1 S eeing that many did take in hand to set in order a narration of the matters that have been fully assured among us,

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

2 a s they did deliver to us, who from the beginning became eye-witnesses, and officers of the Word, --

even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning wer eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

3 i t seemed good also to me, having followed from the first after all things exactly, to write to thee in order, most noble Theophilus,

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

4 t hat thou mayest know the certainty of the things wherein thou wast instructed.

that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

5 T here was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Abijah, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elisabeth;

There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 a nd they were both righteous before God, going on in all the commands and righteousnesses of the Lord blameless,

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

7 a nd they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.

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

8 A nd it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his course before God,

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

9 a ccording to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was to make perfume, having gone into the sanctuary of the Lord,

according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 a nd all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the hour of the perfume.

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

11 A nd there appeared to him a messenger of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of the perfume,

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

12 a nd Zacharias, having seen, was troubled, and fear fell on him;

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

13 a nd the messenger said unto him, `Fear not, Zacharias, for thy supplication was heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name John,

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 a nd there shall be joy to thee, and gladness, and many at his birth shall joy,

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

15 f or he shall be great before the Lord, and wine and strong drink he may not drink, and of the Holy Spirit he shall be full, even from his mother's womb;

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

16 a nd many of the sons of Israel he shall turn to the Lord their God,

And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.

17 a nd he shall go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of fathers unto children, and disobedient ones to the wisdom of righteous ones, to make ready for the Lord, a people prepared.'

And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.

18 A nd Zacharias said unto the messenger, `Whereby shall I know this? for I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days?'

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

19 A nd the messenger answering said to him, `I am Gabriel, who have been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to proclaim these good news to thee,

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

20 a nd lo, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, that shall be fulfilled in their season.'

And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21 A nd the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondering at his tarrying in the sanctuary,

And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

22 a nd having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the sanctuary, and he was beckoning to them, and did remain dumb.

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

23 A nd it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went away to his house,

And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

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

And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

25 ` Thus hath the Lord done to me, in days in which He looked upon, to take away my reproach among men.'

Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

26 A nd in the sixth month was the messenger Gabriel sent by God, to a city of Galilee, the name of which Nazareth,

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

27 t o a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin Mary.

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

28 A nd the messenger having come in unto her, said, `Hail, favoured one, the Lord with thee; blessed thou among women;'

And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.

29 a nd she, having seen, was troubled at his word, and was reasoning of what kind this salutation may be.

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

30 A nd the messenger said to her, `Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

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

31 a nd lo, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus;

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

32 h e shall be great, and Son of the Highest he shall be called, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father,

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

33 a nd he shall reign over the house of Jacob to the ages; and of his reign there shall be no end.'

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

34 A nd Mary said unto the messenger, `How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'

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

35 A nd the messenger answering said to her, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God;

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

36 a nd lo, Elisabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her who was called barren;

And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.

37 b ecause nothing shall be impossible with God.'

For no word from God shall be void of power.

38 A nd Mary said, `Lo, the maid-servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to thy saying,' and the messenger went away from her.

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

39 A nd Mary having arisen in those days, went to the hill-country, with haste, to a city of Judea,

And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into 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 Elisabeth.

41 A nd it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe did leap in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

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

42 a nd spake out with a loud voice, and said, `Blessed thou among women, and blessed the fruit of thy womb;

and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43 a nd whence this to me, that the mother of my Lord might come unto me?

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

44 f or, lo, when the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, leap in gladness did the babe in my womb;

For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45 a nd happy she who did believe, for there shall be a completion to the things spoken to her from the Lord.'

And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

46 A nd Mary said, `My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 A nd my spirit was glad on God my Saviour,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 B ecause He looked on the lowliness of His maid-servant, For, lo, henceforth call me happy shall all the generations,

For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 F or He who is mighty did to me great things, And holy His name,

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

50 A nd His kindness to generations of generations, To those fearing Him,

And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

51 H e did powerfully with His arm, He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart,

He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

52 H e brought down the mighty from thrones, And He exalted the lowly,

He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

53 T he hungry He did fill with good, And the rich He sent away empty,

The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 H e received again Israel His servant, To remember kindness,

He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

55 A s He spake unto our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed -- to the age.'

(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

56 A nd Mary remained with her about three months, and turned back to her house.

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

57 A nd to Elisabeth was the time fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she bare a son,

Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58 a nd the neighbours and her kindred heard that the Lord was making His kindness great with her, and they were rejoicing with her.

And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

59 A nd it came to pass, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias,

And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.

60 a nd his mother answering said, `No, but he shall be called John.'

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

61 A nd they said unto her -- `There is none among thy kindred who is called by this name,'

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

62 a nd they were making signs to his father, what he would wish him to be called,

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

63 a nd having asked for a tablet, he wrote, saying, `John is his name;' and they did all wonder;

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

64 a nd his mouth was opened presently, and his tongue, and he was speaking, praising God.

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

65 A nd fear came upon all those dwelling around them, and in all the hill-country of Judea were all these sayings spoken of,

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

66 a nd all who heard did lay them up in their hearts, saying, `What then shall this child be?' and the hand of the Lord was with him.

And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 A nd Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and did prophesy, saying,

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

68 ` Blessed the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He did look upon, And wrought redemption for His people,

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

69 A nd did raise an horn of salvation to us, In the house of David His servant,

And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

70 A s He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, Which have been from the age;

(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

71 S alvation from our enemies, And out of the hand of all hating us,

Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 T o do kindness with our fathers, And to be mindful of His holy covenant,

To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

73 A n oath that He sware to Abraham our father,

The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,

74 T o give to us, without fear, Out of the hand of our enemies having been delivered,

To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

75 T o serve Him, in holiness and righteousness Before Him, all the days of our life.

In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

76 A nd thou, child, Prophet of the Highest Shalt thou be called; For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, To prepare His ways.

Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;

77 T o give knowledge of salvation to His people In remission of their sins,

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,

78 T hrough the tender mercies of our God, In which the rising from on high did look upon us,

Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,

79 T o give light to those sitting in darkness and death-shade, To guide our feet to a way of peace.'

To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 A nd the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.