| 1 אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר רַבִּים הוֹאִילוּ לְחַבֵּר סִפּוּר הַמַּעֲשִׂים אֲשֶׁר נֶאֶמְנוּ בִשְׁלֵמוּת בְּתוֹכֵנוּ | 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, |
| 2 כַּאֲשֶׁר מְסָרוּם לָנוּ הָרֹאִים אֹתָם בְּעֵינֵיהֶם מִתְּחִלָּה וַאֲשֶׁר הָיוּ מְשָׁרְתֵי הַדָּבָר | 2 just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, |
| 3 חָשַׁבְתִּי לְטוֹב גַּם־אֲנִי הַבֹּחֵן כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הֵיטֵב מֵרֵאשִׁיתָם לְכָתְבָם אֵלֶיךָ בַּסֵּדֶר תְּאוֹפִילוֹס הָאַדִּיר | 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, |
| 4 לְמַעַן תֵּדַע כִּי אֱמֶת הָאֲמָרִים אֲשֶׁר חֻנַּכְתָּ בָּם | 4 that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed. |
| 5 כֹּהֵן הָיָה בִּימֵי הוֹרְדוֹס מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה זְכַרְיָה שְׁמוֹ מִמִּשְׁמֶרֶת אֲבִיָּה וְלוֹ אִשָּׁה מִבְּנוֹת אַהֲרֹן וּשְׁמָהּ אֱלִישָׁבַע | 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. |
| 6 וּשְׁנֵיהֶם הָיוּ צַדִּיקִים לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְהֹלְכֵי תֹם בְּכָל־מִצְוֺת יְהוָֹה וּבְחֻקֹּתָיו | 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. |
| 7 וְלֹא־הָיָה לָהֶם יָלֶד כִּי אֱלִישֶׁבַע עֲקָרָה וּשְׁנֵיהֶם בָּאוּ בַיָּמִים | 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. |
| 8 וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם וַיְכַהֵן לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים בְּסֵדֶר מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ | 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, |
| 9 וּכְמִשְׁפַּט עֲבוֹדַת הַכֹּהֲנִים יָצָא גוֹרָלוֹ לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת וַיָּבֹא אֶל־הֵיכַל יְהוָֹה | 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10 וְכָל־קְהַל הָעָם הָיוּ מִתְפַּלְלִים בַּחוּץ בְּעֵת הַקְּטֹרֶת | 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. |
| 11 וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהוָֹה עֹמֵד לִימִין מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת | 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. |
| 12 וַיִּבָּהֵל זְכַרְיָה בִּרְאוֹתוֹ אֹתוֹ וְאֵימָה נָפְלָה עָלָיו | 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. |
| 13 וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הַמַּלְאָךְ אַל־תִּירָא זְכַרְיָהוּ כִּי נִשְׁמְעָה תְּפִלָּתֶךָ וֶאֱלִישֶׁבַע אִשְׁתְּךָ תֵּלֵד לְךָ בֵּן וְקָרָאתָ שְׁמוֹ יוֹחָנָן | 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. |
| 14 וְהָיָה־לְךָ לְשִׂמְחָה וָגִיל וְרַבִּים יִשְׂמְחוּ בְּהִוָּלְדוֹ | 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; |
| 15 כִּי־גָדוֹל יִהְיֶה לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה וְיַיִן וְשֵׁכָר לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ יִמָּלֵא בְּעוֹדֶנּוּ בְּבֶטֶן אִמּוֹ | 15 for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. |
| 16 וְרַבִּים מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יָשִׁיב אֶל־יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם | 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, |
| 17 וְהוּא יֵלֶךְ לְפָנָיו בְּרוּחַ אֵלִיָּהוּ וּבִגְבוּרָתוֹ לְהָשִׁיב אֶת־לֵב אָבוֹת עַל־בָּנִים וְאֵת הַסּוֹרְרִים לִתְבוּנַת הַצַּדִּיקִים לְהַעֲמִיד לַיהוָֹה עַם מְתֻקָּן | 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." |
| 18 וַיֹּאמֶר זְכַרְיָה אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ בַּמֶּה אֵדַע זֹאת כִּי־אֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי וְאִשְׁתִּי בָּאָה בַיָּמִים | 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." |
| 19 וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי גַבְרִיאֵל הָעוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְשָׁלוּחַ אָנֹכִי לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ וּלְבַשֶּׂרְךָ אֶת־זֹאת | 19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. |
| 20 וְהִנֵּה תֵאָלֵם וְלֹא תוּכַל לְדַבֵּר עַד־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶה זֹּאת תַּחַת כִּי־לֹא הֶאֱמַנְתָּ בִּדְבָרַי אֲשֶׁר יִמָּלְאוּ לְמוֹעֲדָם | 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." |
| 21 וְהָעָם הָיָה מְחַכֶּה לִזְכַרְיָה וַיִּתְמְהוּ כִּי־אֵחַר בַּהֵיכָל | 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. |
| 22 וַיְהִי בְצֵאתוֹ לֹא יָכֹל לְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי־מַרְאֶה רָאָה בַהֵיכָל וַיִּרְמֹז לָהֶם וְעוֹדֶנּוּ נֶאֱלָם | 22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. |
| 23 וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר מָלְאוּ יְמֵי עֲבֹדָתוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ־לוֹ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ | 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. |
| 24 וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתַּהַר אֱלִישֶׁבַע אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתִּתְחַבֵּא חֲמִשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים וַתֹּאמַר | 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, |
| 25 כָּכָה עָשָׂה לִי יְהוָֹה בִּימֵי פָקְדוֹ אוֹתִי לֶאֱסֹף אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם | 25 "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." |
| 26 וַיְהִי בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי וַיְשֻׁלַּח הַמַּלְאָךְ גַּבְרִיאֵל מֵאֵת הָאֱלֹהִים גָּלִילָה אֶל־עִיר אֲשֶׁר־שְׁמָהּ נְצָרֶת | 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, |
| 27 אֶל־בְּתוּלָה מְאֹרָשָׂה לְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־שְׁמוֹ יוֹסֵף מִבֵּית דָּוִד וְשֵׁם הַבְּתוּלָה מִרְיָם | 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28 וַיָּבֹא הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵלֶיהָ הַחַדְרָה וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁלוֹם לָךְ אֵשֶׁת־חֵן יְהוָֹה עִמָּךְ בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ בַּנָּשִׁים | 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" |
| 29 וְהִיא בִּרְאוֹתָהּ נִבְהֲלָה לִדְבָרוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר בְּלִבָּהּ מַה־הִיא הַבְּרָכָה הַזֹּאת | 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. |
| 30 וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמַּלְאָךְ אַל־תִּירְאִי מִרְיָם כִּי־מָצָאתְ חֵן לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים | 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31 וְהִנָּךְ הָרָה וְיֹלַדְתְּ בֵּן וְקָרָאתְ אֶת־שְׁמוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ | 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. |
| 32 וְהוּא גָּדוֹל יִהְיֶה וּבֶן־עֶלְיוֹן יִקָּרֵא וַיהוָֹה אֱלֹהִים יִתֶּן־לוֹ אֶת־כִּסֵּא דָּוִד אָבִיו | 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, |
| 33 וְעַל־בֵּית יַעֲקֹב יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד וּלְמַלְכוּתוֹ אֵין קֵץ | 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." |
| 34 וַתֹּאמֶר מִרְיָם אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵיךְ תִּהְיֶה זֹּאת וַאֲנִי אֵינֶנִּי יֹדַעַת אִישׁ | 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" |
| 35 וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ תָּבוֹא עָלַיִךְ וּגְבוּרַת עֶלְיוֹן תָּצֵל עָלָיִךְ עַל־כֵּן גַּם־לַקָּדוֹשׁ הַיִּלּוֹד יִקָּרֵא בֶּן־אֱלֹהִים | 35 And the angel said to her, "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 וְהִנֵּה אֱלִישֶׁבַע קְרוֹבָתֵךְ אֲשֶׁר קָרְאוּ־לָהּ עֲקָרָה גַּם־הִיא הָרְתָה בֵן בְּזִקְנָתָהּ וְזֶה־לָּהּ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי | 36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. |
