< Luke 1 >

1 Forasmuch as many haue taken in hand to set foorth the storie of those things, whereof we are fully persuaded,
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
2 As they haue deliuered them vnto vs, which from the beginning saw them their selues, and were ministers of ye word,
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3 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,
it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
4 That thou mightest acknowledge the certaintie of those things, whereof thou hast bene instructed.
that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
5 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.
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Both were iust before God, and walked in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord, without reproofe.
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 And they had no childe, because that Elisabet was barren: and both were well stricken in age.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8 And it came to passe, as he executed the Priestes office before God, as his course came in order,
Now it happened, while he was performing the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
9 According to the custome of the Priests office, his lot was to burne incense, when he went into the Temple of the Lord.
according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, while the incense was burning.
And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then appeared vnto him an Angel of the Lord standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias sawe him, he was troubled, and feare fell vpon him.
Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13 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.
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.
14 And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnes, and many shall reioyce at his birth.
You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 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.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turne to their Lord God.
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
17 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.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
18 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.
Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
19 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.
The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
20 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.
And look, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
21 Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marueiled that he taried so long in the Temple.
The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering why he was delayed in the temple.
22 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.
When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
23 And it came to passe, when the daies of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his owne house.
It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24 And after those daies, his wife Elisabet conceiued, and hid her selfe fiue moneths, saying,
After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the daies wherein he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men.
"Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my disgrace among people."
26 And in the sixth moneth, the Angell Gabriel was sent from God vnto a citie of Galile, named Nazareth,
Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Marie.
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 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.
Having come in, the angel said to her, "Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you."
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what maner of salutation that should be.
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 Then the Angel saide vnto her, Feare not, Marie: for thou hast found fauour with God.
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 For loe, thou shalt conceiue in thy wobe, and beare a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus.
And look, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
32 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.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
33 And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdome shall bee none ende. (aiōn g165)
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom." (aiōn g165)
34 Then sayde Marie vnto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I knowe not man?
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
35 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.
The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born will be called the Son of God.
36 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.
And look, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For with God shall nothing be vnpossible.
For with God nothing will be impossible."
38 Then Marie said, Behold the seruant of the Lord: be it vnto me according to thy woorde. So the Angel departed from her.
And Mary said, "See, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
39 And Marie arose in those daies, and went into ye hil countrey with hast to a citie of Iuda,
Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
40 And entred into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabet.
and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 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.
It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 And she cried with a loud voice, and saide, Blessed art thou among women, because the fruit of thy wombe is blessed.
She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And whence commeth this to mee, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For loe, assoone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the babe sprang in my bellie for ioye,
For look, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is shee that beleeued: for those things shall be perfourmed, which were tolde her from the Lord.
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord."
46 Then Marie sayde, My soule magnifieth the Lord,
Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 And my spirite reioyceth in God my Sauiour.
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 For hee hath looked on the poore degree of his seruaunt: for beholde, from henceforth shall all ages call me blessed,
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant girl. For look, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 Because hee that is mightie, hath done for me great things, and holy is his Name.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercie is from generation to generation on them that feare him.
His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
51 Hee hath shewed strength with his arme: hee hath scattered the proude in the imagination of their hearts.
He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 Hee hath put downe the mighty from their seates, and exalted them of lowe degree.
He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
53 Hee hath filled the hungrie with good things, and sent away the rich emptie.
He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
54 Hee hath vpholden Israel his seruaunt to be mindefull of his mercie
He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
55 (As hee hath spoken to our fathers, to wit, to Abraham, and his seede) for euer. (aiōn g165)
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever." (aiōn g165)
56 And Marie abode with her about three moneths: after, shee returned to her owne house.
Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
57 Nowe Elisabets time was fulfilled, that shee should be deliuered, and shee brought foorth a sonne.
Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours, and cousins heard tell howe the Lord had shewed his great mercie vpon her, and they reioyced with her.
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 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.
It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zechariah, after the name of the father.
60 But his mother answered, and saide, Not so, but he shalbe called Iohn.
His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
61 And they saide vnto her, There is none of thy kindred, that is named with this name.
They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
62 Then they made signes to his father, howe he would haue him called.
They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
63 So hee asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying, His name is Iohn, and they marueiled all.
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake and praised God.
His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 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.
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 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.
All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Then his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
His father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and redeemed his people,
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
69 And hath raised vp the horne of saluation vnto vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid,
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70 As he spake by ye mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying, (aiōn g165)
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), (aiōn g165)
71 That he would sende vs deliuerance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate vs,
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 That he might shewe mercie towards our fathers, and remember his holy couenant,
to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
73 And the othe which he sware to our father Abraham.
the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
74 Which was, that he would graunt vnto vs, that we being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, should serue him without feare,
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75 All the daies of our life, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him.
In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 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,
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his ways,
77 And to giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through ye tender mercy of our God, wherby the day spring from an hie hath visited vs,
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
79 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.
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80 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.
The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

< Luke 1 >