Luke 1
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
So it seemed good to me also, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, from the division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before YHWH, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of YHWH blameless.
They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before YHWH in the order of his course,
Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of YHWH.
According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of YHWH standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on him.
13 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.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of YHWH, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to YHWH their Elohim.
Many of the people of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of EliYah, 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 YHWH.
He will go before the face of the Lord 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 righteous—to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
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.
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old.”
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of YHWH; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time 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: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
But when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision while he was in the temple. He kept on making signs to them and remained silent.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said,
25 Thus hath YHWH dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
“This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked at me with favor in order to take away my shame before people.”
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from YHWH unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. He belonged to the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, YHWH is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
He came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with YHWH.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Yahushua.
See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will call his name 'Jesus.'
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and YHWH Elohim shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” (aiōn g165)
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I have not slept with any man?”
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of YHWH.
The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will come over you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
See, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her, she who was called barren.
37 For with YHWH nothing shall be impossible.
For nothing will be impossible for God.”
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of YHWH; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Mary said, “See, I am the female servant of the Lord. Let it be for me according to your message.” Then the angel left her.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:
Now it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
She raised her voice and said loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Sovereign should come to me?
Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from YHWH.
Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify YHWH,
Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in Elohim my Saviour.
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he has looked at the low condition of his female servant. For see, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has displayed strength with his arm; he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He has thrown down princes from their thrones and he has raised up those of low condition.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
He has given help to Israel his servant, so as to remember to show mercy
(as he said to our fathers) to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby and she gave birth to a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how YHWH had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him “Zechariah,” after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
But his mother answered and said, “No. He will be called John.”
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” They all were astonished at this.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised YHWH.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke 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 Judaea.
Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of YHWH was with him.
All who heard them stored them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be YHWH Elohim of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
“Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to help and he has accomplished redemption for his people.
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: (aiōn g165)
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago), (aiōn g165)
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
He will do this to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
the oath that he spoke to Abraham our father.
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
He swore to grant to us that we, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of YHWH to prepare his ways;
Yes, and you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his paths, to prepare people for his coming,
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Through the tender mercy of our Elohim; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
This will happen because of the tender mercy of our God, because of which the sunrise from on high will come to help us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He will do this to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Now the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
