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,

1. Several people have set themselves to relate the events that have taken place among us,

2. Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

2. as they were told by the first witnesses who later became ministers 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,

3. After I myself had carefully gone over the whole story from the beginning, it seemed right for me to give you, Theophilus, an orderly account,

4. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

4. so that your Excellency may know the truth of all 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.

5. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah, belonging to the priestly clan of Abiah. Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife, also belonged to a priestly family.

6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

6. Both of them were upright in the eyes of God and lived blamelessly in accordance with all the laws and commands of the Lord,

7. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.

7. but they had no child. Elizabeth could not have any and now they were both very old.

8. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

8. Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling their office,

9. According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

9. it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priests, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

10. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

10. At the time of offering incense all the people were praying outside;

11. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

11. it was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12. And when Zacharias saw [him], he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

12. On seeing the angel, Zechariah was deeply troubled and fear took hold of 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.

13. But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah, be assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall name him John.

14. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

14. He will bring joy and gladness to you and many will rejoice at his birth.

15. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

15. This son of yours will be great in the eyes of the Lord. Listen: he shall never drink wine or strong drink, but he will be filled with holy spirit even from his mother's womb.

16. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

16. Through him many of the people of Israel will turn to the Lord their God.

17. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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 the Lord.

17. He himself will open the way to the Lord with the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; he will reconcile fathers and children, and lead the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, in order to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

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.

18. Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I believe this? I am an old man and my wife is elderly, too."

19. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

19. The angel replied, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I am the one sent to speak to you and bring you this good news! My words will come true in their time.

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.

20. But you would not believe and now you will be silent and unable to speak until this has happened."

21. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

21. Meanwhile the people waited for Zechariah, and they were surprised that he delayed so long in the sanctuary.

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.

22. When he finally appeared, he could not speak to them and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He remained dumb and made signs to them.

23. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

23. When his time of service was completed, Zechariah returned home

24. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

24. and some time later Elizabeth became pregnant. For five months she kept to herself, remaining at home, and thinking,

25. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach among men.

25. "What is the Lord doing for me! This is his time for mercy and for taking away my public disgrace."

26. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

26. In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent

27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.

27. to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family 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, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women.

28. The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, 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.

29. Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

30. But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you.

31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

31. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.

32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

32. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob for-ever

33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

33. and his reign shall have no end."

34. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

34. Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a virgin?"

35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost 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 God.

35. And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called 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.

36. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month.

37. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

37. With God nothing is impossible."

38. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

38. Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.

39. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

39. Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah.

40. And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

40. She entered 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 Ghost:

41. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and

42. And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.

42. giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43. And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

43. How is it that the mother of my Lord comes 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.

44. The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy.

45. And blessed [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

45. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

46. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

46. And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

47. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

47. my spirit exults 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.

48. He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed.

49. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy [is] his name.

49. The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is his Name!

50. And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.

50. From age to age his mercy extends to those who live in his presence.

51. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

51. He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud with their plans.

52. He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree.

52. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up those who are downtrodden.

53. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

53. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

54. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of [his] mercy;

54. He held out his hand to Israel, his servant, for he remembered his mercy,

55. As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

55. even as he promised our fathers, Abraham and his descendants forever."

56. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

56. Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.

57. Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

57. When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son.

58. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

58. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for 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.

59. When on the eighth day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.

60. And his mother answered and said, Not [so]; but he shall be called John.

60. But his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John."

61. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

61. They said to her, "No one in your family has that name";

62. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

62. and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give.

63. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

63. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, "His name is John," and they were very surprised.

64. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spake, and praised God.

64. Immediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of 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.

65. A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events.

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 the Lord was with him.

66. All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, "What will this child be?" For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.

67. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

67. Zechariah, filled with holy spirit, sang this canticle,

68. Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

68. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has come and redeemed his people.

69. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

69. He has raised up for us a victorious Savior in the house of David his servant,

70. As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

70. as he promised through his prophets of old,

71. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

71. salvation from our enemies and from the hand of our foes.

72. To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

72. He has shown mercy to our fathers and remembered his holy covenant,

73. The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

73. the oath he swore 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,

74. to deliver us from the enemy,

75. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

75. that we might serve him fearlessly as a holy and righteous people all the days of our lives.

76. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

76. And you, my child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you shall go before the Lord to prepare the way for him

77. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

77. and enable his people to know of their salvation when he comes to forgive their sins.

78. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

78. This is the work of the mercy of our God, who comes from on high as a rising sun

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.

79. shining on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guiding our feet into the way 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.

80. As the child grew up, he was seen to be strong in the Spirit; he lived in the desert till the day when he appeared openly in Israel.