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,
Forsothe for manye men enforceden to ordeyne the tellyng of thingis, whiche ben fillid in vs,
2 just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
as thei that seyn atte the bigynnyng, and weren ministris of the word,
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,
bitaken, it is seen also to me, hauynge alle thingis diligentli bi ordre, to write to thee,
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.
thou best Theofile, that thou knowe the treuthe of tho wordis, of whiche thou art lerned.
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.
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 both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
And bothe weren iust bifor God, goynge in alle the maundementis and iustifiyngis of the Lord, withouten pleynt.
7 But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
And thei hadden no child, for Elizabeth was bareyn, and bothe weren of grete age in her daies.
8 One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
And it bifel, that whanne Zacarie schulde do the office of preesthod, in the ordre of his cours tofor God,
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;
aftir the custome of the preesthod, he wente forth bi lot, and entride in to the temple, to encense.
10 and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
And al the multitude of the puple was with outforth, and preiede in the our of encensyng.
11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
And an aungel of the Lord apperide to hym, and stood on the riythalf of the auter of encense.
12 Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
And Zacarie seynge was afraied, and drede fel vpon hym.
13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall call by the name 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 He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
And ioye and gladyng schal be to thee; and many schulen `haue ioye in his natyuyte.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord; he shall not drink any wine or strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of 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 shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
And he schal conuerte many of the children of Israel to her Lord God;
17 He shall 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.”
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 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced 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 “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.
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 And now you shall 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.”
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 Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
And the puple was abidynge Zacarie, and thei wondriden, that he tariede in the temple.
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.
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, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
And it was don, whanne the daies of his office weren fulfillid, he wente in to his hous.
24 After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
And aftir these daies Elizabeth, his wijf, conseyuede, and hidde hir fyue monethis, and seide,
25 “This is what the Lord has done for me,” she said, “now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living.”
For so the Lord dide to me in the daies, in whiche he bihelde, to take awei my repreef among men.
26 Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called 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 maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name 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 Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! 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 Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
And whanne sche hadde herd, sche was troublid in his word, and thouyte what maner salutacioun this was.
30 when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
And the aungel seide to hir, Ne drede thou not, Marie, for thou hast foundun grace anentis God.
31 And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
Lo! thou schalt conceyue in wombe, and schalt bere a sone, and thou schalt clepe his name Jhesus.
32 The child shall be great and shall be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
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 and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall 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 “How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
And Marie seide to the aungel, On what maner schal this thing be doon, for Y knowe not man?
35 “The Holy Spirit shall descend upon you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘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 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;
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 no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
for euery word schal not be inpossible anentis God.
38 “I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
And Marie seide, Lo! the handmaydyn of the Lord; be it don to me aftir thi word. And the aungel departide fro hir.
39 Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
And Marie roos vp in tho daies, and wente with haaste in to the mounteyns, in to a citee of Judee.
40 and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
And sche entride in to the hous of Zacarie, and grette Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with 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 cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
and criede with a greet vois, and seide, Blessid be thou among wymmen, and blessid be the fruyt of thi wombe.
43 But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And whereof is this thing to me, that the modir of my Lord come to me?
44 For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
For lo! as the voice of thi salutacioun was maad in myn eeris, the yong child gladide in ioye in my wombe.
45 Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
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 exalts the Lord,
And Marie seide, Mi soule magnyfieth the Lord,
47 my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
and my spirit hath gladid in God, myn helthe.
48 for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
For he hath biholdun the mekenesse of his handmaidun.
49 Great things has the Almighty done 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 From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
And his mercy is fro kynrede in to kynredes, to men that dreden hym.
51 Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
He made myyt in his arme, he scaterede proude men with the thouyte of his herte.
52 he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
He sette doun myyti men fro sete, and enhaunside meke men.
53 the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
He hath fulfillid hungri men with goodis, and he hath left riche men voide.
54 He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
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 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
And Marie dwellide with hir, as it were thre monethis, and turnede ayen in to hir hous.
57 When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
But the tyme of beryng child was fulfillid to Elizabeth, and sche bare a sone.
58 and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
And the neiyboris and cosyns of hir herden, that the Lord hadde magnyfied his mercy with hir; and thei thankiden hym.
59 A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
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 when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
And his moder answeride, and seide, Nay, but he schal be clepid Joon.
61 “You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
And thei seiden to hir, For no man is in thi kynrede, that is clepid this name.
62 and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
And thei bikeneden to his fadir, what he wolde that he were clepid.
63 Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
And he axynge a poyntil, wroot, seiynge, Joon is his name.
64 and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
And alle men wondriden. And anoon his mouth was openyd, and his tunge, and he spak, and blesside God.
65 All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
And drede was maad on alle her neiyboris, and alle these wordis weren pupplischid on alle the mounteyns of Judee.
66 and 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.
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 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
And Zacarie, his fadir, was fulfillid with the Hooli Goost, and prophesiede,
68 “Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
and seide, Blessid be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visitid, and maad redempcioun of his puple.
69 and has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation 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 our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
Helthe fro oure enemyes, and fro the hoond of alle men that hatiden vs.
72 showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
To do merci with oure fadris, and to haue mynde of his hooli testament.
73 This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
The greet ooth that he swoor to Abraham, oure fadir, to yyue hym silf to vs.
74 That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
That we with out drede delyuered fro the hoond of oure enemyes,
75 and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
serue to hym, in hoolynesse and riytwisnesse bifor hym in alle oure daies.
76 And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
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 his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
To yyue scyence of helthe to his puple, in to remyssioun of her synnes;
78 through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
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 who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet 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 The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.
And the child wexide, and was coumfortid in spirit, and was in desert placis `til to the dai of his schewing to Israel.
