< Κατα Λουκαν 1 >

1 επειδηπερ πολλοι επεχειρησαν αναταξασθαι διηγησιν περι των πεπληροφορημενων εν ημιν πραγματων
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,
2 καθως παρεδοσαν ημιν οι απ αρχης αυτοπται και υπηρεται γενομενοι του λογου
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.
3 εδοξεν καμοι παρηκολουθηκοτι ανωθεν πασιν ακριβως καθεξης σοι γραψαι κρατιστε θεοφιλε
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,
4 ινα επιγνως περι ων κατηχηθης λογων την ασφαλειαν
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.
5 εγενετο εν ταις ημεραις ηρωδου του βασιλεως της ιουδαιας ιερευς τις ονοματι ζαχαριας εξ εφημεριας αβια και η γυνη αυτου εκ των θυγατερων ααρων και το ονομα αυτης ελισαβετ
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.
6 ησαν δε δικαιοι αμφοτεροι ενωπιον του θεου πορευομενοι εν πασαις ταις εντολαις και δικαιωμασιν του κυριου αμεμπτοι
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 και ουκ ην αυτοις τεκνον καθοτι η ελισαβετ ην στειρα και αμφοτεροι προβεβηκοτες εν ταις ημεραις αυτων ησαν
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 εγενετο δε εν τω ιερατευειν αυτον εν τη ταξει της εφημεριας αυτου εναντι του θεου
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,
9 κατα το εθος της ιερατειας ελαχεν του θυμιασαι εισελθων εις τον ναον του κυριου
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;
10 και παν το πληθος του λαου ην προσευχομενον εξω τη ωρα του θυμιαματος
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 ωφθη δε αυτω αγγελος κυριου εστως εκ δεξιων του θυσιαστηριου του θυμιαματος
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 και εταραχθη ζαχαριας ιδων και φοβος επεπεσεν επ αυτον
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 ειπεν δε προς αυτον ο αγγελος μη φοβου ζαχαρια διοτι εισηκουσθη η δεησις σου και η γυνη σου ελισαβετ γεννησει υιον σοι και καλεσεις το ονομα αυτου ιωαννην
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.
14 και εσται χαρα σοι και αγαλλιασις και πολλοι επι τη γεννησει αυτου χαρησονται
He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth.
15 εσται γαρ μεγας ενωπιον του κυριου και οινον και σικερα ου μη πιη και πνευματος αγιου πλησθησεται ετι εκ κοιλιας μητρος αυτου
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,
16 και πολλους των υιων ισραηλ επιστρεψει επι κυριον τον θεον αυτων
and shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.
17 και αυτος προελευσεται ενωπιον αυτου εν πνευματι και δυναμει ηλιου επιστρεψαι καρδιας πατερων επι τεκνα και απειθεις εν φρονησει δικαιων ετοιμασαι κυριω λαον κατεσκευασμενον
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.”
18 και ειπεν ζαχαριας προς τον αγγελον κατα τι γνωσομαι τουτο εγω γαρ ειμι πρεσβυτης και η γυνη μου προβεβηκυια εν ταις ημεραις αυτης
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 και αποκριθεις ο αγγελος ειπεν αυτω εγω ειμι γαβριηλ ο παρεστηκως ενωπιον του θεου και απεσταλην λαλησαι προς σε και ευαγγελισασθαι σοι ταυτα
“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.
20 και ιδου εση σιωπων και μη δυναμενος λαλησαι αχρι ης ημερας γενηται ταυτα ανθ ων ουκ επιστευσας τοις λογοις μου οιτινες πληρωθησονται εις τον καιρον αυτων
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.”
21 και ην ο λαος προσδοκων τον ζαχαριαν και εθαυμαζον εν τω χρονιζειν αυτον εν τω ναω
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 εξελθων δε ουκ ηδυνατο λαλησαι αυτοις και επεγνωσαν οτι οπτασιαν εωρακεν εν τω ναω και αυτος ην διανευων αυτοις και διεμενεν κωφος
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.
23 και εγενετο ως επλησθησαν αι ημεραι της λειτουργιας αυτου απηλθεν εις τον οικον αυτου
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 μετα δε ταυτας τας ημερας συνελαβεν ελισαβετ η γυνη αυτου και περιεκρυβεν εαυτην μηνας πεντε λεγουσα
After this his wife, Elizabeth, expecting to become a mother, lived in seclusion for five months.
