Luke 1

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
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 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached theirfulfilment among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;	2 as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of theword,
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 in my turn, after careful y going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write anordered account for you, Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.	4 so that your Excel ency may learn how wel founded the teaching is that 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 King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest cal ed Zechariah who belonged to the Abijahsection of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.	6 Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out al the commandments andobservances of the Lord.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.	7 But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both 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 Now it happened that it was the turn of his section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly officebefore 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 when it fell to him by lot, as the priestly custom was, to enter the Lord's sanctuary and burn incensethere.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.	10 And at the hour of incense all the people were outside, praying.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.	11 Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.	12 The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear.
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, 'Zechariah, do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard. Your wifeElizabeth is to bear you a son and you shal name him John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.	14 He will be your joy and delight 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 wil be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink; even from hismother's womb he wil be filled with the Holy Spirit,
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.	16 and he wil bring back many of the Israelites 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 With the spirit and power of Elijah, he wil go before him to reconcile fathers to their children and thedisobedient to the good sense of the upright, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.'
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 Zechariah said to the angel, 'How can I know this? I am an old man and my wife is getting on 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 The angel replied, 'I am Gabriel, who stand in God's presence, and I have been sent to speak to youand bring 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 Look! Since you did not believe my words, which wil come true at their appointed time, you will besilenced and have no power of speech until this has happened.'
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 surprised that he stayed in the sanctuaryso long.
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 When he came out he could not speak to them, and they realised that he had seen a vision in thesanctuary. But he could only make signs to them and remained dumb.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.	23 When his time of service came to an end he returned home.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,	24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept to herself, 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 'The Lord has done this for me, now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered inpublic.'
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 by God to a town in Galilee cal ed 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 He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! 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 She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean,
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.	30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.	31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must 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 wil be cal ed Son of the Most High. The Lord God wil give him the throne of hisancestor David;
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.	33 he wil rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign wil have no end.'
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?	34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of 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 The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit wil come upon you, and the power of the Most High wil coveryou with its shadow. And so the child wil be holy and will be cal ed 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 I tel you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whompeople cal ed barren is now in her sixth month,
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.	37 for nothing is impossible to 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, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angelleft her.
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;	39 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hil country to a town in Judah.
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.	40 She went into Zechariah's house 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 Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb andElizabeth was fil ed 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 She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of al women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of yourwomb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?	43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.	44 Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt 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 Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her 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 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.	48 because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations willcal me blessed,
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.	49 for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.	50 and his faithful love extends age after 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 used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.	52 He has pul ed down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.	53 He has fil ed the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;	54 He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.	55 -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to hisdescendants for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.	56 Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.	57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and 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 and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, theyshared her joy.
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 Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call himZechariah after his father,
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.	60 but his mother spoke up. 'No,' she said, 'he is to be called John.'
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.	61 They said to her, 'But no one in your family has that name,'
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.	62 and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him cal ed.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.	63 The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were al astonished.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.	64 At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised 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 Al their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hilcountry of Judaea.
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 Al those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. 'What will this child turn out to be?' they wondered.And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,	67 His father Zechariah was fil ed with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
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 his people, he has set them free,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;	69 and he has established for us a saving power in the House of his servant David,
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:	70 just as he proclaimed, by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times,
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;	71 that he would save us from our enemies and from the hands of al those who hate us,
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;	72 and show faithful love to our ancestors, and so keep in mind his holy covenant.
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,	73 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,	74 that he would grant us, free from fear, to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.	75 to serve him in holiness and uprightness in his presence, al 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, little child, you shall be cal ed Prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord toprepare a way for him,
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 faithful love of our God in which the rising Sun has come from on high to 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 give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow dark as death, and to guide our feet into theway 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 Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day heappeared openly to Israel.