1 ¶ Habiendo muchos tratado de poner en orden la historia de las cosas que entre nosotros han sido ciertísimas,

Since '> as is well known] many have undertaken to put in order and draw up a '> thorough] narrative of the surely established deeds which have been accomplished and fulfilled in and among us,

2 t al como nos lo enseñaron los que desde el principio lo vieron por sus ojos, y fueron ministros de la palabra;

Exactly as they were handed down to us by those who from the '> official] beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word '> the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God],

3 m e ha parecido también a mí, después de haber entendido todas las cosas desde el principio con diligencia, escribírtelas por orden, oh buen Teófilo,

It seemed good and desirable to me, also after having searched out diligently and followed all things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4 p ara que conozcas la seguridad de las cosas en las cuales has sido enseñado.

that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.

5 ¶ Hubo en los días de Herodes, rey de Judea, un sacerdote llamado Zacarías, de la clase de Abías; y su mujer, de las hijas de Aarón, llamada Elisabet.

In the days when Herod was king of Judea there was a certain priest whose name was Zachariah, of the daily service (the division) of Abia; and his wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6 Y eran ambos justos delante de Dios, andando sin reprensión en todos los mandamientos y estatutos del Señor.

And they both were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

7 Y no tenían hijo, porque Elisabet era estéril, y ambos eran avanzados en días.

But they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren; and both were far advanced in years.

8 Y aconteció que ejerciendo Zacarías el sacerdocio delante de Dios por el orden de su vez,

Now while on duty, serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

9 c onforme a la costumbre del sacerdocio, salió en suerte a poner el incienso, entrando en el Templo del Señor.

As was the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter '> sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 Y toda la multitud del pueblo estaba fuera orando a la hora del incienso.

And all the throng of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

11 Y se le apareció un ángel del Señor puesto en pie a la derecha del altar del incienso.

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

12 Y se turbó Zacarías viéndolo, y cayó temor sobre él.

And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him.

13 M as el ángel le dijo: Zacarías, no temas; porque tu oración ha sido oída, y tu mujer Elisabet te engendrará un hijo, y llamarás su nombre Juan.

But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John.

14 Y tendrás gozo y alegría, y muchos se gozarán de su nacimiento.

And you shall have joy and exultant delight, and many will rejoice over his birth,

15 P orque será grande delante de Dios, y no beberá vino ni sidra; y será lleno del Espíritu Santo, aun desde el vientre de su madre.

For he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother’s womb.

16 Y a muchos de los hijos de Israel convertirá al Señor Dios de ellos.

And he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,

17 P orque él irá delante de él con el Espíritu y virtud de Elías, para convertir los corazones de los padres a los hijos, y los rebeldes a la prudencia de los justos, para aparejar al Señor un pueblo preparado.

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright '> the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]—in order to make ready for the Lord a people prepared '> adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state].

18 Y dijo Zacarías al ángel: ¿En qué conoceré esto? Porque yo soy viejo, y mi mujer avanzada en días.

And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

19 Y respondiendo el ángel le dijo: Yo soy Gabriel, que estoy delante de Dios; y soy enviado a hablarte, y a darte este evangelio.

And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news.

20 Y he aquí estarás mudo y no podrás hablar, hasta el día que esto sea hecho, por cuanto no creiste a mis palabras, las cuales se cumplirán a su tiempo.

Now behold, you will be and will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time.

21 Y el pueblo estaba esperando a Zacarías, y se maravillaban de que él se detuviera en el Templo.

Now the people kept waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered at his delaying in the sanctuary.

22 Y saliendo, no les podía hablar; y entendieron que había visto visión en el Templo; y él les hablaba por señas, y quedó mudo.

But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them; and they '> clearly] perceived that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; and he kept making signs to them, still he remained dumb.

23 Y fue, que cumplidos los días de su oficio, se vino a su casa.

And when his time of performing priestly functions was ended, he returned to his house.

