| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, | 1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, | 2just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. |
| 3it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, | 3It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, |
| 4that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. | 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. |
| 5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. | 5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. |
| 6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. | 6Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. | 7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. |
| 8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, | 8When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, |
| 9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. | 9it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. | 10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. |
| 11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. | 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. |
| 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. | 13But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. |
| 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, | 14There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. |
| 15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. | 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. |
| 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, | 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 17and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” | 17And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people." |
| 18And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” | 18How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." |
| 19And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. | 19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. |
| 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” | 20Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." |
| 21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. |
| 22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. | 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. |
| 23And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. | 23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. |
| 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, | 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, " |
| 25“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” | 25The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." |
| 26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. | 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” | 28And the angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you." |
| 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. | 29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. |
| 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. | 30Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. | 31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. |
| 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, | 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. |
| 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” | 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. |
| 34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” | 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?" |
| 35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. | 35The angel replied to her:" The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. |
| 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. | 36And consider your relative Elizabeth--even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. |
| 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” | 37For nothing will be impossible with God."" |
| 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. | 38I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. |
| 39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, | 39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah |
| 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. | 40where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! | 42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:" You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed! |
| 43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? | 43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. | 44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! |
| 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” | 45She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!" |
| 46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, | 46And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, |
| 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, | 47and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, |
| 48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; | 48because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. | 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. |
| 50And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. | 50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. |
| 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; | 51He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; |
| 52he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; | 52He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. |
| 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. | 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. |
| 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, | 54He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, |
| 55as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” | 55just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. |
| 56And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. |
| 57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. |
| 58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. | 58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, | 59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. |
| 60but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” | 60But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John." |
| 61And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” | 61Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." |
| 62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. | 62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. |
| 63And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed. |
| 64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. | 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. |
| 65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, | 65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. |
| 66and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. | 66All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him. |
| 67And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, | 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: |
| 68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people | 68Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. |
| 69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, | 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, |
| 70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, | 70just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; |
| 71that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; | 71salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. |
| 72to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, | 72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant-- |
| 73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us | 73the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, |
| 74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, | 74since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear |
| 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. | 75in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days. |
| 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, | 76And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, |
| 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, | 77to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high | 78Because of our God's merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us |
| 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” | 79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. |
| 80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. | 80The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
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