Luke 1:10-60 in English

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

²⁰ And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

²⁴ And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

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 And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.

²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

³¹ And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name 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 his father David:

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.

³⁷ For no word from God shall be void of power.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;

⁴² and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

⁵¹ He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

⁵² He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

⁵⁵ (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named 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.

²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

³¹ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

⁴⁰ And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

⁴² And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

⁵¹ He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

⁵⁵ As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon 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 Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named 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.

²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

³¹ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

⁴⁰ And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

⁴² And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

⁵¹ He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

⁵⁵ As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon 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 Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.

²⁰ And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled while he tarried in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

²⁴ And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

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 And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee.

²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

³¹ And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name 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 his father David:

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also that which is to be born shall be called holy, the Son of God.

³⁶ And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.

³⁷ For no word from God shall be void of power.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost;

⁴² and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.

⁵¹ He hath shewed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

⁵² He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath holpen Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

⁵⁵ (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ While he was burning the incense, many people were outside in the courtyard, praying.

¹¹ Then an angel whom God had sent appeared to him. The angel was standing at the right side of the place where the priests burned incense.

¹² When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became very afraid.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, do not be afraid! When you (sg) prayed asking God for a son (OR, that God would send the Messiah), God heard what you prayed. So your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son. You must name him John.

¹⁴ He will cause you to be very happy, and many other people will also be happy because he is born.

¹⁵ God will consider him to be very important. He must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, in order that he will be completely dedicated to God. He will be controlled by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit will control him} from before he is born.

¹⁶ He will persuade many people in Israel to turn away from their sins and please the Lord their God.

¹⁷ As God's Spirit enables him to preach powerfully as the prophet Elijah did, he will precede the Messiah. He will cause parents SYN to act peacefully toward their children again. He will cause many people who do not obey God to hear and obey the wise things that righteous people tell them. He will do this in order to help many people to be ready when the Lord comes.”

¹⁸ Then Zechariah said to the angel, “I am very old, and my wife is also so old that she cannot bear a child. So ◄I cannot believe that what you (sg) said will happen!/how can I believe that what you (sg) said will happen?► RHQ”

¹⁹ Then the angel said to him, “I am God's chief angel, Gabriel! I do what God tells me, because I constantly am in God's presence! I was sent { He sent me} to tell you (sg) something good that is going to happen to you.

²⁰ What I have told you will certainly happen at the time God decides, but you did not believe what I told you. So now God will make you will be unable to talk until the day your son is born”!

²¹ While Zechariah and the angel were talking, the people in the courtyard were waiting for Zechariah to come out. They wondered, “Why is he staying in the Temple for such a long time?”

²² When Zechariah came out, he was not able to speak to the people. Because he could not talk, he made motions with his hands to try to convey what had happened. Then they realized that he had seen ◄a vision from God/something that God showed him► while he was in the Temple.

²³ When Zechariah's time to work as a priest in the Temple was finished, he left Jerusalem and returned to his home.

²⁴ Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant EUP. She did not leave their house for five months, because she knew that people would laugh at her if she told them that she was pregnant.

²⁵ But she thought, “God has enabled me to become pregnant. He has pitied me and I will no longer be ashamed because I have no children!”

²⁶ When Elizabeth had been pregnant EUP for almost six months, the angel Gabriel was sent by God {God sent the angel Gabriel} again.

²⁷ This time he went to Nazareth town in Galilee district, to a virgin whose name was Mary. It had been { Her parents had} promised that she would marry a man named Joseph, who was descended from King David.

²⁸ The angel greeted her and said,“ ◄The Lord/God► is with you (sg) and you will be greatly blessed { has decided to greatly bless you}!”

²⁹ But Mary was very confused when she heard that. She wondered what the angel meant by these words.

³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Mary, God is very pleased with you (sg), so do not be afraid.

³¹ You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.

³² He will become great. He will be called { People will call him} ◄the Son of God/the man who is also God►. God, the Lord, will make him a king MTY as his ancestor King David was.

³³ He will be the King of the Jews, the descendants MTY of your ancestor Jacob, forever. He will rule as king forever!”

³⁴ Then Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin, so how can I have a baby?”

³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come to you; the power of God MTY/EUP will overshadow you and enable you to become pregnant. So the child you will bear will be completely set apart {give himself completely} to obey God, and he will be called { people will say that he is} ◄the Son of God/the man who is also God►.

³⁶ I also need to tell you something else. Your cousin Elizabeth is very old, and it was thought { people said} that she could not bear any children. But she has been pregnant EUP for almost six months, and will bear a son!

³⁷ You should not be surprised at that, because God can do everything!”

³⁸ Then Mary said, “All right, I want to serve ◄the Lord/God►, so may what you (sg) have said about me come true!” Then the angel left her.

³⁹ Very soon after that, Mary got ready and went quickly to a town in the highlands of Judea district where Zechariah lived.

⁴⁰ She entered his house and greeted his wife Elizabeth.

⁴¹ As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary greet her, the baby moved inside Elizabeth's womb. The Holy Spirit took complete control of Elizabeth,

⁴² and she said loudly to Mary, “ God has blessed you more than he has blessed any other woman, and he has blessed the child you will bear!

⁴³ ◄I am not worthy that God would allow you to visit me!/Why is God allowing you to visit me?► RHQ You will be the mother of my Lord!

⁴⁴ I realize this because as soon as I heard you greet me, the baby inside my womb moved because he was so happy that you had come.

⁴⁵ God is pleased with you because you believed that what ◄the Lord/God► told you would come true.”

⁴⁶ Then Mary praised God by saying/singing: “O, how I SYN praise ◄the Lord/God►!

⁴⁷ I am happy because God is the one who saves me.

⁴⁸ I was only his lowly servant girl, but he did not forget me. So from now on, everyone will say that God was pleased with me,

⁴⁹ because they will hear about the things that God MTY, the mighty one, has done for me. He MTY is awesome!

⁵⁰ He acts mercifully toward all those who respect him.

⁵¹ He shows people that he MTY is very powerful. He scatters those who think proudly.

⁵² He does not let mighty kings rule MTY anymore, but he honors people who are oppressed (OR, humble).

⁵³ He gives good things to eat to those who are hungry, but he sends away the rich people without giving them anything.

⁵⁴ He promised to Abraham and all our other ancestors who descended from him that he would act mercifully toward them forever. And now he has remembered what he promised. So he has helped me and all the other people of MTY Israel who serve him.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.

⁵⁷ When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth to her child, she bore a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard how ◄the Lord/God► had greatly blessed her by enabling her to bear a child, so they were happy along with Elizabeth.

⁵⁹ Seven days later they gathered together for the ceremony for circumcising the baby to show that he belonged to God. They wanted to give the baby the same name as his father, Zechariah..

⁶⁰ But his mother said, “No, his name will not be Zechariah. His name will be John!”

¹⁰ The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children 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 the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸ Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

⁴⁶ Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

¹⁰ The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children 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 the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸ Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

⁴⁶ Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

¹⁰ The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children 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 the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach amongst men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favoured one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸ Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

⁴⁶ Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour,

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbours and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

¹⁰ And all the people were offering prayers outside, at the time of the burning of perfumes.

¹¹ And he saw an angel of the Lord in his place on the right side of the altar.

¹² And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear came on him.

¹³ But the angel said, Have no fear, Zacharias, for your prayer has come to the ears of God, and your wife Elisabeth will have a son, and his name will be John.

¹⁴ And you will be glad and have great delight; and numbers of people will have joy at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord; he will not take wine or strong drink; and he will be full of the Spirit of God from his birth.

¹⁶ And through him great numbers of the children of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of fathers to their children, and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness; to make ready a people whose hearts have been turned to the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, How may I be certain of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far on in years.

¹⁹ And the angel, answering, said, I am Gabriel, whose place is before God; I have been sent to say these words to you and to give you this good news.

²⁰ Now, see, you will be without voice or language till the day when these things come about, because you had not faith in my words, which will have effect at the right time.

