Luke 1
1 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,
提阿非羅大人哪，有好些人提筆作書，述說在我們中間所成就的事，是照傳道的人從起初親眼看見又傳給我們的。
2 just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the message.
3 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,
這些事我既從起頭都詳細考察了，就定意要按着次序寫給你，
4 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.
使你知道所學之道都是確實的。
5 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.
當猶太王希律的時候，亞比雅班裏有一個祭司，名叫撒迦利亞；他妻子是亞倫的後人，名叫伊利莎白。
6 They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
他們二人在上帝面前都是義人，遵行主的一切誡命禮儀，沒有可指摘的，
7 But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
只是沒有孩子；因為伊利莎白不生育，兩個人又年紀老邁了。
8 One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
撒迦利亞按班次在上帝面前供祭司的職分，
9 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;
照祭司的規矩掣籤，得進主殿燒香。
10 and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
燒香的時候，眾百姓在外面禱告。
11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
有主的使者站在香壇的右邊，向他顯現。
12 Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
撒迦利亞看見，就驚慌害怕。
13 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.
天使對他說：「撒迦利亞，不要害怕，因為你的祈禱已經被聽見了。你的妻子伊利莎白要給你生一個兒子，你要給他起名叫約翰。
14 He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.
你必歡喜快樂；有許多人因他出世，也必喜樂。
15 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,
他在主面前將要為大，淡酒濃酒都不喝，從母腹裏就被聖靈充滿了。
16 and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
他要使許多以色列人回轉，歸於主－他們的上帝。
17 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.’
他必有以利亞的心志能力，行在主的前面，叫為父的心轉向兒女，叫悖逆的人轉從義人的智慧，又為主預備合用的百姓。」
18 ‘How can I be sure of this?’ Zechariah asked the angel. ‘For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.’
撒迦利亞對天使說：「我憑着甚麼可知道這事呢？我已經老了，我的妻子也年紀老邁了。」
19 ‘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.
天使回答說：「我是站在上帝面前的加百列，奉差而來對你說話，將這好信息報給你。
20 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.’
到了時候，這話必然應驗；只因你不信，你必啞巴，不能說話，直到這事成就的日子。」
21 Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
百姓等候撒迦利亞，詫異他許久在殿裏。
22 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.
及至他出來，不能和他們說話，他們就知道他在殿裏見了異象；因為他直向他們打手式，竟成了啞巴。
23 And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
他供職的日子已滿，就回家去了。
24 After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
這些日子以後，他的妻子伊利莎白懷了孕，就隱藏了五個月，
25 ‘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.’
說：「主在眷顧我的日子，這樣看待我，要把我在人間的羞恥除掉。」
26 Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
到了第六個月，天使加百列奉上帝的差遣往加利利的一座城去（這城名叫拿撒勒），
27 to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
到一個童女那裏，是已經許配大衛家的一個人，名叫約瑟。童女的名字叫馬利亞；
28 Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, ‘You have been shown great favour – the Lord is with you.’
天使進去，對她說：「蒙大恩的女子，我問你安，主和你同在了！」
29 Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
馬利亞因這話就很驚慌，又反覆思想這樣問安是甚麼意思。
30 when the angel spoke again, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
天使對她說：「馬利亞，不要怕！你在上帝面前已經蒙恩了。
31 And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
你要懷孕生子，可以給他起名叫耶穌。
32 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,
他要為大，稱為至高者的兒子；主上帝要把他祖大衛的位給他。
33 and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.’ (aiōn g165)
他要作雅各家的王，直到永遠；他的國也沒有窮盡。」 (aiōn g165)
34 ‘How can this be?’ Mary asked the angel. ‘For I have no husband.’
馬利亞對天使說：「我沒有出嫁，怎麼有這事呢？」
35 ‘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.”
天使回答說：「聖靈要臨到你身上，至高者的能力要蔭庇你，因此所要生的聖者必稱為上帝的兒子 。
36 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;
況且你的親戚伊利莎白，在年老的時候也懷了男胎，就是那素來稱為不生育的，現在有孕六個月了。
37 for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.’
因為，出於上帝的話，沒有一句不帶能力的。」
38 ‘I am the servant of the Lord,’ exclaimed Mary. ‘Let it be with me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.
馬利亞說：「我是主的使女，情願照你的話成就在我身上。」天使就離開她去了。
39 Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
那時候，馬利亞起身，急忙往山地裏去，來到猶大的一座城；
40 and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
進了撒迦利亞的家，問伊利莎白安。
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
伊利莎白一聽馬利亞問安，所懷的胎就在腹裏跳動。伊利莎白且被聖靈充滿，
42 and cried aloud, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
高聲喊着說：「你在婦女中是有福的！你所懷的胎也是有福的！
43 But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
我主的母到我這裏來，這是從哪裏得的呢？
44 For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
因為你問安的聲音一入我耳，我腹裏的胎就歡喜跳動。
45 Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.’
這相信的女子是有福的！因為主對她所說的話都要應驗。」
46 And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord,
馬利亞說： 我心尊主為大；
47 and my spirit delights in God my Saviour,
我靈以上帝我的救主為樂；
48 for he has looked with favour on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
因為他顧念他使女的卑微； 從今以後， 萬代要稱我有福。
49 ‘For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
那有權能的，為我成就了大事； 他的名為聖。
50 He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
他憐憫敬畏他的人， 直到世世代代。
51 ‘Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
他用膀臂施展大能； 那狂傲的人正心裏妄想就被他趕散了。
52 he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
他叫有權柄的失位， 叫卑賤的升高；
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
叫飢餓的得飽美食， 叫富足的空手回去。
54 ‘He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
他扶助了他的僕人以色列，
為要記念亞伯拉罕和他的後裔， 施憐憫直到永遠， 正如從前對我們列祖所說的話。 (aiōn g165)
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
馬利亞和伊利莎白同住，約有三個月，就回家去了。
57 When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
伊利莎白的產期到了，就生了一個兒子。
58 and her neighbours and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
鄰里親族聽見主向她大施憐憫，就和她一同歡樂。
59 A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
到了第八日，他們來要給孩子行割禮，並要照他父親的名字叫他撒迦利亞。
60 when his mother spoke up, ‘No, he is to be called John.’
他母親說：「不可！要叫他約翰。」
61 ‘You have no relation of that name!’ they exclaimed;
他們說：「你親族中沒有叫這名字的。」
62 and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
他們就向他父親打手式，問他要叫這孩子甚麼名字。
63 Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised
他要了一塊寫字的板，就寫上，說：「他的名字是約翰。」他們便都希奇。
64 and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
撒迦利亞的口立時開了，舌頭也舒展了，就說出話來，稱頌上帝。
65 All their neighbours were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
周圍居住的人都懼怕；這一切的事就傳遍了猶太的山地。
66 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.
凡聽見的人都將這事放在心裏，說：「這個孩子將來怎麼樣呢？因為有主與他同在。」
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
他父親撒迦利亞被聖靈充滿了，就預言說：
68 ‘Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
主－以色列的上帝是應當稱頌的！ 因他眷顧他的百姓，為他們施行救贖，
69 and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
在他僕人大衛家中， 為我們興起了拯救的角，
正如主藉着從創世以來聖先知的口所說的話， (aiōn g165)
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
拯救我們脫離仇敵 和一切恨我們之人的手，
72 showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
向我們列祖施憐憫， 記念他的聖約－
73 This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
就是他對我們祖宗亞伯拉罕所起的誓－
74 that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
叫我們既從仇敵手中被救出來，
75 and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
就可以終身在他面前， 坦然無懼地用聖潔、公義事奉他。
76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
孩子啊！你要稱為至高者的先知； 因為你要行在主的前面， 預備他的道路，
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
叫他的百姓因罪得赦， 就知道救恩。
78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
因我們上帝憐憫的心腸， 叫清晨的日光從高天臨到我們，
79 to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.’
要照亮坐在黑暗中死蔭裏的人， 把我們的腳引到平安的路上。
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
那孩子漸漸長大，心靈強健，住在曠野，直到他顯明在以色列人面前的日子。
