Luke 1

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;	1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 According as they have delivered them unto us, who 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 diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to 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 mayest know the verity of those words in which 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 Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.	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 just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.	6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
7 And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.	7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.
8 And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,	8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God,
9 According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going 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 all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour 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 to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.	11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
12 And Zachary seeing him, 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 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:	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 in his nativity.	14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
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.	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 shall convert many of the children of Israel 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; 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.	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 Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced 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 to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good 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 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.	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 were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered 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 to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made 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 And it came to pass, after the days of his office 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, Elizabeth his wife 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 hath had regard 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 into a city of Galilee, called 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 being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, 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 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself 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 to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.	30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou 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 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.	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 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 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?	34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
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.	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 Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is 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 Because no word shall be impossible with God.	37 for nothing will be impossible for God."
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.	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 rising up in those days, 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 she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.	40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
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:	41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
42 And she cried 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 behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped 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 art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by 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 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; 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 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; 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 from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.	50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.	51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.	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 received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:	54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
55 As he spoke 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 she returned to her own house.	56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
57 Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, 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 kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated 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 by his father's name Zachary.	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 answering, 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 to 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 demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.	63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.
64 And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.	64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
65 And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.	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 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.	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 Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:	67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of 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 to us, in the house of David his servant:	69 He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant,
70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:	70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:
71 Salvation 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 mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,	72 to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant
73 The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,	73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that,
74 That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,	74 rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him
75 In holiness and justice before him, all our days.	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 to his people, unto the remission of their sins:	77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient 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 enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct 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 was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation 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.