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zacharias and were surprised because he was in the Temple for such a long time.

²² And when he came out he was not able to say anything, and they saw that he had seen a vision in the Temple; and he was making signs to them without words.

²³ And when the days of his work in the Temple were ended, he went back to his house.

²⁴ After that time, Elisabeth, being certain that she was to become a mother, kept herself from men's eyes for five months, saying,

²⁵ The Lord has done this to me, for his eyes were on me, to take away my shame in the eyes of men.

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁷ To a virgin who was to be married to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.

²⁸ And the angel came in to her and said, Peace be with you, to whom special grace has been given; the Lord is with you.

²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at his words, and said to herself, What may be the purpose of these words?

³⁰ And the angel said to her, Have no fear, Mary, for you have God's approval.

³¹ And see, you will give birth to a son, and his name will be Jesus.

³² He will be great, and will be named the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his father:

³³ He will have rule over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, How may this be, because I have had no knowledge of a man?

³⁵ And the angel in answer said to her, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will come to rest on you, and so that which will come to birth will be named holy, Son of God.

³⁶ Even now Elisabeth, who is of your family, is to be a mother, though she is old: and this is the sixth month with her who was without children.

³⁷ For there is nothing which God is not able to do.

³⁸ And Mary said: I am the servant of the Lord; may it be to me as you say. And the angel went away.

³⁹ Then Mary got up and went quickly into the high lands, to a town of Judah;

⁴⁰ And went into the house of Zacharias and took Elisabeth in her arms.

⁴¹ And when the voice of Mary came to the ears of Elisabeth, the baby made a sudden move inside her; then Elisabeth was full of the Holy Spirit,

⁴² And she said with a loud voice: May blessing be on you among women, and a blessing on the child of your body.

⁴³ How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

⁴⁴ For, truly, when the sound of your voice came to my ears, the baby in my body made a sudden move for joy.

⁴⁵ Happy will she be who had faith that the things which the Lord has said to her will be done.

⁴⁶ And Mary said: My soul gives glory to God;

⁴⁷ My spirit is glad in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me.

⁴⁹ For he who is strong has done great things for me; and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for all generations in whom is the fear of him.

⁵¹ With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.

⁵² He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.

⁵³ Those who had no food he made full of good things; the men of wealth he sent away with nothing in their hands;

⁵⁴ His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,

⁵⁵ As he gave his word to our fathers.

⁵⁶ And Mary was with her for about three months and then went back to her house.

⁵⁷ Now it was time for Elisabeth to give birth, and she had a son.

⁵⁸ And it came to the ears of her neighbours and relations that the Lord had been very good to her, and they took part in her joy.

⁵⁹ And on the eighth day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given him the name of Zacharias, his father's name;

⁶⁰ But his mother made answer and said, No, his name is John.

¹⁰ And all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the altar of incense.

¹² And Zacharias was troubled, seeing him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy supplication has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And he shall be to thee joy and rejoicing, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ And many of the sons of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn hearts of fathers to children, and disobedient ones to the thoughts of just men, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this, for I am an old man, and my wife advanced in years?

¹⁹ And the angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand before God, and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to bring these glad tidings to thee;

²⁰ and behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, till the day in which these things shall take place, because thou hast not believed my words, the which shall be fulfilled in their time.

²¹ And the people were awaiting Zacharias, and they wondered at his delaying in the temple.

²² But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.

²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his house.

²⁴ Now after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus has the Lord done to me in these days in which he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ But in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent of God to a city of Galilee, of which the name was Nazareth,

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 And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, thou favoured one! the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women.

²⁹ But she, seeing the angel, was troubled at his word, and reasoned in her mind what this salutation might be.

³⁰ And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

³¹ and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father;

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end.

³⁴ But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of the Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son of God.

³⁶ And behold, Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her that was called barren:

³⁷ for nothing shall be impossible with God.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the bondmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

⁴² and cried out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped with joy in my womb.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that has believed, for there shall be a fulfilment of the things spoken to her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he has looked upon the low estate of his bondmaid; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For the Mighty One has done to me great things, and holy is his name;

⁵⁰ and his mercy is to generations and generations to them that fear him.

⁵¹ He has wrought strength with his arm; he has scattered haughty ones in the thought of their heart.

⁵² He has put down rulers from thrones, and exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty.

⁵⁴ He has helped Israel his servant, in order to remember mercy,

⁵⁵ (as he spoke to our fathers,) to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her house.

⁵⁷ But the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth that she should bring forth, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called it after the name of his father, Zacharias.

⁶⁰ And his mother answering said, No; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense.

¹² And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell 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:

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.

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 shall convert 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.

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 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 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 And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.

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 And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself 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.

²⁶ And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city 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.

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 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰ And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

³¹ Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name 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.

³³ And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not 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.

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 Because no word shall be impossible with 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.

³⁹ And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

⁴⁰ And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted 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:

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 And whence is this 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.

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 doth magnify the Lord.

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

⁵¹ He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:

⁵⁵ As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated 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.

⁶⁰ And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ And all the multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth will 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.

¹⁵ For he shall be great before the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, while still in his mother's womb.

¹⁶ And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he himself 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 righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to proclaim the good news to you of these things.

²⁰ But behold, you shall be silent and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and they marveled at his delaying in the temple.

²² But having come out, he was unable to speak to them; and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he was making signs to them and remained speechless.

²³ And it happened, as soon as the days of his service were fulfilled, that he went away to his house.

²⁴ Now after those days Elizabeth his wife conceived; and stayed in seclusion five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”

²⁶ Now 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. The virgin's name was Mary.

²⁸ And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly perplexed by his saying, and she wondered what sort of greeting this was.

³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not fear, Mary, for you have found grace with God.

³¹ And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David.

³³ And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”

³⁴ Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

³⁵ And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you; therefore, also, that holy child which is to be born 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 now the sixth month for she who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

³⁸ Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! May it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Now Mary rose up in those days and traveled into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ And why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she who has believed, because there shall be a fulfillment to the things having been spoken to her from the Lord.”

⁴⁶ And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

⁴⁸ Because He looked upon the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For He that is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

⁵⁰ And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has overthrown the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months, and she returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she bore a son.

⁵⁸ And when her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ Now it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they started to call him by the name of his father, Zacharias.

⁶⁰ His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

¹⁰ and the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense;

¹² and upon seeing him Zacharias was shaken, and a fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your prayer was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴ And you will have joy and exultation, and many will rejoice over his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must not drink either wine or strong drink; indeed, he will be filled with Holy Spirit already from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God;

¹⁷ in fact he himself will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of fathers to children’ and the disobedient to the mindset of the righteous, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.”

¹⁸ But Zacharias said to the angel: “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ So in answer the angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news.

²⁰ Now look, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day in which these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ Now the people were waiting for Zacharias and wondering at his delay in the sanctuary.

²² But when he came out he was unable to speak to them, and they understood that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary—he kept gesturing to them while remaining mute.

²³ And so, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he took off for home.

²⁴ Well after those days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and stayed in seclusion five months. She kept saying,

²⁵ “So that's what the Lord has done for me in the days when He concerned Himself to take away my reproach among the people!”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee named Natsareth,

²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; the virgin's name was Mary.

²⁸ So upon entering where she was the angel said, “Rejoice, recipient of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

²⁹ But upon seeing him she was perplexed at his word and was trying to figure out what sort of greeting it might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God.

³¹ Now then, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to 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 His father David,

³³ and He will reign over the house of Jacob into the ages; indeed, of His kingdom there will be no end!”

³⁴ So Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I do not know a man?”

³⁵ In answer the angel said to her: “Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will hover over you; precisely for this reason the holy One who is to be born will be called ‘Son of God’!

³⁶ Furthermore, your relative Elizabeth, she has actually conceived a son in her old age and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren;

³⁷ because any word spoken by God will be possible.”

