| Luke 1 - Versions
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| Luke 1 Text (WEB)
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- Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
- even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
- it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
- that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
- There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
- They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
- But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
- Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
- according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
- The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
- An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
- Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
- But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
- You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
- For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
- He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
- He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord."
- Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
- The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
- Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
- The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
- When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
- It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
- After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
- "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."
- Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
- to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
- Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"
- But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
- The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
- He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
- and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."
- Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
- The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
- Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
- For everything spoken by God is possible."
- Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
- Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
- and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
- It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
- She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
- Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
- For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
- Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
- Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
- My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
- for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
- For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
- His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
- He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
- He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
- He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
- He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
- As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."
- Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
- Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
- Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
- It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.
- His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
- They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
- They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
- He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.
- His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
- Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
- All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.
- His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
- "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
- and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
- (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
- salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
- to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
- the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
- to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
- In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
- And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
- to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,
- because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
- to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
- The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
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| Luke 1 Text (Hebrew)
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- אחרי אשר רבים הואילו לחבר ספור המעשים אשר נאמנו בשלמות בתוכנו׃
- כאשר מסרום לנו הראים אתם בעיניהם מתחלה ואשר היו משרתי הדבר׃
- חשבתי לטוב גם אני החפש כל הדברים היטב מראשיתם לכתבם אליך בסדר תאופילוס האדיר׃
- למען תדע קשט האמרים אשר חנכת בם׃
- כהן היה בימי הורדוס מלך יהודה זכריה שמו ממשמרת אביה ולו אשה מבנות אהרן ושמה אלישבע׃
- ושניהם היו צדיקים לפני האלהים והלכי תם בכל מצות יהוה ובחקתיו׃
- ולא היה להם ילד כי אלישבע עקרה ושניהם באו בימים׃
- ויהי היום ויכהן לפני אלהים בסדר משמרתו׃
- וכמשפט עבודת הכהנים יצא גורלו להקטיר קטרת ויבא אל היכל יהוה׃
- וכל קהל העם היו מתפללים בחוץ בעת הקטרת׃
- וירא אליו מלאך יהוה עמד לימין מזבח הקטרת׃
- ויבהל זכריה בראותו אתו ואימה נפלה עליו׃
- ויאמר אליו המלאך אל תירא זכריהו כי נשמעה תפלתך ואלישבע אשתך תלד לך בן וקראת שמו יוחנן׃
- והיה לך לשמחה וגיל ורבים ישמחו בהולדו׃
- כי גדול יהיה לפני יהוה ויין ושכר לא ישתה ורוח הקדש ימלא בעודנו בבטן אמו׃
- ורבים מבני ישראל ישיב אל יהוה אלהיהם׃
- והוא ילך לפניו ברוח אליהו ובגבורתו להשיב את לב אבות על בנים ואת הסוררים לתבונת הצדיקים להעמיד ליהוה עם מתקן׃
- ויאמר זכריה אל המלאך במה אדע זאת כי אני זקנתי ואשתי באה בימים׃
- ויען המלאך ויאמר אליו אני גבריאל העומד לפני האלהים ושלוח אנכי לדבר אליך ולבשרך את זאת׃
- והנה תאלם ולא תוכל לדבר עד היום אשר תהיה זאת תחת כי לא האמנת בדברי אשר ימלאו למועדם׃
- והעם היה מחכה לזכריה ויתמהו כי אחר בהיכל׃
- ויהי בצאתו לא יכל לדבר אליהם וידעו כי מראה ראה בהיכל וירמז להם ועודנו נאלם׃
- ויהי כאשר מלאו ימי עבדתו וילך לו אל ביתו׃
- ויהי אחרי הימים האלה ותהר אלישבע אשתו ותתחבא חמשה חדשים ותאמר׃
- ככה עשה לי יהוה בימי פקדו אותי לאסף את חרפתי בתוך בני אדם׃
- ויהי בחדש הששי וישלח המלאך גבריאל מאת האלהים גלילה אל עיר אשר שמה נצרת׃
- אל בתולה מארשה לאיש אשר שמו יוסף מבית דוד ושם הבתולה מרים׃
- ויבא המלאך אליה החדרה ויאמר שלום לך אשת חן יהוה עמך ברוכה את בנשים׃
- והיא בראותה נבהלה לדברו ותאמר בלבה מה היא הברכה הזאת׃
- ויאמר לה המלאך אל תיראי מרים כי מצאת חן לפני האלהים׃
- והנך הרה וילדת בן וקראת את שמו ישוע׃
- והוא גדול יהיה ובן עליון יקרא ויהוה אלהים יתן לו את כסא דוד אביו׃
- ועל בית יעקב ימלך לעולם ועד ולמלכותו אין קץ׃
- ותאמר מרים אל המלאך איך תהיה זאת ואני אינני ידעת איש׃
- ויען המלאך ויאמר אליה רוח הקדש תבוא עליך וגבורת עליון תצל עליך על כן גם לקדוש הילוד יקרא בן אלהים׃
- והנה אלישבע קרובתך אשר קראו לה עקרה גם היא הרתה בן בזקנתה וזה לה החדש הששי׃
- כי לא יפלא מאלהים כל דבר׃
- ותאמר מרים הנני שפחת יהוה יהי לי כדברך ויצא מאתה המלאך׃
- ותקם מרים בימים ההם ותמהר ללכת ההרה אל עיר יהודה׃
- ותבא בית זכריה ותברך את אלישבע׃
- ויהי כשמע אלישבע את ברכת מרים וירקד הילד במעיה ותמלא אלישבע רוח הקדש׃
- ותקרא בקול גדול ותאמר ברוכה את בנשים וברוך פרי בטנך׃
- ומאין לי זאת אשר אם אדני באה אלי׃
- כי קול ברכתך בא באזני והנה רקד בשמחה הילד במעי׃
- ואשרי המאמינה כי המלא תמלא אשר דבר לה מאת יהוה׃
- ותאמר מרים רוממה נפשי את יהוה׃
- ותגל רוחי באלהי ישעי׃
- ]94-84[ אשר ראה בעני אמתו כי הנה מעתה כל הדרות יאשרוני כי גדלות עשה לי שדי וקדוש שמו׃
- ]94-84[׃
- וחסדו לדור דורים על יראיו׃
- גבורות עשה בזרעו פזר גאים במזמות לבבם׃
- הרס נדיבים מכסאותו וירם שפלים׃
- רעבים מלא טוב ועשירים שלח ריקם׃
- תמך בישראל עבדו לזכר את רחמיו׃
- כאשר דבר אל אבותינו לאברהם ולזרעו עד עולם׃
- ותשב מרים עמה כשלשה חדשים ותשב לביתה׃
- וימלאו ימי אלישבע ללדת ותלד בן׃
- וישמעו שכניה וקרוביה כי הגדיל יהוה את חסדו עמה וישמחו אתה׃
- ויהי ביום השמיני ויבאו למול את הילד ויקראו אתו זכריה על שם אביו׃
- ותען אמו ותאמר לא כי יוחנן יקרא׃
- ויאמרו אליה אין איש במשפחתך אשר נקרא בשם הזה׃
- וירמזו אל אביו לדעת מה השם אשר יחפץ להקרא לו׃
- וישאל לוח ויכתב עליו לאמר יוחנן שמו ויתמהו כלם׃
- ויפתח פיו ולשונו פתאם וידבר ויברך את האלהים׃
- ותפל אימה על כל שכניהם ויספר כל הדברים האלה בכל הרי יהודה׃
- וישימו כל השמעים אל לבם לאמר מה אפוא יהיה הילד הזה ויד יהוה היתה עמו׃
- וימלא זכריה אביו רוח הקדש וינבא לאמר׃
- ברוך יהוה אלהי ישראל כי פקד את עמו וישלח לו פדות׃
- וירם לנו קרן ישועה בבית דוד עבדו׃
- כאשר דבר בפי נביאיו הקדושים אשר מעולם׃
- ישועה מאיבינו ומיד כל שנאינו׃
- לעשות חסד עם אבותינו ולזכר את ברית קדשו׃
- את השבועה אשר נשבע לאברהם אבינו׃
- להצילנו מיד איבינו ולתתנו לעבדו בלי פחד׃
- בתמים ובצדקה לפניו כל ימי חיינו׃
- ואתה הילד נביא עליון תקרא כי לפני יהוה תלך לפנות את דרכיו׃
- לתת דעת הישועה לעמו בסליחת חטאתיהם׃
- ברחמי חסד אלהינו אשר בהם פקדנו הנגה ממרום׃
- להאיר לישבי חשך וצלמות ולהכין את רגלינו אל דרך השלום׃
- ויגדל הילד ויחזק ברוח ויהי במדברות עד יום הראתו אל ישראל׃
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| Luke 1 Text (Latin)
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- Quoniam quidem multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem, quæ in nobis completæ sunt, rerum :
- sicut tradiderunt nobis, qui ab initio ipsi viderunt, et ministri fuerunt sermonis :
- visum est et mihi, assecuto omnia a principio diligenter, ex ordine tibi scribere, optime Theophile,
- ut cognoscas eorum verborum, de quibus eruditus es, veritatem.
- Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judææ, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth.
- Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela.
- Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis.
- Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suæ ante Deum,
- secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini :
- et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi.
- Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi.
- Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum.
- Ait autem ad illum angelus : Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua : et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem :
- et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt :
- erit enim magnus coram Domino : et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suæ :
- et multos filiorum Israël convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum :
- et ipse præcedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliæ : ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam.
- Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum : Unde hoc sciam ? ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis.
- Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Ego sum Gabriel, qui asto ante Deum : et missus sum loqui ad te, et hæc tibi evangelizare.
- Et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo hæc fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quæ implebuntur in tempore suo.
- Et erat plebs exspectans Zachariam : et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo.
- Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo. Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus.
- Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam :
- post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor ejus, et occultabat se mensibus quinque, dicens :
- Quia sic fecit mihi Dominus in diebus, quibus respexit auferre opprobrium meum inter homines.
- In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilææ, cui nomen Nazareth,
- ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David : et nomen virginis Maria.
- Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit : Ave gratia plena : Dominus tecum : benedicta tu in mulieribus.
- Quæ cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio.
- Et ait angelus ei : Ne timeas, Maria : invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum.
- Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum :
- hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus : et regnabit in domo Jacob in æternum,
- et regni ejus non erit finis.
- Dixit autem Maria ad angelum : Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco ?
- Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei.
- Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua : et hic mensis sextus est illi, quæ vocatur sterilis :
- quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum.
- Dixit autem Maria : Ecce ancilla Domini : fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.
- Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione, in civitatem Juda :
- et intravit in domum Zachariæ, et salutavit Elisabeth.
- Et factum est, ut audivit salutationem Mariæ Elisabeth, exsultavit infans in utero ejus : et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth :
- et exclamavit voce magna, et dixit : Benedicta tu inter mulieres, et benedictus fructus ventris tui.
- Et unde hoc mihi, ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me ?
- Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuæ in auribus meis, exsultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo.
- Et beata, quæ credidisti, quoniam perficientur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Domino.
- Et ait Maria : Magnificat anima mea Dominum :
- et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
- Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ : ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,
- quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est : et sanctum nomen ejus,
- et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
- Fecit potentiam in brachio suo : dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
- Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.
- Esurientes implevit bonis : et divites dimisit inanes.
- Suscepit Israël puerum suum, recordatus misericordiæ suæ :
- sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini ejus in sæcula.
- Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus : et reversa est in domum suam.
- Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium.
- Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei.
- Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.
- Et respondens mater ejus, dixit : Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes.
- Et dixerunt ad illam : Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocetur hoc nomine.
- Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum.
- Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens : Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi.
- Apertum est autem illico os ejus, et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum.
- Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum : et super omnia montana Judææ divulgabantur omnia verba hæc :
- et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes : Quis, putas, puer iste erit ? etenim manus Domini erat cum illo.
- Et Zacharias pater ejus repletus est Spiritu Sancto : et prophetavit, dicens :
- Benedictus Dominus Deus Israël, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suæ :
- et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui,
- sicut locutum est per os sanctorum, qui a sæculo sunt, prophetarum ejus :
- salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos :
- ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris : et memorari testamenti sui sancti :
- jusjurandum, quod juravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis
- ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamus illi
- in sanctitate et justitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.
- Et tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis : præibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus,
- ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi ejus in remissionem peccatorum eorum
- per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto :
- illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent : ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.
- Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur spiritu : et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suæ ad Israël.
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| Luke 1 Text (KJV)
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- Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
- Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
- 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,
- That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
- 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.
- And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
- And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
- And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
- According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
- And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
- And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
- And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
- 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.
- And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
- 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.
- And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
- 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.
- And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
- 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.
- 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.
- And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
- 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.
- And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
- And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
- Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
- And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
- To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
- 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.
- And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
- And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
- And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
- 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:
- And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
- Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
- 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.
- 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.
- For with God nothing shall be impossible.
- And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
- And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
- And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
- 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:
- And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
- And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
- For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
- And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
- And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
- And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
- For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
- For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
- And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
- He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
- He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
- He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
- He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
- As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
- And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
- Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
- And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
- 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.
- And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
- And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
- And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
- And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
- And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
- And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
- 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.
- And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
- Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
- And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
- As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
- That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
- To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
- The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
- That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
- In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
- 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;
- To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
- Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
- To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
- And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
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