Luke 1
1 Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us
Forsothe for manye men enforceden to ordeyne the tellyng of thingis, whiche ben fillid in vs,
2 on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,
as thei that seyn atte the bigynnyng, and weren ministris of the word,
3 it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,
bitaken, it is seen also to me, hauynge alle thingis diligentli bi ordre, to write to thee,
4 that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.
thou best Theofile, that thou knowe the treuthe of tho wordis, of whiche thou art lerned.
5 There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
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 of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.
And bothe weren iust bifor God, goynge in alle the maundementis and iustifiyngis of the Lord, withouten pleynt.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.
And thei hadden no child, for Elizabeth was bareyn, and bothe weren of grete age in her daies.
8 Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
And it bifel, that whanne Zacarie schulde do the office of preesthod, in the ordre of his cours tofor God,
9 it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;
aftir the custome of the preesthod, he wente forth bi lot, and entride in to the temple, to encense.
10 and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.
And al the multitude of the puple was with outforth, and preiede in the our of encensyng.
11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side 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 and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.
And Zacarie seynge was afraied, and drede fel vpon hym.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his 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 Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over 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 sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will 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 Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;
And he schal conuerte many of the children of Israel to her Lord God;
17 and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for 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 "By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far 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, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell 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 will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed 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 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.
And the puple was abidynge Zacarie, and thei wondriden, that he tariede in the temple.
22 When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued 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 When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;
And it was don, whanne the daies of his office weren fulfillid, he wente in to his hous.
24 and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.
And aftir these daies Elizabeth, his wijf, conseyuede, and hidde hir fyue monethis, and seide,
25 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among 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 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 betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's 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 So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! 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 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.
And whanne sche hadde herd, sche was troublid in his word, and thouyte what maner salutacioun this was.
30 But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, 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 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name 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 He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather 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 will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, 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 "How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that 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 angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the 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 see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was 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 will be impossible of fulfilment."
for euery word schal not be inpossible anentis God.
38 "I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And 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 Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste 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 Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;
And sche entride in to the hous of Zacarie, and grette Elizabeth.
41 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth 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 uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!
and criede with a greet vois, and seide, Blessid be thou among wymmen, and blessid be the fruyt of thi wombe.
43 But why is this honour done me, 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, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt 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 And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall 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 Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,
And Marie seide, Mi soule magnyfieth the Lord,
47 And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;
and my spirit hath gladid in God, myn helthe.
48 Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,
For he hath biholdun the mekenesse of his handmaidun.
49 Because the mighty One has done great things for me--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 And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.
And his mercy is fro kynrede in to kynredes, to men that dreden hym.
51 He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.
He made myyt in his arme, he scaterede proude men with the thouyte of his herte.
52 He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.
He sette doun myyti men fro sete, and enhaunside meke men.
53 The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.
He hath fulfillid hungri men with goodis, and he hath left riche men voide.
54 His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--
He, hauynge mynde of his mercy, took Israel, his child;
55 In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." (aiōn g165)
as he hath spokun to oure fadris, to Abraham and to his seed, in to worldis. (aiōn g165)
56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.
And Marie dwellide with hir, as it were thre monethis, and turnede ayen in to hir hous.
57 Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, 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 relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.
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 circumcise the child, and were going 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 His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."
And his moder answeride, and seide, Nay, but he schal be clepid Joon.
61 "There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."
And thei seiden to hir, For no man is in thi kynrede, that is clepid this name.
62 They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.
And thei bikeneden to his fadir, what he wolde that he were clepid.
63 So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
And he axynge a poyntil, wroot, seiynge, Joon is his name.
64 Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God.
And alle men wondriden. And anoon his mouth was openyd, and his tunge, and he spak, and blesside God.
65 And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.
And drede was maad on alle her neiyboris, and alle these wordis weren pupplischid on alle the mounteyns of Judee.
66 All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the lord's hand was indeed 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 Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.
And Zacarie, his fadir, was fulfillid with the Hooli Goost, and prophesiede,
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,
and seide, Blessid be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visitid, and maad redempcioun of his puple.
69 And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--
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 To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.
Helthe fro oure enemyes, and fro the hoond of alle men that hatiden vs.
72 He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant,
To do merci with oure fadris, and to haue mynde of his hooli testament.
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather,
The greet ooth that he swoor to Abraham, oure fadir, to yyue hym silf to vs.
74 To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,
That we with out drede delyuered fro the hoond of oure enemyes,
75 In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.
serue to hym, in hoolynesse and riytwisnesse bifor hym in alle oure daies.
76 And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
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 to His People a 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 compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will 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 Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path 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 grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.
And the child wexide, and was coumfortid in spirit, and was in desert placis `til to the dai of his schewing to Israel.
