Luke 1

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;	2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
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 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.	4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.
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 was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.	6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
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, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,	8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God,
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 according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.	10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering,
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.	11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.	12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon 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, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because 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 And you will have joy and gladness, 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 for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the 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 and he will turn many of the children of Israel 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 will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord."
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 Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
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 And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.
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 now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time."
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.	21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed 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 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.	23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,	24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.	25 "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others."
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,
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 virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house 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 And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! 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 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.	30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.	31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name 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 will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.	33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?	34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
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 in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the 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 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.	37 for nothing will be impossible for God."
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 Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then 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;	39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.	40 where 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 infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
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 cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you 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 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come 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 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped 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 what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
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 rejoices 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 For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages 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, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.	50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.	51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.	52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.	53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;	54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.	55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.	56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.	57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child 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 Lord had shown his great mercy toward 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 they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call 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 in reply, "No. He will be called John."
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.	61 But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.	62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.	63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.	64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing 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 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.
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 these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,	67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,	68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to 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 a horn for our salvation within 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 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from 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 all who hate us,
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;	72 to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,	73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,	74 rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.	75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
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, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,	77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,	78 because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us
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 to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path 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 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.