Luke 1

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,	1 Since, indeed, many have attempted to set in order a narrative of the things that have been completed among us,
2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,	2 just as they have been handed on to those of us who from the beginning saw the same and were ministers of the word,
3 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,	3 so it seemed good to me also, having diligently followed everything from the beginning, to write to you, in an orderly manner, most excellent Theophilus,
4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.	4 so that you might know the truthfulness of those words by which you have been instructed.
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.	5 There was, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the section of Abijah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.	6 Now they were both just before God, progressing in all of the commandments and the justifications of the Lord without blame.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.	7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both had become advanced in years.
8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God,	8 Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section,
9 according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.	9 according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell so that he would offer incense, entering into the temple of the Lord.
10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering,	10 And the entire multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense.
11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.	11 Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.	12 And upon seeing him, Zechariah was disturbed, and fear fell over him.
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.	13 But the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son to you. And you shall call his name John.
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,	14 And there will be joy and exultation for you, and many will rejoice in his nativity.
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,	15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.	16 And he will convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
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."	17 And he will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the incredulous to the prudence of the just, so as to prepare for the Lord a completed people.”
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."	18 And Zechariah said to the Angel: “How may I know this? For I am elderly, and my wife is advanced in years.”
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.	19 And in response, the Angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these things to you.
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."	20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak, until the day on which these things shall be, because you have not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.	21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they wondered why he was being delayed in the temple.
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.	22 Then, when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, but he remained mute.
23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.	23 And it happened that, after the days of his office were completed, he went away to his house.
24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,	24 Then, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying:
25 "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others."	25 “For the Lord did this for me, at the time when he decided to take away my reproach among men.”
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,	26 Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.	27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."	28 And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”
29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.	29 And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.	30 And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.
31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.	31 Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.
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,	32 He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity.
33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."	33 And his kingdom shall have no end.”
34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"	34 Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”
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.	35 And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
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;	36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren.
37 for nothing will be impossible for God."	37 For no word will be impossible with God.”
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.	38 Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.
39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,	39 And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.
40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.	40 And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,	41 And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.	42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?	43 And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.	44 For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."	45 And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.”
46 And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;	46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.	47 And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour.
48 For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.	48 For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed.
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.	49 For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.	50 And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.
51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.	51 He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.
52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.	52 He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.	53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,	54 He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,
55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."	55 just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.	56 Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.
57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.	57 Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.	58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her.
59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,	59 And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah.
60 but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John."	60 And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.”
61 But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name."	61 And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”
62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.	62 Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.
63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.	63 And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered.
64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.	64 Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.	65 And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea.
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.	66 And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: “What do you think this boy will be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:	67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. And he prophesied, saying:
68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.	68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel. For he has visited and has wrought the redemption of his people.
69 He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant,	69 And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of David his servant,
70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:	70 just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets, who are from ages past:
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,	71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us,
72 to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant	72 to accomplish mercy with our fathers, and to call to mind his holy testament,
73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that,	73 the oath, which he swore to Abraham, our father, that he would grant to us,
74 rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him	74 so that, having been freed from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.	75 in holiness and in justice before him, throughout all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,	76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the face of the Lord: to prepare his ways,
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,	77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us	78 through the heart of the mercy of our God, by which, descending from on high, he has visited us,
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace."	79 to illuminate those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to direct our feet in the way of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.	80 And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel.