Luke 1

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached theirfulfilment among us,	1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of theword,	2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
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 I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 so that your Excel ency may learn how wel founded the teaching is that you have received.	4 so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.
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 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 Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out al the commandments andobservances of the Lord.	6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
7 But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both advanced in years.	7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were 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 Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn 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 practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
10 And at the hour of incense all the people were outside, praying.	10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering,
11 Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.	11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear.	12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came 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, "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 He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth,	14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
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 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 he wil bring back many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.	16 and he will turn 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 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 Zechariah said to the angel, 'How can I know this? I am an old man and my wife is getting on 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 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 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 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 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 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he stayed in the sanctuaryso long.	21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.
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 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 When his time of service came to an end he returned home.	23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.
24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept to herself, saying,	24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for 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 "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others."
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee cal ed Nazareth,	26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town 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 betrothed to a man named 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 coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean,	29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour.	30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.	31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him 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 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 he wil rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign wil have no end.'	33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'	34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a 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 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 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, 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 nothing is impossible to God.'	37 for nothing will be impossible for 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 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 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hil country to a town in Judah.	39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
40 She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.	40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted 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 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
42 She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of al women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of yourwomb.	42 cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?	43 And how does this happen 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 at the moment the sound of your greeting reached 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 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."
46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord	46 And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;	47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
48 because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations willcal me blessed,	48 For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
49 for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,	49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.	50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
51 He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.	51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
52 He has pul ed down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.	52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
53 He has fil ed the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.	53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love	54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
55 -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to hisdescendants for ever.	55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
56 Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.	56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son;	57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.
58 and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, theyshared her joy.	58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced 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 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 but his mother spoke up. 'No,' she said, 'he is to be called John.'	60 but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John."
61 They said to her, 'But no one in your family has that name,'	61 But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
62 and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him cal ed.	62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
63 The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' And they were al astonished.	63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.
64 At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God.	64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, 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 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout 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 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 His father Zechariah was fil ed with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:	67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, 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, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.
69 and he has established for us a saving power 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 just as he proclaimed, by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times,	70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:
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 who hate us,
72 and show faithful love to our ancestors, and so keep in mind his holy covenant.	72 to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant
73 This was the oath he swore 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 us, free from fear, to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,	74 rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him
75 to serve him in holiness and uprightness in his presence, al our days.	75 in holiness and righteousness 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 you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,	77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness 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 because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit 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 shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path 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 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.