24 Y después de aquellos días concibió su mujer Elisabet, y se encubrió por cinco meses, diciendo:

Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself entirely, saying,

25 P orque el Señor me ha hecho así en los días en que miró para quitar mi afrenta entre los hombres.

Because thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He deigned to look on me to take away my reproach among men.

26 ¶ Y al sexto mes, el ángel Gabriel fue enviado de Dios a una ciudad de Galilea, llamada Nazaret,

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth,

27 a una virgen desposada con un varón que se llamaba José, de la Casa de David; y el nombre de la virgen era María.

To a girl never having been married and a virgin engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 Y entrando el ángel en donde ella estaba, dijo: ¡Gozo hallas, amada! El Señor es contigo; bendita tú entre las mujeres.

And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one '> endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!

29 M as ella, cuando le vio, se turbó de sus palabras, y pensaba qué salutación sería ésta.

But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.

30 E ntonces el ángel le dice: María, no temas, porque has hallado gracia cerca de Dios.

And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace ( free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God.

31 Y he aquí, concebirás en tu vientre, y darás a luz un hijo, y llamarás su nombre Jesús.

And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

32 E ste será grande, y será llamado Hijo del Altísimo; y le dará el Señor Dios el trono de David su padre;

He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David,

33 y reinará en la Casa de Jacob por siempre; y de su Reino no habrá fin.

And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end.

34 E ntonces María dijo al ángel: ¿Cómo será esto? Porque no conozco varón.

And Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no husband?

35 Y respondiendo el ángel le dijo: El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y la virtud del Altísimo te cubrirá; por lo cual también lo Santo que de ti nacerá, será llamado Hijo de Dios.

Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.

36 Y he aquí, Elisabet tu parienta, también ella ha concebido hijo en su vejez; y éste es el sexto mes para ella que era llamada la estéril;

And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called barren.

37 p orque ninguna cosa es imposible para Dios.

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.

38 E ntonces María dijo: He aquí la criada del Señor; cúmplase en mí conforme a tu palabra. Y el ángel se fue de su presencia.

Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her.

39 ¶ En aquellos días levantándose María, fue a la montaña con prisa, a una ciudad de Judá;

And at that time Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to a town of Judah,

40 y entró en casa de Zacarías, y saludó a Elisabet.

And she went to the house of Zachariah and, entering it, saluted Elizabeth.

41 Y aconteció, que cuando oyó Elisabet la salutación de María, la criatura saltó en su vientre; y Elisabet fue llena del Espíritu Santo,

And it occurred that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

42 y exclamó a gran voz, y dijo: Bendita tú entre las mujeres, y bendito el fruto de tu vientre.

And she cried out with a loud cry, and then exclaimed, Blessed (favored of God) above all other women are you! And blessed (favored of God) is the Fruit of your womb!

43 ¿ Y de dónde esto a mí, que la madre de mi Señor venga a mí?

And how be granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 P orque he aquí, cuando llegó la voz de tu salutación a mis oídos, la criatura saltó de alegría en mi vientre.

For behold, the instant the sound of your salutation reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45 Y bienaventurada la que creyó, porque se cumplirán las cosas que le fueron dichas de parte del Señor.

And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord.

46 E ntonces María dijo: engrandece mi alma al Señor;

And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord,

47 Y mi espíritu se alegró en Dios mi Salud,

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 p orque miró a la bajeza de su criada; Porque he aquí, desde ahora me dirán bienaventurada todas las generaciones.

For He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied!

49 P orque me ha hecho grandes cosas el Poderoso; y santo es su Nombre.

For He Who is almighty has done great things for me—and holy is His name!

50 Y su misericordia de generación a generación a los que le temen.

And His mercy (His compassion and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted) is on those who fear Him with godly reverence, from generation to generation and age to age.

51 H izo valentía con su brazo; esparció los soberbios del pensamiento de su corazón.

He has shown strength and made might with His arm; He has scattered the proud and haughty in and by the imagination and purpose and designs of their hearts.

52 Q uitó los poderosos de los tronos, y levantó a los humildes.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree.

