1 ¶ Forasmuch as many have attempted to set forth in order the history of those things which among us have been most certain,

Forasmuch as many have undertaken to draw up a relation concerning the matters fully believed among us,

2 e ven as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning taught us and thus were ministers of the word,

as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us,

3 i t seemed good also to me, after having understood all the things from the beginning with great diligence, to write them unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

it has seemed good to me also, accurately acquainted from the origin with all things, to write to thee with method, most excellent Theophilus,

4 t hat thou mightest know the security of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

that thou mightest know the certainty of those things in which thou hast been instructed.

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.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

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

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

7 A nd they had no child because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well advanced in years.

And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

8 A nd it came to pass that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service before God in the order of his course,

9 a ccording to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense entering into the temple of the Lord.

it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

10 A nd the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.

And all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

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

And an angel of Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the altar of incense.

12 A nd when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

And Zacharias was troubled, seeing, and fear fell upon him.

13 B ut 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.

But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy supplication has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

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

And he shall be to thee joy and rejoicing, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 F or 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 Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

For he shall be great before Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

16 A nd he shall turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.

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

17 A nd he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the rebellious to the prudence of the just, to make ready a prepared people for the Lord.

And he shall go before him in spirit and power of Elias, to turn hearts of fathers to children, and disobedient ones to thoughts of just, to make ready for Lord a prepared people.

18 A nd Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.

And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this, for I am an old man, and my wife advanced in years?

19 A nd the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee this gospel.

And the angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to bring these glad tidings to thee;

20 A nd, behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou didst not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

and behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time.

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

And the people were awaiting Zacharias, and they wondered at his delaying in the temple.

22 A nd when he came out, he could not speak unto them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he communicated with signs and remained speechless.

But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

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

And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his house.

24 A nd after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived and hid herself five months, saying,

Now after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

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

Thus has Lord done to me in days in which he looked upon to take away my reproach among men.

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

But in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent of God to a city of Galilee, of which name Nazareth,

27 t o a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David and the virgin’s name was Mary.

to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name Mary.

28 A nd the angel came in unto her and said, Hail, thou that art much graced, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.

And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, favoured one! the Lord with thee:.

29 A nd when she saw him, she was troubled at his words and wondered in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

But she,, was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what this salutation might be.

30 T hen the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

31 A nd, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus.

and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

32 H e 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;

He shall be great, and shall be called Son of Highest; and Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father;

33 a nd he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end.

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

But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?

35 A nd the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit 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.

And the angel answering said to her, Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son of God.

36 A nd, behold, thy relative Elisabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

And behold, Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her that was called barren:

37 F or with God nothing is impossible.

for nothing shall be impossible with God.

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

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

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

And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

40 a nd entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

41 A nd 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 Spirit;

And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit,

42 a nd she spoke out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed thou amongst women, and blessed the fruit of thy womb.

43 A nd whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

And whence this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 F or, behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb.

45 A nd blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

And blessed she that has believed, for there shall be a fulfilment of the things spoken to her from Lord.

46 T hen Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 a nd my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saving Health,

and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 f or he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for, behold, from now on all generations shall call me blessed.

For he has looked upon the low estate of his bondmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 F or he that is mighty has done great things unto me, and holy is his name.

For the Mighty One has done to me great things, and holy his name;

50 A nd his mercy is on those that fear him from generation to generation.

and his mercy to generations and generations to them that fear him.

51 H e has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has wrought strength with his arm; he has scattered haughty in the thought of their heart.

52 H e has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the humble.

He has put down rulers from thrones, and exalted the lowly.

53 H e has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.

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

54 H e has received his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy

He has helped Israel his servant, in order to remember mercy,

55 a s he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.

(as he spoke to our fathers,) to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

56 A nd Mary abode with her about three months and then returned to her own house.

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

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

But the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth that she should bring forth, and she gave birth to a son.

58 A nd her neighbours and her relatives heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.

59 A nd 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.

And it came to pass on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called it after the name of his father, Zacharias.

60 A nd his mother answered and said, Not so, but he shall be called John.

And his mother answering said, No; but he shall be called John.

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

And they said to her, There is no one among thy kinsfolk who is called by this name.

62 A nd they communicated with signs to his father, asking how he would have him called.

And they made signs to his father as to what he might wish it to be called.

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

And having asked for a writing-table, he wrote saying, John is his name. And they all wondered.

64 A nd his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke blessing God.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake, blessing God.

65 A nd fear came on all that dwelt round about them, and all these things were spoken of throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

And fear came upon all who dwelt round about them; and in the whole hill-country of Judaea all these things were the subject of conversation.

66 A nd all those that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Who shall this child be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

And all who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? And Lord's hand was with him.

67 ¶ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

And Zacharias his father was filled with Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68 B lessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and made redemption for his people

Blessed be Lord the God of Israel, because he has visited and wrought redemption for his people,

69 A nd has raised up a horn of saving health for us in the house of his servant David,

and raised up a horn of deliverance for us in the house of David his servant;

70 a s he spoke by the mouth of the saints who from the beginning were his prophets;

as he spoke by mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began;

71 s alvation from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us;

deliverance from our enemies and out of the hand of all who hate us;

72 t o fulfill mercy unto our fathers and remembering his holy covenant

to fulfil mercy with our fathers and remember his holy covenant,

73 o f the oath which he made to our father Abraham,

oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

74 t hat he would grant unto us, that without fear delivered out of the hand of our enemies, we might serve him

to give us, that, saved out of the hand of our enemies, we should serve him without fear

75 i n holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

in piety and righteousness before him all our days.

76 A nd thou, child, shalt be called prophet of the Most High, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

And thou, child, shalt be called prophet of Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of Lord to make ready his ways;

77 g iving knowledge of saving health unto his people for the remission of their sins

to give knowledge of deliverance to his people by remission of their sins

78 t hrough the bowels of mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us

on account of bowels of mercy of our God; wherein dayspring from on high has visited us,

79 t o give light to those that dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.

to shine upon them who were sitting in darkness and in shadow of death, to guide our feet into way of peace.

80 A nd the child grew and was comforted of the Spirit and was in the deserts until the day of his showing unto Israel.

—And the child grew and was strengthened in spirit; and he was in the deserts until the day of his shewing to Israel.