³⁸ So Mary said: “Yes, I am the Lord's slave! Let it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Then Mary quickly got ready and went into the hill country in those days, to a town of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ Well it happened that as Elizabeth heard Mary's salutation the babe bounced up and down in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit.

⁴² And she cried out with a great voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ Yes indeed, because as the sound of your salutation came into my ears the babe bounced up and down in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, because there will be a fulfillment of the things that have been spoken to her from the Lord.”

⁴⁶ So Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit has exulted over God my Savior,

⁴⁸ in that He paid attention to the humble station of His slave (f). Yes indeed, because from now on all generations will declare me to be highly favored,

⁴⁹ in that the Mighty One did sublime things for me, and Holy is His name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations of generations to those fearing Him.

⁵¹ He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has dispersed the arrogant in the reasoning of their hearts.

⁵² He has dethroned rulers and exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has taken the part of His servant Israel, in remembrance of mercy,

⁵⁵ just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed while there is an age.”

⁵⁶ So Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth was completed and she bore a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had used His great mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they started calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias.

⁶⁰ His mother reacted and said, “Absolutely not; he shall be called John!”

¹⁰ During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

¹² When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and became terrified.

¹³ But the angel told him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call him John.

¹⁴ He will bring you joy and gladness, and many will celebrate his birth.

¹⁵ He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will refuse to drink wine or other alcoholic drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he's born.

¹⁶ He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ He will go ahead of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the fathers back to thinking about their children, and to turn those who are rebellious back to a right understanding—to prepare a people ready for the Lord.”

¹⁸ “How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”

¹⁹ “I am Gabriel,” the angel replied. “I stand in God's presence, and I was sent to speak to you and give you this good news.

²⁰ But since you didn't believe what I told you, you'll become dumb, unable to speak, until the appointed time when my words come true.”

²¹ Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long in the Temple.

²² When eventually he came out, he wasn't able to speak to them. They realized he'd seen a vision in the Temple, for though he could make gestures, he was completely dumb.

²³ After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.

²⁴ Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.

²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”

²⁶ In the sixth month of her pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl called Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.

²⁷ She was engaged to a man named Joseph.

²⁸ The angel greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.

³⁰ “Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.

³¹ You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You shall call him Jesus.

³² He will be very great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end.”

³⁴ “How is this possible?” Mary asked. “I'm still a virgin.”

³⁵ He replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. The baby who is to be born is holy, and will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And Elizabeth, your relative, even she is pregnant in her old age. The woman that people said couldn't have children is already six months pregnant.

³⁷ Nothing is impossible for God.”

³⁸ “Here I am, ready to be the Lord's servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me just as you said.” Then the angel left her.

³⁹ A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where

⁴⁰ Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in.

⁴¹ As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

⁴² and cried out in a loud voice, “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you!

⁴³ Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?

⁴⁴ As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me.

⁴⁵ How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!”

⁴⁶ Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord!

⁴⁷ I am so happy with God my Savior,

⁴⁸ because he decided that I, his servant, was worthy of his consideration, despite my humble background. From now on every generation will say I was blessed.

⁴⁹ God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy.

⁵⁰ His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him.

⁵¹ With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever.

⁵² He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble.

⁵³ He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed.

⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy,

⁵⁵ just as he promised our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home.

⁵⁷ The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her.

⁵⁹ Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father.

⁶⁰ “No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.”

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, while the incense was burning.

¹¹ Then appeared vnto him an Angel of the Lord standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias sawe him, he was troubled, and feare fell vpon him.

¹³ But the Angel saide vnto him, Feare not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wise Elisabet shall beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iohn.

¹⁴ And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnes, and many shall reioyce at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shalbe great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drinke wine, nor strong drinke: and he shalbe filled with the holy Ghost, euen from his mothers wombe.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turne to their Lord God.

¹⁷ For he shall goe before him in the spirite and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸ Then Zacharias said vnto ye Angel, Whereby shall I knowe this? for I am an olde man, and my wife is of a great age.

¹⁹ And the Angell answered, and sayde vnto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speake vnto thee, and to shew thee these good tidings.

²⁰ And beholde, thou shalt be domme, and not be able to speake, vntill the day that these things be done, because thou beleeuedst not my words, which shalbe fulfilled in their season.

²¹ Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marueiled that he taried so long in the Temple.

²² And when hee came out, hee coulde not speake vnto them: then they perceiued that hee had seene a vision in the Temple: For he made signes vnto them, and remained domme.

²³ And it came to passe, when the daies of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his owne house.

²⁴ And after those daies, his wife Elisabet conceiued, and hid her selfe fiue moneths, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the daies wherein he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men.

²⁶ And in the sixth moneth, the Angell Gabriel was sent from God vnto a citie of Galile, named Nazareth,

²⁷ To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Ioseph, of the house of Dauid, and the virgins name was Marie.

²⁸ And the Angel went in vnto her, and said, Haile thou that art freely beloued: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what maner of salutation that should be.

³⁰ Then the Angel saide vnto her, Feare not, Marie: for thou hast found fauour with God.

³¹ For loe, thou shalt conceiue in thy wobe, and beare a sonne, and shalt call his name Iesus.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Sonne of the most High, and the Lord God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid.

³³ And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, and of his kingdome shall bee none ende.

³⁴ Then sayde Marie vnto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I knowe not man?

³⁵ And the Angel answered, and said vnto her, The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee, and the power of the most High shall ouershadowe thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall bee borne of thee, shall be called the Sonne of God.

³⁶ And behold, thy cousin Elisabet, she hath also conceiued a sonne in her olde age: and this is her sixt moneth, which was called barren.

³⁷ For with God shall nothing be vnpossible.

³⁸ Then Marie said, Behold the seruant of the Lord: be it vnto me according to thy woorde. So the Angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Marie arose in those daies, and went into ye hil countrey with hast to a citie of Iuda,

⁴⁰ And entred into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabet.

⁴¹ And it came to passe, as Elisabet heard the salutation of Marie, the babe sprang in her bellie, and Elisabet was filled with the holy Ghost.

⁴² And she cried with a loud voice, and saide, Blessed art thou among women, because the fruit of thy wombe is blessed.

⁴³ And whence commeth this to mee, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For loe, assoone as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares, the babe sprang in my bellie for ioye,

⁴⁵ And blessed is shee that beleeued: for those things shall be perfourmed, which were tolde her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ Then Marie sayde, My soule magnifieth the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirite reioyceth in God my Sauiour.

⁴⁸ For hee hath looked on the poore degree of his seruaunt: for beholde, from henceforth shall all ages call me blessed,

⁴⁹ Because hee that is mightie, hath done for me great things, and holy is his Name.

⁵⁰ And his mercie is from generation to generation on them that feare him.

⁵¹ Hee hath shewed strength with his arme: hee hath scattered the proude in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² Hee hath put downe the mighty from their seates, and exalted them of lowe degree.

⁵³ Hee hath filled the hungrie with good things, and sent away the rich emptie.

⁵⁴ Hee hath vpholden Israel his seruaunt to be mindefull of his mercie

⁵⁵ (As hee hath spoken to our fathers, to wit, to Abraham, and his seede) for euer.

⁵⁶ And Marie abode with her about three moneths: after, shee returned to her owne house.

⁵⁷ Nowe Elisabets time was fulfilled, that shee should be deliuered, and shee brought foorth a sonne.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours, and cousins heard tell howe the Lord had shewed his great mercie vpon her, and they reioyced with her.

⁵⁹ And it was so that on the eight day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ But his mother answered, and saide, Not so, but he shalbe called Iohn.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named 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.

²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

³¹ And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be unpossible.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

⁴² and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is on them that fear him From generation to generation.

⁵¹ He hath shewed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seats, And exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath holpen his servant Israel, In remembrance of his mercy,

⁵⁵ (As he spake to our fathers), To Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon 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 Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people was praying without at the time of the incense.

¹¹ And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.

¹² And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zachariah; for thy prayer was heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou wilt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice for his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and will drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his very birth.