25 οτι ουτως μοι πεποιηκεν ο κυριος εν ημεραις αις επειδεν αφελειν το ονειδος μου εν ανθρωποις
“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.”
26 εν δε τω μηνι τω εκτω απεσταλη ο αγγελος γαβριηλ υπο του θεου εις πολιν της γαλιλαιας η ονομα ναζαρεθ
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 προς παρθενον μεμνηστευμενην ανδρι ω ονομα ιωσηφ εξ οικου δαβιδ και το ονομα της παρθενου μαριαμ
to a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 και εισελθων ο αγγελος προς αυτην ειπεν χαιρε κεχαριτωμενη ο κυριος μετα σου ευλογημενη συ εν γυναιξιν
Gabriel came into her presence and said: “Hail, you who have been highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
29 η δε ιδουσα διεταραχθη επι τω λογω αυτου και διελογιζετο ποταπος ειη ο ασπασμος ουτος
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 και ειπεν ο αγγελος αυτη μη φοβου μαριαμ ευρες γαρ χαριν παρα τω θεω
when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 και ιδου συλληψη εν γαστρι και τεξη υιον και καλεσεις το ονομα αυτου ιησουν
And now, you shall be with child and give birth to a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus.
32 ουτος εσται μεγας και υιος υψιστου κληθησεται και δωσει αυτω κυριος ο θεος τον θρονον δαβιδ του πατρος αυτου
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,
33 και βασιλευσει επι τον οικον ιακωβ εις τους αιωνας και της βασιλειας αυτου ουκ εσται τελος (aiōn g165)
and he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end.” (aiōn g165)
34 ειπεν δε μαριαμ προς τον αγγελον πως εσται τουτο επει ανδρα ου γινωσκω
“How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”
35 και αποκριθεις ο αγγελος ειπεν αυτη πνευμα αγιον επελευσεται επι σε και δυναμις υψιστου επισκιασει σοι διο και το γεννωμενον αγιον κληθησεται υιος θεου
“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.’
36 και ιδου ελισαβετ η συγγενης σου και αυτη συνειληφυια υιον εν γηρα αυτης και ουτος μην εκτος εστιν αυτη τη καλουμενη στειρα
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;
37 οτι ουκ αδυνατησει παρα τω θεω παν ρημα
for no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled.”
38 ειπεν δε μαριαμ ιδου η δουλη κυριου γενοιτο μοι κατα το ρημα σου και απηλθεν απ αυτης ο αγγελος
“I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
39 αναστασα δε μαριαμ εν ταις ημεραις ταυταις επορευθη εις την ορεινην μετα σπουδης εις πολιν ιουδα
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 και εισηλθεν εις τον οικον ζαχαριου και ησπασατο την ελισαβετ
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 και εγενετο ως ηκουσεν η ελισαβετ τον ασπασμον της μαριας εσκιρτησεν το βρεφος εν τη κοιλια αυτης και επλησθη πνευματος αγιου η ελισαβετ
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 και ανεφωνησεν φωνη μεγαλη και ειπεν ευλογημενη συ εν γυναιξιν και ευλογημενος ο καρπος της κοιλιας σου
and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 και ποθεν μοι τουτο ινα ελθη η μητηρ του κυριου μου προς με
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 ιδου γαρ ως εγενετο η φωνη του ασπασμου σου εις τα ωτα μου εσκιρτησεν εν αγαλλιασει το βρεφος εν τη κοιλια μου
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 και μακαρια η πιστευσασα οτι εσται τελειωσις τοις λελαλημενοις αυτη παρα κυριου
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”
46 και ειπεν μαριαμ μεγαλυνει η ψυχη μου τον κυριον
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
47 και ηγαλλιασεν το πνευμα μου επι τω θεω τω σωτηρι μου
my spirit delights in God my Saviour;
48 οτι επεβλεψεν επι την ταπεινωσιν της δουλης αυτου ιδου γαρ απο του νυν μακαριουσιν με πασαι αι γενεαι
for he has remembered his servant in her lowliness; And from this hour all ages will count me happy!
49 οτι εποιησεν μοι μεγαλεια ο δυνατος και αγιον το ονομα αυτου
Great things has the Almighty done for me; And holy is his name.
50 και το ελεος αυτου εις γενεας γενεων τοις φοβουμενοις αυτον
From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.