| 37 כִּי לֹא־יִפָּלֵא מֵאֱלֹהִים כָּל־דָּבָר | 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." |
| 38 וַתֹּאמֶר מִרְיָם הִנְנִי שִׁפְחַת יְהוָֹה יְהִי־לִי כִּדְבָרֶךָ וַיֵּצֵא מֵאִתָּהּ הַמַּלְאָךְ | 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. |
| 39 וַתָּקָם מִרְיָם בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וַתְּמַהֵר לָלֶכֶת הָהָרָה אֶל־עִיר יְהוּדָה | 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, |
| 40 וַתָּבֹא בֵּית זְכַרְיָה וַתְּבָרֶךְ אֶת־אֱלִישָׁבַע | 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41 וַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ אֱלִישֶׁבַע אֶת־בִּרְכַּת מִרְיָם וַיִּרְקַד הַיֶּלֶד בְּמֵעֶיהָ וַתִּמָּלֵא אֱלִישֶׁבַע רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ | 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit |
| 42 וַתִּקְרָא בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל וַתֹּאמַר בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ בַּנָּשִׁים וּבָרוּךְ פְּרִי בִטְנֵךְ | 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! |
| 43 וּמֵאַיִן־לִי זֹאת אֲשֶׁר־אֵם אֲדֹנִי בָּאָה אֵלָי | 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44 כִּי קוֹל בִּרְכָתֵךְ בָּא בְאָזְנָי וְהִנֵּה רָקַד בְּשִׂמְחָה הַיֶּלֶד בְּמֵעָי | 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. |
| 45 וְאַשְׁרֵי הַמַּאֲמִינָה כִּי הִמָּלֵא תִמָּלֵא אֲשֶׁר דֻּבַּר־לָהּ מֵאֵת יְהוָֹה | 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." |
| 46 וַתֹּאמֶר מִרְיָם רוֹמְמָה נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָֹה | 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, |
| 47 וַתָּגֶל רוּחִי בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי | 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, |
| 48 אֲשֶׁר רָאָה בָּעֳנִי אֲמָתוֹ כִּי הִנֵּה מֵעַתָּה כָּל־הַדֹּרוֹת יְאַשְּׁרוּנִי | 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; |
| 49 כִּי גְדֹלוֹת עָשָׂה לִי שַׁדָּי וְקָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹ | 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. |
| 50 וְחַסְדּוֹ לְדוֹר דּוֹרִים עַל יְרֵאָיו | 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. |
| 51 גְּבוּרוֹת עָשָׂה בִּזְרֹעוֹ פִּזַּר גֵּאִים בִּמְזִמּוֹת לְבָבָם | 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, |
| 52 הָרַס נְדִיבִים מִכִּסְאוֹתָם וַיָּרֶם שְׁפָלִים | 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; |
| 53 רְעֵבִים מִלֵּא־טוֹב וַעֲשִׁירִים שִׁלַּח רֵיקָם | 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. |
| 54 תָּמַךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ לִזְכֹּר אֶת־רַחֲמָיו | 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, |
| 55 כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֶל־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְאַבְרָהָם וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד־עוֹלָם | 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." |
| 56 וַתֵּשֶׁב מִרְיָם עִמָּהּ כִּשְׁלשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים וַתָּשָׁב לְבֵיתָהּ | 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. |
| 57 וַיִּמְלְאוּ יְמֵי אֱלִישֶׁבַע לָלֶדֶת וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן | 57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. |
| 58 וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ שְׁכֵנֶיהָ וּקְרוֹבֶיהָ כִּי־הִגְדִּיל יְהוָֹה אֶת־חַסְדּוֹ עִמָּהּ וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ אִתָּהּ | 58 And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59 וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וַיָּבֹאוּ לָמוּל אֶת־הַיָּלֶד וַיִּקְרְאוּ אוֹתוֹ זְכַרְיָה עַל־שֵׁם אָבִיו | 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, |