¹⁶ And many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

¹⁸ And Zachariah said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to thee, and to tell thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, until the day when these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people were looking for Zachariah, and wondering that he remained so long in the temple.

²² And on coming out, he was not able to speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he was beckoning to them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were completed, that he returned to his house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ And in her sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

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 And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored! the Lord is with thee.

²⁹ And she was troubled at the words, and was considering what this salutation could mean.

³⁰ And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God.

³¹ And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and hear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father;

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

³⁴ Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answering said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow thee; wherefore the holy one that is to be born will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And lo! Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren.

³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.

³⁸ And Mary said, Lo, the handmaid of the Lord! May it be to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose and went in those days into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah.

⁴⁰ And she entered the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

⁴² and cried out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For lo! as soon as the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, the babe leaped in my womb in exultation.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she who hath believed that there will be an accomplishment of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit hath exulted in God my Saviour;

⁴⁸ for he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden. For lo! from this time all generations will call me blessed;

⁴⁹ for the Mighty One hath done great things for me; and holy is his name;

⁵⁰ and his mercy is from generation to generation on them that fear him.

⁵¹ He hath wrought mightily with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the device of their heart.

⁵² He hath cast down princes from thrones, and exalted men of low degree.

⁵³ The hungry he hath filled with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.

⁵⁴ He hath given help to Israel his servant, in remembrance of his mercy

⁵⁵ toward Abraham and his offspring for ever, as he spoke to our fathers.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elizabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had showed 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 were about to call him Zachariah, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answering said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.

¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.

¹² Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.

¹⁴ He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,

¹⁶ and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ He will go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

¹⁸ “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

¹⁹ “I am Gabriel,” the angel answered, “who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.”

²¹ Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.

²² When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.

²³ And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.

²⁴ After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.

²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.”

²⁶ Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

²⁷ to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.

²⁸ Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favour - the Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,

³⁰ when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

³¹ And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.

³² The child will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,

³³ and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ “How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”

³⁵ “The Holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’

³⁶ And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;

³⁷ for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.”

³⁸ “I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

³⁹ Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;

⁴⁰ and there she went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,

⁴² and cried aloud, “Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is your unborn child!

⁴³ But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!

⁴⁵ Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”

⁴⁶ And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit delights in God my Saviour,

⁴⁸ for he has looked with favour on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!

⁴⁹ “For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.

⁵¹ “Mighty are the deeds of his arm; he has scattered the self-satisfied proud,

⁵² he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,

⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

⁵⁴ “He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,

⁵⁵ as he promised to our ancestors for Abraham and his descendants for ever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.

⁵⁷ When Elizabeth's time came, she gave birth to a son;

⁵⁸ and her neighbours and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.

⁵⁹ A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,

⁶⁰ when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”

¹⁰ and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.

¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.

¹² Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.

¹⁴ He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,

¹⁶ and will reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ He will go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

¹⁸ “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

¹⁹ “I am Gabriel,” the angel answered, “who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.”

²¹ Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.

²² When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.

²³ And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.

²⁴ After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.

²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.”

²⁶ Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

²⁷ to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.

²⁸ Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, “You have been shown great favor - the Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,

³⁰ when the angel spoke again, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.

³² The child will be great and will be called ‘Son of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,

³³ and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ “How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have no husband.”

³⁵ “The Holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called ‘holy,’ and ‘Son of God.’

³⁶ And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;

³⁷ for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.”

³⁸ “I am the servant of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

³⁹ Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;

⁴⁰ and there she went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,

⁴² and cried aloud, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!

⁴³ But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!

⁴⁵ Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.”

⁴⁶ And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit delights in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ for he has looked with favor on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!

⁴⁹ “For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.

⁵¹ “Mighty are the deeds of his arm; he has scattered the self-satisfied proud,

⁵² he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,

⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

⁵⁴ “He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,

⁵⁵ as he promised to our ancestors for Abraham and his descendants for ever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.

⁵⁷ When Elizabeth's time came, she gave birth to a son;

⁵⁸ and her neighbors and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.

⁵⁹ A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,

⁶⁰ when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”

¹⁰ All the people were outside, praying, at the time of the incense burning,

¹¹ when there appeared to him an angel of MarYah Master Yahweh, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zacharias Remembered by Yah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias Remembered by Yah, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth My God oath, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John Yah is gracious.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of MarYah Master Yahweh, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with Ruach haKodesh Spirit of the Holiness, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children of to MarYah Master Yahweh, their God.

¹⁷ He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah My God Yah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for Adonai .”

¹⁸ Zacharias Remembered by Yah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel Man of God, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zacharias Remembered by Yah, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elizabeth My God oath, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus has MarYah Master Yahweh done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel Man of God was sent from God to a city of Galilee District, Circuit, named Nazareth Branch, Separated one,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph May he add, of David Beloved’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary Rebellion.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, “Shalom ·Complete peace·, favored lady! Adonai is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary Rebellion, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Yeshua Salvation.’

³² He will be great, and will be called haBen haElohim Chayim the Son of the God Living. MarYah Master Yahweh God will give him the throne of his forefather, David Beloved,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob Supplanter forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary Rebellion said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Ruach Kodesh Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Elyon Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Ben-Elohim ·Son of Elohim God·.

³⁶ Behold, Elizabeth My God oath, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸ Mary Rebellion said, “Behold, the servant of MarYah Master Yahweh; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.

³⁹ Mary Rebellion arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah Praised,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias Remembered by Yah and greeted Elizabeth My God oath.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth My God oath heard Mary Rebellion’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth My God oath was filled with Ruach haKodesh Spirit of the Holiness.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from MarYah Master Yahweh!”

⁴⁶ Mary Rebellion said, “My soul magnifies Adonai .

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And in every generation, he has eleos ·merciful compassion in action· on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel God prevails, his servant, that he might remember eleos ·merciful compassion in action·,

⁵⁵ As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham Father of a multitude and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ Mary Rebellion stayed with her about three months, and then teshuvah ·completely returned· to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elizabeth My God oath should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that Adonai had magnified his eleos ·merciful compassion in action· towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias Remembered by Yah, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John Yah is gracious.”

¹⁰ While he was doing that a big mob of people were outside, and they were praying.

¹¹ Then God sent one of his angel messengers to that room, and he stood beside the metal table where that stuff was burning.

¹² Zechariah saw the angel there and got a big shock. He was really frightened.

¹³ But the angel told him, “Don’t be frightened, Zechariah. God has heard what you have been asking him, and he will give you what you want. Your wife, Elizabeth, will have a baby boy, and you will name him John.

¹⁴ You will be really happy, and a lot of other people will be happy with you.

¹⁵ God will say that this kid is important, so you have to make sure he never drinks any kind of wine or grog at all. You see, the Holy Spirit will come into this kid while he is still inside his mother, before he gets born.

¹⁶ And after he grows up he will get lots of you Israel people to turn away from bad things and turn back to God.

¹⁷ Do you remember the story about God’s man called Elijah, that lived a long time ago? He had God’s spirit in him and he did powerful things. Well, in the same way, John will have God’s spirit and his power. He will come to this world ahead of the special man that God will send. John will get men that are fathers to love their kids. You know, there are some people now that don’t want God, but John will get them to listen to the sensible words of good people. In that way he will get people ready for the special man that God will send.”

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “Just a minute. Is this message true? I am an old man, and my wife is old too. We are too old to have a baby. How can I be sure that this message is true?”

¹⁹ The angel said, “Look, I am Gabriel. I am always close to God, and I do special jobs for him. And he sent me to tell you this good message.

²⁰ And everything I said will happen at the right time. But you didn’t believe me, so now God will shut you up. You will not be able to talk until this kid gets born.”

²¹ While they were talking in that room, the people outside were waiting for Zechariah. They were thinking, “Why is he staying a long time in that room?”

²² Then Zechariah came out, and he tried to talk to them, but he couldn’t say anything. He had to make signs with his hands, and at last they understood that he saw something powerful in that room.