53 A los hambrientos colmó de bienes; y a los ricos envió vacíos.

He has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed.

54 R ecibió a Israel su criado, acordándose de la misericordia.

He has laid hold on His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

55 C omo habló a nuestros padres, a Abraham y a su simiente para siempre.

Even as He promised to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

56 Y se quedó María con ella como tres meses; después se volvió a su casa.

And Mary remained with her for about three months and returned to her home.

57 ¶ Y a Elisabet se le cumplió el tiempo de su alumbramiento, y dio a luz un hijo.

Now the time that Elizabeth should be delivered came, and she gave birth to a son.

58 Y oyeron los vecinos y los parientes que Dios había hecho con ella grande misericordia, y se alegraron con ella.

And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy on her, and they rejoiced with her.

59 Y aconteció, que al octavo día vinieron para circuncidar al niño; y le llamaban con el nombre de su padre, Zacarías.

And it occurred that on the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were intending to call him Zachariah after his father,

60 Y respondiendo su madre, dijo: No; sino Juan será llamado.

But his mother answered, Not so! But he shall be called John.

61 Y le dijeron: ¿ Por qué ? Nadie hay en tu parentela que se llame con este nombre.

And they said to her, None of your relatives is called by that name.

62 Y hablaron por señas a su padre, cómo le quería llamar.

And they inquired with signs to his father what he wanted to have him called.

63 Y demandando la tablilla, escribió, diciendo: Juan es su nombre. Y todos se maravillaron.

Then Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished.

64 Y luego fue abierta su boca y su lengua, y habló bendiciendo a Dios.

And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing and praising and thanking God.

65 Y hubo temor sobre todos los vecinos de ellos; y en todas las montañas de Judea fueron divulgadas todas estas cosas.

And awe and reverential fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.

66 Y todos los que las oían, las conservaban en su corazón, diciendo: ¿Quién será este niño? Y la mano del Señor estaba con él.

And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Whatever will this little boy be then? For the hand of the Lord was '> so evidently] with him.

67 ¶ Y Zacarías su padre fue lleno del Espíritu Santo, y profetizó, diciendo:

Now Zachariah his father was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 B endito el Señor Dios de Israel, que ha visitado y hecho redención a su pueblo,

Blessed (praised and extolled and thanked) be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and brought deliverance and redemption to His people!

69 y nos alzó el cuerno de salud en la Casa de David su siervo,

And He has raised up a Horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant—

70 c omo habló por boca de los santos que fueron desde el principio, sus profetas:

This is as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times —

71 S alvación de nuestros enemigos, y de mano de todos los que nos aborrecieron;

That we should have deliverance and be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who detest and pursue us with hatred;

72 p ara hacer misericordia con nuestros padres, y acordándose de su santo testamento;

To make true and show the mercy and compassion and kindness to our forefathers and to remember and carry out His holy covenant '> all the more sacred because it is made by God Himself],

73 d el juramento que hizo a Abraham nuestro padre, que nos había de dar,

That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:

74 q ue sin temor librados de nuestros enemigos, le serviríamos

To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly

75 e n santidad y en justicia delante de él, todos los días de nuestra vida.

In holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness within His presence all the days of our lives.

76 Y tú, niño: profeta del Altísimo serás llamado; porque irás delante de la faz del Señor, para aparejar sus caminos;

And you, little one, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the face of the Lord to make ready His ways,

77 d ando conocimiento de salud a su pueblo, para remisión de sus pecados,

To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins.

78 p or las entrañas de misericordia de nuestro Dios, con que nos visitó de lo alto el amanecer,

Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit

79 p ara dar luz a los que habitan en tinieblas y en sombra de muerte; para encaminar nuestros pies por camino de paz.

To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.

80 Y el niño crecía, y era confortado del Espíritu; y estuvo en los desiertos hasta el día que se mostró a Israel.

And the little boy grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts (wilderness) until the day of his appearing to Israel.