| 60 וַתַּעַן אִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמַר לֹא כִּי יוֹחָנָן יִקָּרֵא | 60 but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." |
| 61 וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶיהָ אֵין־אִישׁ בְּמִשְׁפַּחְתֵּךְ אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא בַּשֵּׁם הַזֶּה | 61 And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." |
| 62 וַיִּרְמְזוּ אֶל־אָבִיו לָדַעַת מָה הַשֵּׁם אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ לְהִקָּרֵא לוֹ | 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. |
| 63 וַיִּשְׁאַל לוּחַ וַיִּכְתֹּב עָלָיו לֵאמֹר יוֹחָנָן שְׁמוֹ וַיִּתְמְהוּ כֻּלָּם | 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled. |
| 64 וַיִּפָּתַח פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ פִּתְאֹם וַיְדַבֵּר וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים | 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. |
| 65 וַתִּפֹּל אֵימָה עַל־כָּל־שְׁכֵנֵיהֶם וַיְסֻפַּר כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּכָל־הָרֵי יְהוּדָה | 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; |
| 66 וַיָּשִׂימוּ כָל־הַשֹּׁמְעִים אֶל־לִבָּם לֵאמֹר מָה־אֵפוֹא יִהְיֶה הַיֶּלֶד הַזֶּה וְיַד־יְהוָֹה הָיְתָה עִמּוֹ | 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. |
| 67 וַיִּמָּלֵא זְכַרְיָה אָבִיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַיִּנָּבֵא לֵאמֹר | 67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, |
| 68 בָּרוּךְ יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי פָקַד אֶת־עַמּוֹ וַיִּשְׁלַח לוֹ פְּדוּת | 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, |
| 69 וַיָּרֶם לָנוּ קֶרֶן יְשׁוּעָה בְּבֵית דָּוִד עַבְדּוֹ | 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, |
| 70 כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּפִי־נְבִיאָיו הַקְּדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר מֵעוֹלָם | 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, |
| 71 יְשׁוּעָה מֵאֹיְבֵינוּ וּמִיַּד כָּל־שׂנְאֵינוּ | 71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; |
| 72 לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶסֶד עִם־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלִזְכֹּר אֶת־בְּרִית קָדְשׁוֹ | 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, |
| 73 אֶת־הַשְּׁבוּעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ | 73 the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, |
| 74 לְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד אֹיְבֵינוּ וּלְתִתֵּנוּ לְעָבְדוֹ בְּלִי־פָחַד | 74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, |
| 75 בְּתָמִים וּבִצְדָקָה לְפָנָיו כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ | 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. |
| 76 וְאַתָּה הַיֶּלֶד נְבִיא עֶלְיוֹן תִּקָּרֵא כִּי לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה תֵּלֵךְ לְפַנּוֹת אֶת־דְּרָכָיו | 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, |
| 77 לָתֵת דַּעַת הַיְשׁוּעָה לְעַמּוֹ בִּסְלִיחַת חַטֹּאתֵיהֶם | 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, |
| 78 בְּרַחֲמֵי חֶסֶד אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם פְּקָדָנוּ הַנֹּגַהּ מִמָּרוֹם | 78 through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high |
| 79 לְהָאִיר לְישְׁבֵי חשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּלְהָכִין אֶת־רַגְלֵינוּ אֶל־דֶּרֶךְ הַשָּׁלוֹם | 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." |
| 80 וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיֶּחֱזַק בָּרוּחַ וַיְהִי בַּמִּדְבָּרוֹת עַד־יוֹם הֵרָאֹתוֹ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל | 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel. |