²³ After that Zechariah finished his days of work in God’s ceremony house, then he went home.

²⁴ Soon after that his wife, Elizabeth, found out she was going to have a baby. She stayed inside her house for 5 months.

²⁵ She said, “Wow. God is properly good to me. He will let me have a baby, and nobody will rubbish me any more.”

²⁶ That baby grew inside Elizabeth for about 6 months. Then God sent one of his angel messengers, called Gabriel, to Galilee country, to a town called Nazareth.

²⁷ He went there to a young girl that was not married, called Mary. Before that time, Mary didn’t ever sleep with any man, like a woman does with her husband. She was promised to a man called Joseph. He belonged to the family of David, the big boss of a long time ago.

²⁸ Gabriel came to Mary and said, “Hello, Mary. God loves you and is good to you. He is here with you now and he will do something good for you.”

²⁹ This worried Mary. She thought, “What’s he talking about?”

³⁰ So Gabriel said, “Don’t be frightened, Mary. God is real happy with you.

³¹ Listen. You will soon have a baby son, and you will call him Jesus.

³² God will make him the biggest boss of you Israel people, like David, his grand-father of a long time ago. He will be very important, and he will be the biggest boss for ever. He will never stop being the biggest boss. People will call him the Son of God.”

³⁴ Mary said, “But I’m not married. How will I get a baby?”

³⁵ Gabriel said, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and God’s power will come over you and give you a baby. Your baby will be real special, and people will say he is God’s son.

³⁶ And you know your cousin Elizabeth? Everyone reckoned she is too old to have a baby, but now she is carrying one inside her. She has been carrying it for the last 6 months, and soon she will have a baby.

³⁷ You see, God can do anything. Nothing is too hard for him.”

³⁸ Mary said, “All right then, I will do whatever God wants. I want everything to happen just like you have said.” Then Gabriel left her.

³⁹ A few days later Mary got up and quickly went south to a town in the hilly part of the country called Judea.

⁴⁰ Zechariah and Elizabeth lived in that town. Mary went to their house, and went in and said, “Hello cousin” to Elizabeth.

⁴¹ As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary say those words, she felt her baby jump inside her. And the Holy Spirit came into her,

⁴² and she talked really loud, she said, “God is really good to you, and he is making you happy. He is being more good to you than to any other woman. And he is being really good to your baby, too.

⁴³ I’m not important, but you are the mother of my leader, the one from God. It is really good of you to visit me.

⁴⁴ You see, as soon as I heard you say ‘hello,’ my baby inside me was so happy he jumped.

⁴⁵ Yes, you believed that God will do everything he told you, and that makes you very happy.”

⁴⁶ Mary said, “God is really good and really great. I feel that really deep inside myself, and I want to tell it to everybody.

⁴⁷ God is the one that saves me, so my spirit is really happy.

⁴⁸ God knew that I was not important, but he picked me, and now everyone will say that God has been good to me.

⁴⁹ Yes, he is the really strong one, and he did great things for me. God is properly good, better than anyone else.

⁵⁰ He is good to the people that respect him, and to their kids, and to their grand-kids, and to all their grand-kids to come.

⁵¹ He did great things with his power, to show everyone that he is really strong. Those people that reckoned they were smart and strong, they all got frightened of him, and they ran away.

⁵² He chucked out the big bosses and took their power away. But he got people that were not important, and he made them bosses.

⁵³ And he gave hungry people good food, and they ate till they were full. But he didn’t give anything to the rich people. They went away with nothing.

⁵⁴ He is sorry for his own people, us Israel mob, and he helps us,

⁵⁵ just like he promised to our grand-father Abraham, and to our other grand-fathers of long ago. He said he will look after us for ever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months, then she went back to her own home.

⁵⁷ Then the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she had a son.

⁵⁸ All her family, and the people that lived near her, they heard that she had a baby, and they knew that God had been very good to her. Elizabeth was happy, and they were all happy too.

⁵⁹ When the baby was 8 days old, all those people came to Zechariah and Elizabeth’s place. The baby boy had to have a young man’s operation on that day, and they used to give a baby his name at that time. The people wanted to call him Zechariah, the same name that his father had.

⁶⁰ But Elizabeth said, “No. His name is John.”

¹⁰ and the whoale multitude of the people were with out in prayer whill the incense was aburnynge.

¹¹ And ther appered vnto him an angell of the lorde stondinge on the ryght syde of the altare of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias sawe him he was abasshed and feare came on him.

¹³ And the angell sayde vnto him: feare not Zachary for thy prayer is hearde: And thy wyfe Elizabeth shall beare the a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iohn

¹⁴ and thou shalt have ioye and gladnes and many shall reioyce at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shalbe greate in the sight of the lorde and shall nether drinke wyne ner stronge drinke. And he shalbe filled with the holy goost even in his mothers wombe:

¹⁶ and many of the chyldren of Israel shall he tourne to their Lorde God.

¹⁷ And he shall goo before him in the sprete and power of Helyas to tourne the hertes of the fathers to the chyldren and the vnbelevers to the wysdom of the iuste men: to make the people redy for the Lorde.

¹⁸ And Zacharias sayde vnto the angell: Wher by shall I knowe this? seinge that I am olde and my wyfe well stricken in yeares.

¹⁹ And the angell answered and sayde vnto him: I am Gabriell that stonde in the presens of God and am sent to speake vnto the: and to shewe the these glad tydinges.

²⁰ And beholde thou shalt be domme and not able to speake vntyll the tyme that these thinges be performed because thou belevedst not my wordes which shalbe fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people wayted for zacharias and mervelled that he taryed in the temple.

²² And when he cam oute he could not speake vnto them. Wherby they perceaved that he had sene some vision in the temple. And he beckened vnto them and remayned speachlesse.

²³ And it fortuned assone as the tyme of his office was oute he departed home into his awne housse.

²⁴ And after thoose dayes his wyfe Elizabeth conceaved and hyd her sylfe .v. monethes sayinge:

²⁵ This wyse hath God dealte with me in the dayes when he loked on me to take from me the rebuke that I suffred amonge men.

²⁶ And in the .vi. moneth the angell Gabriel was sent from god vnto a cite of Galile named Nazareth

²⁷ to a virgin spoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of the housse of David and the virgins name was Mary.

²⁸ And the angell went in vnto her and sayde: Hayle full of grace the Lorde is with the: blessed arte thou amonge wemen.

²⁹ When she sawe him she was abasshed at his sayinge: and cast in her mynde what maner of salutacion that shuld be.

³⁰ And the angell sayde vnto her: feare not Mary: for thou hast founde grace with god.

³¹ Loo: thou shalt conceave in thy wombe and shalt beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus.

³² He shalbe greate and shalbe called the sonne of the hyest. And the lorde God shall geve vnto him the seate of his father David

³³ and he shall raygne over the housse of Iacob forever and of his kyngdome shalbe none ende.

³⁴ Then sayd Mary vnto the angell: How shall this be seinge I knowe not a man?

³⁵ And the angell answered and sayd vnto her: The holy goost shall come apon the and the power of the hyest shall over shaddowe the. Therfore also the holy thinge which shalbe borne shalbe called the sonne of god.

³⁶ And beholde thy cosen Elizabeth she hath also conceaved a sonne in her age. And this is hyr sixte moneth though she be called barren:

³⁷ for with god can nothinge be vnpossible.

³⁸ And Mary sayd: beholde the honde mayden of the lorde be it vnto me even as thou hast sayde. And the angell departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in thoose dayes and went into the mountayns with hast into a cite of Iurie

⁴⁰ and entred into the housse of zachary and saluted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ And it fortuned as Elizabeth hearde the salutacion of Mary the babe spronge in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the holy goost

⁴² and cryed with a loude voyce and sayde: Blessed arte thou amonge wemen and blessed is the frute of thy wombe.

⁴³ And whence hapeneth this to me that the mother of my Lorde shuld come to me?