51 εποιησεν κρατος εν βραχιονι αυτου διεσκορπισεν υπερηφανους διανοια καρδιας αυτων
Mighty are the deeds of his arm; He scatters the proud with their own devices,
52 καθειλεν δυναστας απο θρονων και υψωσεν ταπεινους
he casts down princes from their thrones, and the lowly he uplifts,
53 πεινωντας ενεπλησεν αγαθων και πλουτουντας εξαπεστειλεν κενους
the hungry he loads with gifts, and the rich he sends empty away.
54 αντελαβετο ισραηλ παιδος αυτου μνησθηναι ελεους
He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy
55 καθως ελαλησεν προς τους πατερας ημων τω αβρααμ και τω σπερματι αυτου εις τον αιωνα (aiōn g165)
(As he promised to our forefathers) For Abraham and his race for ever.” (aiōn g165)
56 εμεινεν δε μαριαμ συν αυτη ωσει μηνας τρεις και υπεστρεψεν εις τον οικον αυτης
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 τη δε ελισαβετ επλησθη ο χρονος του τεκειν αυτην και εγεννησεν υιον
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 και ηκουσαν οι περιοικοι και οι συγγενεις αυτης οτι εμεγαλυνεν κυριος το ελεος αυτου μετ αυτης και συνεχαιρον αυτη
and her neighbours and relations, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 και εγενετο εν τη ογδοη ημερα ηλθον περιτεμειν το παιδιον και εκαλουν αυτο επι τω ονοματι του πατρος αυτου ζαχαριαν
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him ‘Zechariah’ after his father,
60 και αποκριθεισα η μητηρ αυτου ειπεν ουχι αλλα κληθησεται ιωαννης
when his mother interposed: “No, he is to be called John.”
61 και ειπον προς αυτην οτι ουδεις εστιν εν τη συγγενεια σου ος καλειται τω ονοματι τουτω
“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;
62 ενενευον δε τω πατρι αυτου το τι αν θελοι καλεισθαι αυτον
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 και αιτησας πινακιδιον εγραψεν λεγων ιωαννης εστιν το ονομα αυτου και εθαυμασαν παντες
Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Every one was surprised;
64 ανεωχθη δε το στομα αυτου παραχρημα και η γλωσσα αυτου και ελαλει ευλογων τον θεον
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 και εγενετο επι παντας φοβος τους περιοικουντας αυτους και εν ολη τη ορεινη της ιουδαιας διελαλειτο παντα τα ρηματα ταυτα
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;
66 και εθεντο παντες οι ακουσαντες εν τη καρδια αυτων λεγοντες τι αρα το παιδιον τουτο εσται και χειρ κυριου ην μετ αυτου
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.
67 και ζαχαριας ο πατηρ αυτου επλησθη πνευματος αγιου και προεφητευσεν λεγων
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 ευλογητος κυριος ο θεος του ισραηλ οτι επεσκεψατο και εποιησεν λυτρωσιν τω λαω αυτου
“Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 και ηγειρεν κερας σωτηριας ημιν εν τω οικω δαβιδ του παιδος αυτου
and has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation In the House of his servant David —
70 καθως ελαλησεν δια στοματος των αγιων των απ αιωνος προφητων αυτου (aiōn g165)
As he promised by the lips of his Holy Prophets of old — (aiōn g165)
71 σωτηριαν εξ εχθρων ημων και εκ χειρος παντων των μισουντων ημας
Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 ποιησαι ελεος μετα των πατερων ημων και μνησθηναι διαθηκης αγιας αυτου
showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant.
73 ορκον ον ωμοσεν προς αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων του δουναι ημιν
This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham —
74 αφοβως εκ χειρος των εχθρων ημων ρυσθεντας λατρευειν αυτω
That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 εν οσιοτητι και δικαιοσυνη ενωπιον αυτου πασας τας ημερας της ζωης ημων
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
76 και συ παιδιον προφητης υψιστου κληθηση προπορευση γαρ προ προσωπου κυριου ετοιμασαι οδους αυτου
And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 του δουναι γνωσιν σωτηριας τω λαω αυτου εν αφεσει αμαρτιων αυτων
to give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins,
78 δια σπλαγχνα ελεους θεου ημων εν οις επεσκεψατο ημας ανατολη εξ υψους
through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,
79 επιφαναι τοις εν σκοτει και σκια θανατου καθημενοις του κατευθυναι τους ποδας ημων εις οδον ειρηνης
to give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 το δε παιδιον ηυξανεν και εκραταιουτο πνευματι και ην εν ταις ερημοις εως ημερας αναδειξεως αυτου προς τον ισραηλ
The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.

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