord is with you.
And the aungel entride to hir, and seide, Heil, ful of grace; the Lord be with thee; blessid be thou among wymmen.
29 But she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?
And whanne sche hadde herd, sche was troublid in his word, and thouyte what maner salutacioun this was.
30 And the angel said to her, Have no fear, Mary, for you have God's approval.
And the aungel seide to hir, Ne drede thou not, Marie, for thou hast foundun grace anentis God.
31 And see, you will give birth to a son, and his name will be Jesus.
Lo! thou schalt conceyue in wombe, and schalt bere a sone, and thou schalt clepe his name Jhesus.
32 He will be great, and will be named the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his father:
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,
33 He will have rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. (aiōn g165)
and he schal regne in the hous of Jacob with outen ende, and of his rewme schal be noon ende. (aiōn g165)
34 And Mary said to the angel, How may this be, because I have had no knowledge of a man?
And Marie seide to the aungel, On what maner schal this thing be doon, for Y knowe not man?
35 And the angel in answer said to her, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will come to rest on you, and so that which will come to birth will be named holy, Son of God.
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.
36 Even now Elisabeth, who is of your family, is to be a mother, though she is old: and this is the sixth month with her who was without children.
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;
37 For there is nothing which God is not able to do.
for euery word schal not be inpossible anentis God.
38 And Mary said: I am the servant of the Lord; may it be to me as you say. And the angel went away.
And Marie seide, Lo! the handmaydyn of the Lord; be it don to me aftir thi word. And the aungel departide fro hir.
39 Then Mary got up and went quickly into the high lands, to a town of Judah;
And Marie roos vp in tho daies, and wente with haaste in to the mounteyns, in to a citee of Judee.
40 And went into the house of Zacharias and took Elisabeth in her arms.
And sche entride in to the hous of Zacarie, and grette Elizabeth.
41 And when the voice of Mary came to the ears of Elisabeth, the baby made a sudden move inside her; then Elisabeth was full of the Holy Spirit,
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,
42 And she said with a loud voice: May blessing be on you among women, and a blessing on the child of your body.
and criede with a greet vois, and seide, Blessid be thou among wymmen, and blessid be the fruyt of thi wombe.
43 How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
And whereof is this thing to me, that the modir of my Lord come to me?
44 For, truly, when the sound of your voice came to my ears, the baby in my body made a sudden move for joy.
For lo! as the voice of thi salutacioun was maad in myn eeris, the yong child gladide in ioye in my wombe.
45 Happy will she be who had faith that the things which the Lord has said to her will be done.
And blessid be thou, that hast bileued, for thilke thingis that ben seid of the Lord to thee, schulen be parfitli don.
46 And Mary said: My soul gives glory to God;
And Marie seide, Mi soule magnyfieth the Lord,
47 My spirit is glad in God my Saviour.
and my spirit hath gladid in God, myn helthe.
48 For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me.
For he hath biholdun the mekenesse of his handmaidun.
49 For he who is strong has done great things for me; and holy is his name.
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.
50 His mercy is for all generations in whom is the fear of him.
And his mercy is fro kynrede in to kynredes, to men that dreden hym.
51 With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.
He made myyt in his arme, he scaterede proude men with the thouyte of his herte.
52 He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.
He sette doun myyti men fro sete, and enhaunside meke men.
53 Those who had no food he made full of good things; the men of wealth he sent away with nothing in their hands;
He hath fulfillid hungri men with goodis, and he hath left riche men voide.
54 His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,
He, hauynge mynde of his mercy, took Israel, his child;
as he hath spokun to oure fadris, to Abraham and to his seed, in to worldis. (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary was with her for about three months and then went back to her house.
And Marie dwellide with hir, as it were thre monethis, and turnede ayen in to hir hous.
57 Now it was time for Elisabeth to give birth, and she had a son.
But the tyme of beryng child was fulfillid to Elizabeth, and sche bare a sone.
58 And it came to the ears of her neighbours and relations that the Lord had been very good to her, and they took part in her joy.
And the neiyboris and cosyns of hir herden, that the Lord hadde magnyfied his mercy with hir; and thei thankiden hym.
59 And on the eighth day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given him the name of Zacharias, his father's name;
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.
60 But his mother made answer and said, No, his name is John.
And his moder answeride, and seide, Nay, but he schal be clepid Joon.
61 And they said, Not one of your relations has that name.
And thei seiden to hir, For no man is in thi kynrede, that is clepid this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, to say what name was to be given to him.
And thei bikeneden to his fadir, what he wolde that he were clepid.
63 And he sent for writing materials and put down: His name is John; and they were all surprised.
And he axynge a poyntil, wroot, seiynge, Joon is his name.
64 And straight away his mouth was open and his tongue was free and he gave praise to God.
And alle men wondriden. And anoon his mouth was openyd, and his tunge, and he spak, and blesside God.
65 And fear came on all those who were living round about them: and there was much talk about all these things in all the hill-country of Judaea.
And drede was maad on alle her neiyboris, and alle these wordis weren pupplischid on alle the mounteyns of Judee.
66 And all who had word of them kept them in their minds and said, What will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
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.
67 And his father, Zacharias, was full of the Holy Spirit, and with the voice of a prophet said these words:
And Zacarie, his fadir, was fulfillid with the Hooli Goost, and prophesiede,
68 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and made them free,
and seide, Blessid be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visitid, and maad redempcioun of his puple.
69 Lifting up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
And he hath rerid to vs an horn of heelthe in the hous of Dauid, his child.
As he spak bi the mouth of hise hooli prophetis, that weren fro the world. (aiōn g165)
71 Salvation from those who are against us, and from the hands of those who have hate for us;
Helthe fro oure enemyes, and fro the hoond of alle men that hatiden vs.
72 To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to keep in mind his holy word,
To do merci with oure fadris, and to haue mynde of his hooli testament.
73 The oath which he made to Abraham, our father,
The greet ooth that he swoor to Abraham, oure fadir, to yyue hym silf to vs.
74 That we, being made free from the fear of those who are against us, might give him worship,
That we with out drede delyuered fro the hoond of oure enemyes,
75 In righteousness and holy living before him all our days.
serue to hym, in hoolynesse and riytwisnesse bifor hym in alle oure daies.
76 And you, child, will be named the prophet of the Most High: you will go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways;
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.
77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, through the forgiveness of sins,
To yyue scyence of helthe to his puple, in to remyssioun of her synnes;
78 Because of the loving mercies of our God, by which the dawn from heaven has come to us,
bi the inwardnesse of the merci of oure God, in the whiche he spryngynge vp fro an hiy hath visitid vs.
79 To give light to those in dark places, and in the shade of death, so that our feet may be guided into the way of peace.
To yyue liyt to hem that sitten in derknessis and in schadewe of deeth; to dresse oure feet in to the weie of pees.
80 And the child became tall, and strong in spirit; and he was living in the waste land till the day when he came before the eyes of Israel.
And the child wexide, and was coumfortid in spirit, and was in desert placis `til to the dai of his schewing to Israel.