⁴⁴ For loo assone as the voyce of thy salutacion sownded in myne eares the babe sprange in my belly for ioye.

⁴⁵ And blessed arte thou that belevedst: for thoose thinges shalbe performed wich were tolde the from the lorde.

⁴⁶ And Mary sayde. My soule magnifieth the Lorde.

⁴⁷ And my sprete reioyseth in god my savioure

⁴⁸ For he hath loked on the povre degre of his honde mayde. Beholde now from hence forth shall all generacions call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is myghty hath done to me greate thinges and holye is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is on them that feare him thorow oute all generacions.

⁵¹ He sheweth strength with his arme he scattereth them that are proude in the ymaginacion of their hertes.

⁵² He putteth doune the myghty from their seates and exalteth them of lowe degre.

⁵³ He filleth the hongry with good thinges: and sendeth awaye the ryche emptye.

⁵⁴ He remembreth mercy: and helpeth his servaunt Israel.

⁵⁵ Even as he promised to oure fathers Abraham and to his seede for ever.

⁵⁶ And mary aboode with hyr aboute a .iii. monethes and retourned agayne to hyr awne housse.

⁵⁷ Elizabethes tyme was come that she shuld be delyvered and she brought forth a sonne.

⁵⁸ And her neghboures and her cosins hearde tell how the lorde had shewed great mercy vpon her and they reioysed with her.

⁵⁹ And it fortuned the eyght daye: they cam to circumcise the chylde: and called his name zacharias after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ How be it his mother answered and sayd: not so but he shalbe called Ihon.

¹⁰ The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.

¹¹ Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar.

¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on 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. You will call his name John.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ Many of the people of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ He will go before the face of the Lord 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 righteous—to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old.”

¹⁹ The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time.”

²¹ Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time in the temple.

²² But when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision while he was in the temple. He kept on making signs to them and remained silent.

²³ It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.

²⁴ After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said,

²⁵ “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked at me with favor in order to take away my shame before people.”

²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. He belonged to the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

²⁸ He came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ But she was very confused by his words and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will call his name 'Jesus.'

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.

³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I have not slept with any man?”

³⁵ The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will come over you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ See, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her, she who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing will be impossible for God.”

³⁸ Mary said, “See, I am the female servant of the Lord. Let it be for me according to your message.” Then the angel left her.

³⁹ Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea.

⁴⁰ She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ Now it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She raised her voice and said loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

⁴³ Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord.”

⁴⁶ Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.

⁴⁸ For he has looked at the low condition of his female servant. For see, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and his name is holy.

⁵⁰ His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has displayed strength with his arm; he has scattered those who were proud about the thoughts of their hearts.

⁵² He has thrown down princes from their thrones and he has raised up those of low condition.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel his servant, so as to remember to show mercy

⁵⁵ (as he said to our fathers) to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him “Zechariah,” after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ But his mother answered and said, “No. He will be called John.”

¹⁰ The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children 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 the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸ Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

⁴⁶ Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

¹⁰ The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children 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 the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach amongst men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favoured one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸ Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

⁴⁶ Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour,

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbours and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him , he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall 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 a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife far advanced in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering, said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned to them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and secluded herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he looked on me , to take away my reproach among men.

²⁶ And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named 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.

²⁸ And the angel came to her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

²⁹ And when she saw him , she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰ And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

³¹ And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.

³³ And he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

³⁴ Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

³⁵ And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the Highest will overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren:

³⁷ For with God nothing will be impossible.

³⁸ And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill-country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb: and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² And she spoke with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed that there will be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation.

⁵¹ He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.

⁵⁴ He hath sustained his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

⁵⁵ As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbors and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon 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 Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so ; but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elisheva, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yochanan.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children 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 the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elisheva his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Miriam.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Yeshua.’

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴ Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Behold, Elisheva your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸ Miriam said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Miriam arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elisheva.

⁴¹ When Elisheva heard Miriam’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elisheva was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

⁴⁶ Miriam said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ Miriam stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elisheva should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zechariah, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called Yochanan.”

¹⁰ The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elisheva, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yochanan.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ He will turn many of the children 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 the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they marvelled that he delayed in the temple.

²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³ When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ After these days Elisheva his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach amongst men.”

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Miriam.

²⁸ Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favoured one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst women!”

²⁹ But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favour with God.

³¹ Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Yeshua.’

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴ Miriam said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ Behold, Elisheva your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸ Miriam said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

³⁹ Miriam arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elisheva.

⁴¹ When Elisheva heard Miriam’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb; and Elisheva was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ Why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy!

⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

⁴⁶ Miriam said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour,

⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ Miriam stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time that Elisheva should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ Her neighbours and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zechariah, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called Yochanan.”

¹⁰ And all the multitude of the people was withoutforth, and prayed in the hour of incensing.

¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, and stood on the right half of the altar of incense.

¹² And Zechariah seeing was afraid or distroubled, and dread fell upon him.

¹³ And the angel said to him, Zechariah, dread thou not; for thy prayer is heard, and Elisabeth, thy wife, shall bear to thee a son, and his name shall be called John.

¹⁴ And joy and gladding shall be to thee; and many shall have joy in his nativity, or birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great before the Lord, and he shall not drink wine nor cider, and he shall be full-filled or filled with the Holy Ghost, yet from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to their Lord God;

¹⁷ and he shall go before him in the spirit and virtue of Elijah; and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers into the sons, and men out of belief, or that believe not, to the prudence of just men, to make ready a perfect people to the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, Whereof shall I know this? for I am old, and my wife hath gone far in her days.

¹⁹ And the angel answered, and said to him, For I am Gabriel, that stand nigh before God; and I am sent to thee to speak, and to evangelize or to tell to thee these things.

²⁰ And lo! thou shalt be dumb, and thou shalt not be able to speak till into the day, in which these things shall be done; for thou hast not believed to my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.

²¹ And the people was abiding Zechariah, and they wondered, that he tarried in the temple.

²² And he went out, and might not speak to them, and they knew that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he beckoned to them, and dwelled still dumb.

²³ And it was done, when the days of his office were fulfilled, he went into his house.

²⁴ And after these days Elisabeth, his wife, conceived, and hid her five months, and said,

²⁵ For so the Lord did to me in the days, in which he beheld, to take away my reproof or my shame among men.

²⁶ But in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, whose name was Nazareth,

²⁷ to a maiden or a virgin, wedded to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the maiden was Mary.

²⁸ And the angel entered to her, and said, Hail, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed be thou among women.

²⁹ And when she had heard, she was troubled in his word, and thought what manner salutation this was.

³⁰ And the angel said to her, Dread thou not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

³¹ Lo! thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

³² This or He shall be great, and he shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give to him the seat of David, his father,

³³ and he shall reign in the house of Jacob into without end, and of his realm shall be none end.

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, On what manner shall this thing be done, for I know not man? or I know no man?

³⁵ And the angel answered, and said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come from above into thee, and the virtue of the Highest shall overshadow thee; and therefore that holy thing that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And lo! Elisabeth, thy cousin, and she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this month is the sixth to her that is called barren;

³⁷ for every word shall not be impossible with God.

³⁸ And Mary said, Lo! the handmaid/ the handmaiden of the Lord; be it done to me after thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary rose up in those days, and went with haste into the mountains or the hilly places, into a city of Judea.

⁴⁰ And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it was done, as Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the young child in her womb gladded. And Elisabeth was full-filled or filled with the Holy Ghost,

⁴² and cried with a great voice, and said, Blessed be thou among women, and blessed be the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whereof is this thing to me, that the mother of my Lord come to me?

⁴⁴ For lo! as the voice of thy salutation was made in mine ears, the young child gladded in joy or with joy in my womb.

⁴⁵ And blessed be thou, that hast believed, for those things that be said of or from the Lord to thee, shall be perfectly done.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit hath gladded in God, mine health or mine health-giver.

