Luke 1

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached theirfulfilment among us,	1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;
2 as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of theword,	2 According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:
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,	3 It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 so that your Excel ency may learn how wel founded the teaching is that you have received.	4 That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.
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.	5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.
6 Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out al the commandments andobservances of the Lord.	6 And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.
7 But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both advanced in years.	7 And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
8 Now it happened that it was the turn of his section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly officebefore God	8 And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,
9 when it fell to him by lot, as the priestly custom was, to enter the Lord's sanctuary and burn incensethere.	9 According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.
10 And at the hour of incense all the people were outside, praying.	10 And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.
11 Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.	11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.
12 The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear.	12 And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
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.	13 But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:
14 He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth,	14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.
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,	15 For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 and he wil bring back many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.	16 And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
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.'	17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.
18 Zechariah said to the angel, 'How can I know this? I am an old man and my wife is getting on in years.'	18 And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.
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.	19 And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.
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.'	20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.
21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he stayed in the sanctuaryso long.	21 And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.
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.	22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 When his time of service came to an end he returned home.	23 And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept to herself, saying,	24 And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:
25 'The Lord has done this for me, now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered inpublic.'	25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee cal ed Nazareth,	26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called 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 espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.'	28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean,	29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour.	30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.	31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
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;	32 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 David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
33 he wil rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign wil have no end.'	33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'	34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
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.	35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
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,	36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
37 for nothing is impossible to God.'	37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
38 Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angelleft her.	38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hil country to a town in Judah.	39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.
40 She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.	40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.
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.	41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of al women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of yourwomb.	42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?	43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.	44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'	45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord	46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;	47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations willcal me blessed,	48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,	49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
50 and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.	50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
51 He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.	51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
52 He has pul ed down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.	52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
53 He has fil ed the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.	53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love	54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
55 -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to hisdescendants for ever.	55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
56 Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.	56 And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son;	57 Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.
58 and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, theyshared her joy.	58 And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.
59 Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call himZechariah after his father,	59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name Zachary.
60 but his mother spoke up. 'No,' she said, 'he is to be called John.'	60 And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 They said to her, 'But no one in your family has that name,'	61 And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him cal ed.	62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were al astonished.	63 And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.
64 At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God.	64 And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65 Al their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hilcountry of Judaea.	65 And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.
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.	66 And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 His father Zechariah was fil ed with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:	67 And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:
68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited his people, he has set them free,	68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
69 and he has established for us a saving power in the House of his servant David,	69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:
70 just as he proclaimed, by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times,	70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:
71 that he would save us from our enemies and from the hands of al those who hate us,	71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:
72 and show faithful love to our ancestors, and so keep in mind his holy covenant.	72 To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,
73 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,	73 The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,
74 that he would grant us, free from fear, to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,	74 That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
75 to serve him in holiness and uprightness in his presence, al our days.	75 In holiness and justice before him, all our days.
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,	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:
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,	77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:
78 because of the faithful love of our God in which the rising Sun has come from on high to visit us,	78 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
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.	79 To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.
80 Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day heappeared openly to Israel.	80 And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.