⁴⁸ For he hath beheld the meekness of his handmaid/his handmaiden. For lo! of this all generations shall say that I am blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and his name is holy.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is from kindred into kindreds, to men that dread him.

⁵¹ He made might in his arm, he scattered proud men with the thought of his heart.

⁵² He put down mighty men from their seats, and enhanced meek men.

⁵³ He hath full-filled hungry men with goods or He hath filled hungry men with good things, and he hath left rich men void.

⁵⁴ He, having mind of his mercy, took Israel, his child;

⁵⁵ as he hath spoken to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed, into worlds.

⁵⁶ And Mary dwelled with her, as it were three months, and turned again in to her house.

⁵⁷ But the time of bearing child was fulfilled to Elisabeth, and she bare a son.

⁵⁸ And the neighbours and the cousins of her heard, that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her; and they thanked him or they together joyed to her.

⁵⁹ And it was done in the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zechariah, by the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered, and said, Nay, but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ And all the multitude of the people was withoutforth, and prayed in the hour of incensing. (And a great multitude of people were outside, and prayed during the hour of incense.)

¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, and stood on the right half of the altar of incense (or and stood on the right side of the altar of incense).

¹² And Zacharias seeing (him) was (made) afraid or was distroubled, and dread fell upon him. (And when Zechariah saw him he was afraid, and fear fell upon him.)

¹³ And the angel said to him, Zacharias, dread thou not, (or Zechariah, fear not); for thy prayer is heard, and Elisabeth, thy wife, shall bear to thee a son, and his name shall be called John.

¹⁴ And joy and gladding shall be to thee; and many shall have joy in his nativity, or birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great before the Lord, and he shall not drink wine nor cider, and he shall be full-filled with the Holy Ghost, or and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, (or and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit), yet from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to their Lord God; And he shall convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord God of them;

¹⁷ and he shall go before him in the spirit and virtue of Elias (or and he shall go before him in the spirit and in the power of Elijah); and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers into the sons, and men out of belief, or that believe not, to the prudence of just men (or to the wisdom of the righteous), to make ready a perfect people to the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, Whereof shall I know this? for I am old, and my wife hath gone far in her days.

¹⁹ And the angel answered, and said to him, For I am Gabriel, that stand nigh before God, (or Yea, I am Gabriel, who standeth near to God); and I am sent to thee to speak, and to evangelize or to tell to thee these things.

²⁰ And lo! thou shalt be dumb, and thou shalt not be able to speak till into the day, in which these things shall be done; for thou hast not believed to my words (or for thou hast not believed my words), which shall be fulfilled in their time.

²¹ And the people was abiding Zacharias (or And the people were waiting for Zechariah), and they wondered, (why) that he tarried (so) in the temple.

²² And he went out, and might not speak to them, and they knew that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he beckoned to them, and dwelled still dumb.

²³ And it was done, when the days of his office were fulfilled, he went into his house.

²⁴ And after these days Elisabeth, his wife, conceived, and hid her(self) (for) five months, and said,

²⁵ For so the Lord did to me in the days, in which he beheld, to take away my reproof or my shame among men.

²⁶ But in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, whose name was Nazareth,

²⁷ to a maiden or to a virgin, wedded to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the maiden was Mary.

²⁸ And the angel entered to her, and said, Hail, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed be thou among women.

²⁹ And when she had heard (this), she was troubled in his word (or she was troubled by his words), and thought what manner salutation this was.

³⁰ And the angel said to her, Dread thou not, Mary, (or Fear not, Mary), for thou hast found grace with God.

³¹ Lo! thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

³² This shall be great or He shall be great, and he shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give to him the seat of David, his father, (or and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David),

³³ and he shall reign in the house of Jacob into without end, and of his realm shall be none end (or and there shall be no end to his Kingdom).

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, On what manner shall this thing be done, for I know not (a) man? or for I know no man?

³⁵ And the angel answered, and said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come from above into thee, and the virtue of the Highest shall overshadow thee, (or The Holy Spirit shall come from above upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee); and therefore that holy thing that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And lo! Elisabeth, thy cousin, and she also hath conceived a son in her old (age), and this month is the sixth to her that is called barren;

³⁷ for every word shall not be impossible with God. (for nothing is impossible with God.)

³⁸ And Mary said, Lo! the handmaid of the Lord or Lo! the handmaiden of the Lord; be it done to me after thy word. And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary rose up in those days, and went with haste into the mountains or into the hilly places, into a city of Judea.

⁴⁰ And she entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it was done, as Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the young child in her womb gladded. And Elisabeth was full-filled with the Holy Ghost, or And Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, (or And Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit),

⁴² and cried with a great voice (or and cried with a loud voice), and said, Blessed be thou among women, and blessed be the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And whereof is this thing to me, that the mother of my Lord come to me?

⁴⁴ For lo! as the voice of thy salutation was made in mine ears, the young child gladded in joy in my womb or the young child gladded with joy in my womb.

⁴⁵ And blessed be thou, that hast believed, for those things that be said of the Lord to thee, shall be perfectly done. And blessed be thou, that hast believed, for those things that be said to thee from the Lord, shall be perfectly done.

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit hath gladded in God, mine health or mine health-giver. (and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my salvation.)

⁴⁸ For he hath beheld the meekness of his handmaid or the meekness of his handmaiden. For lo! (because) of this all generations shall say that I am blessed, or Lo! forsooth of this (or because of this) all generations shall say me blessed.

⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and his name is holy.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is from kindred into kindreds, to men that dread him (or to those who have fearful reverence for him).

⁵¹ He made might in his arm, he scattered proud men with the thought of his heart.

⁵² He put down mighty men from their seats, and enhanced meek men. (He brought down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted, or raised up, the humble.)

⁵³ He hath full-filled hungry men with goods or He hath filled hungry men with good things, and he hath left rich men void.

⁵⁴ He, having mind of his mercy, took Israel, his child; (He, remembering his kindness, helped his servant Israel;)

⁵⁵ as he hath spoken to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed, into worlds (or forever).

⁵⁶ And Mary dwelled with her, as it were three months, and turned again into her house. (And Mary remained with her for three months, and then returned to her house.)

⁵⁷ But the time of bearing child was fulfilled to Elisabeth, and she bare a son.

⁵⁸ And the neighbours and the cousins of her heard, that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her; and they thanked him or and they together joyed to her, (or with her).

⁵⁹ And it was done in the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, by the name of his father. (And it was done on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zechariah, after his father’s name.)

⁶⁰ And his mother answered, and said, Nay, but he shall be called John.

¹⁰ And al the multitude of the puple was with outforth, and preiede in the our of encensyng.

¹¹ And an aungel of the Lord apperide to hym, and stood on the riythalf of the auter of encense.

¹² And Zacarie seynge was afraied, and drede fel vpon hym.

¹³ And the aungel seide to hym, Zacarie, drede thou not; for thi preyer is herd, and Elizabeth, thi wijf, schal bere to thee a sone, and his name schal be clepid Joon.

¹⁴ And ioye and gladyng schal be to thee; and many schulen `haue ioye in his natyuyte.

¹⁵ For he schal be greet bifor the Lord, and he schal not drynke wyn and sidir, and he schal be fulfillid with the Hooli Goost yit of his modir wombe.

¹⁶ And he schal conuerte many of the children of Israel to her Lord God;

¹⁷ and he schal go bifor hym in the spirit and the vertu of Helie; and he schal turne the hertis of the fadris in to the sones, and men out of bileue to the prudence of iust men, to make redi a perfit puple to the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacarie seide to the aungel, Wherof schal Y wite this? for Y am eld, and my wijf hath gon fer in to hir daies.

¹⁹ And the aungel answeride, and seide to hym, For Y am Gabriel, that stonde niy bifor God; and Y am sent to thee to speke, and to euangelize to thee these thingis.

²⁰ And lo! thou schalt be doumbe, and thou schalt not mow speke til in to the dai, in which these thingis schulen be don; for thou hast not bileued to my wordis, whiche schulen be fulfillid in her tyme.

²¹ And the puple was abidynge Zacarie, and thei wondriden, that he tariede in the temple.

²² And he yede out, and myyte not speke to hem, and thei knewen that he hadde seyn a visioun in the temple. And he bikenyde to hem, and he dwellide stille doumbe.

²³ And it was don, whanne the daies of his office weren fulfillid, he wente in to his hous.

²⁴ And aftir these daies Elizabeth, his wijf, conseyuede, and hidde hir fyue monethis, and seide,

²⁵ For so the Lord dide to me in the daies, in whiche he bihelde, to take awei my repreef among men.

²⁶ But in the sixte moneth the aungel Gabriel was sent fro God in to a citee of Galilee, whos name was Nazareth,

²⁷ to a maidyn, weddid to a man, whos name was Joseph, of the hous of Dauid; and the name of the maidun was Marie.

²⁸ And the aungel entride to hir, and seide, Heil, ful of grace; the Lord be with thee; blessid be thou among wymmen.

²⁹ And whanne sche hadde herd, sche was troublid in his word, and thouyte what maner salutacioun this was.

³⁰ And the aungel seide to hir, Ne drede thou not, Marie, for thou hast foundun grace anentis God.

³¹ Lo! thou schalt conceyue in wombe, and schalt bere a sone, and thou schalt clepe his name Jhesus.

³² This schal be greet, and he schal be clepid the sone of the Hiyeste; and the Lord God schal yeue to hym the seete of Dauid, his fadir, and he schal regne in the hous of Jacob with outen ende,

³³ and of his rewme schal be noon ende.

³⁴ And Marie seide to the aungel, On what maner schal this thing be doon, for Y knowe not man?

³⁵ And the aungel answeride, and seide to hir, The Hooly Goost schal come fro aboue in to thee, and the vertu of the Hiyeste schal ouerschadewe thee; and therfor that hooli thing that schal be borun of thee, schal be clepid the sone of God.

³⁶ And lo! Elizabeth, thi cosyn, and sche also hath conceyued a sone in hir eelde, and this moneth is the sixte to hir that is clepid bareyn;

³⁷ for euery word schal not be inpossible anentis God.

³⁸ And Marie seide, Lo! the handmaydyn of the Lord; be it don to me aftir thi word. And the aungel departide fro hir.

³⁹ And Marie roos vp in tho daies, and wente with haaste in to the mounteyns, in to a citee of Judee.

⁴⁰ And sche entride in to the hous of Zacarie, and grette Elizabeth.

⁴¹ And it was don, as Elizabeth herde the salutacioun of Marie, the yong child in hir wombe gladide. And Elizabeth was fulfillid with the Hooli Goost,

⁴² and criede with a greet vois, and seide, Blessid be thou among wymmen, and blessid be the fruyt of thi wombe.

⁴³ And whereof is this thing to me, that the modir of my Lord come to me?

⁴⁴ For lo! as the voice of thi salutacioun was maad in myn eeris, the yong child gladide in ioye in my wombe.

⁴⁵ And blessid be thou, that hast bileued, for thilke thingis that ben seid of the Lord to thee, schulen be parfitli don.

⁴⁶ And Marie seide, Mi soule magnyfieth the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit hath gladid in God, myn helthe.

⁴⁸ For he hath biholdun the mekenesse of his handmaidun.

⁴⁹ For lo! of this alle generaciouns schulen seie that Y am blessid. For he that is myyti hath don to me grete thingis, and his name is hooli.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is fro kynrede in to kynredes, to men that dreden hym.

⁵¹ He made myyt in his arme, he scaterede proude men with the thouyte of his herte.

⁵² He sette doun myyti men fro sete, and enhaunside meke men.

⁵³ He hath fulfillid hungri men with goodis, and he hath left riche men voide.

⁵⁴ He, hauynge mynde of his mercy, took Israel, his child;

⁵⁵ as he hath spokun to oure fadris, to Abraham and to his seed, in to worldis.

⁵⁶ And Marie dwellide with hir, as it were thre monethis, and turnede ayen in to hir hous.

⁵⁷ But the tyme of beryng child was fulfillid to Elizabeth, and sche bare a sone.

⁵⁸ And the neiyboris and cosyns of hir herden, that the Lord hadde magnyfied his mercy with hir; and thei thankiden hym.

⁵⁹ And it was don in the eiyte dai, thei camen to circumcide the child; and thei clepiden hym Zacarie, bi the name of his fadir.

⁶⁰ And his moder answeride, and seide, Nay, but he schal be clepid Joon.

¹⁰ and all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the hour of the perfume.

¹¹ And there appeared to him a messenger of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of the perfume,

¹² and Zacharias, having seen, was troubled, and fear fell on him;

¹³ and the messenger said unto him, 'Fear not, Zacharias, for thy supplication was heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name John,

¹⁴ and there shall be joy to thee, and gladness, and many at his birth shall joy,

¹⁵ for he shall be great before the Lord, and wine and strong drink he may not drink, and of the Holy Spirit he shall be full, even from his mother's womb;

¹⁶ and many of the sons of Israel he shall turn to the Lord their God,

¹⁷ and he shall go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of fathers unto children, and disobedient ones to the wisdom of righteous ones, to make ready for the Lord, a people prepared.'

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the messenger, 'Whereby shall I know this? for I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days?'

¹⁹ And the messenger answering said to him, 'I am Gabriel, who have been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to proclaim these good news to thee,

²⁰ and lo, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, that shall be fulfilled in their season.'

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondering at his tarrying in the sanctuary,

²² and having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the sanctuary, and he was beckoning to them, and did remain dumb.

²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went away to his house,

²⁴ and after those days, his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying —

²⁵ 'Thus hath the Lord done to me, in days in which He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.'

²⁶ And in the sixth month was the messenger Gabriel sent by God, to a city of Galilee, the name of which is Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name is Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin is Mary.

²⁸ And the messenger having come in unto her, said, 'Hail, favoured one, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women;'

²⁹ and she, having seen, was troubled at his word, and was reasoning of what kind this salutation may be.

³⁰ And the messenger said to her, 'Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;

³¹ and lo, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus;

³² he shall be great, and Son of the Highest he shall be called, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father,

³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob to the ages; and of his reign there shall be no end.'

³⁴ And Mary said unto the messenger, 'How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'

³⁵ And the messenger answering said to her, 'The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God;

³⁶ and lo, Elisabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her who was called barren;

³⁷ because nothing shall be impossible with God.'

³⁸ And Mary said, 'Lo, the maid-servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to thy saying,' and the messenger went away from her.

³⁹ And Mary having arisen in those days, went to the hill-country, with haste, to a city of Judea,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe did leap in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

⁴² and spake out with a loud voice, and said, 'Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb;

⁴³ and whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord might come unto me?

⁴⁴ for, lo, when the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, leap in gladness did the babe in my womb;

⁴⁵ and happy is she who did believe, for there shall be a completion to the things spoken to her from the Lord.'

⁴⁶ And Mary said, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit was glad on God my Saviour,

⁴⁸ Because He looked on the lowliness of His maid-servant, For, lo, henceforth call me happy shall all the generations,

⁴⁹ For He who is mighty did to me great things, And holy is His name,

⁵⁰ And His kindness is to generations of generations, To those fearing Him,

⁵¹ He did powerfully with His arm, He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart,

⁵² He brought down the mighty from thrones, And He exalted the lowly,

⁵³ The hungry He did fill with good, And the rich He sent away empty,

⁵⁴ He received again Israel His servant, To remember kindness,

⁵⁵ As He spake unto our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed — to the age.'

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months, and turned back to her house.

⁵⁷ And to Elisabeth was the time fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she bare a son,

⁵⁸ and the neighbours and her kindred heard that the Lord was making His kindness great with her, and they were rejoicing with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias,

⁶⁰ and his mother answering said, 'No, but he shall be called John.'