路加福音 1
Chinese Standard Bible (Simplified)
献给提阿费罗
1 提阿费罗大人哪，既然有许多人着手编录关于在我们中间所成就的事， 2 就是照着从起初以来的目击者和做福音[a]仆人的那些人所传给我们的， 3 我也已经从头仔细地追踪了这一切，我就认为应该按着次序写给您， 4 好让您了解到您所领受的话语都是确实的。
预言约翰诞生
5 在犹太王希律的那些日子里，有一个祭司名叫撒迦利亚，属于亚比雅班组。他的妻子也是亚伦的子孙[b]，名叫伊莉莎白。 6 他们两个人在神面前都是义人，遵行主的一切诫命和公义规定，无可指责。 7 可是他们没有孩子，因为伊莉莎白不能生育，两个人又都上了年纪。
8 有一次，当撒迦利亚的班组轮值的时候，撒迦利亚在神面前履行祭司的职务， 9 照着祭司职务的规矩，抽中了签就进入主的圣所烧香。 10 烧香的时候，全体民众都在外面祷告。 11 有主的一位天使站在香坛的右边向他显现。 12 撒迦利亚看见后，就惊慌不安，恐惧就临到了他。 13 天使对他说：
“撒迦利亚，不要怕，
因为你的祈祷已蒙垂听。
你的妻子伊莉莎白要为你生一个儿子，
你要给他起名叫约翰。
14 他将使你欢喜、快乐，
许多人也会因他的诞生而欢欣，
15 因为他将要在主面前为大。
淡酒和烈酒他绝不能喝，
还在母腹中的时候，
他就会被圣灵充满。
16 他将使许多以色列子民
归向主——他们的神。
17 他将藉着以利亚的灵和能力，
在主的面前先行，
使父亲的心
转向儿女，
使悖逆的人
转向义人的智慧，
好为主准备一群预备好了的子民。”
18 撒迦利亚对天使说：“我凭着什么能知道这事呢？我是个老人，我的妻子也上了年纪。”
19 天使回答他，说：“我是站在神面前的加百列，奉差派来对你说话，向你传达这些好消息。 20 看哪，你要成为哑巴，不能说话，一直到这些事成就的日子，因为你不相信我的话！到了时候，我的话就会应验。”
21 民众等候着撒迦利亚，对他在圣所里的迟延不出感到惊奇。 22 当他出来不能和他们说话的时候，他们才了解他在圣所里看到了异象。撒迦利亚一直向他们打手势，却始终不能说话。 23 他服事的日子满了以后，就回家去了。
24 这些日子以后，他的妻子伊莉莎白怀了孕，隐居了五个月。她说： 25 “为了除去我在人间的耻辱，主在这些眷顾的日子里，这样看待了我。”
预言基督诞生
26 在第六个月，天使加百列从神那里奉差派，去加利利一个叫拿撒勒的城， 27 到一个童贞女那里。这童贞女名叫玛丽亚，已经许配给大卫家族一个名叫约瑟的人。 28 天使[c]来到她面前，说：“蒙大恩的女子，愿你欢喜，主与你同在！[d]” 29 玛丽亚因这话就惊慌不安，思索这问候到底是什么意思。 30 天使对她说：
“玛丽亚，不要怕，
因为你在神面前蒙恩了。
31 看哪，
你将要怀孕生一个儿子，
你要给他起名叫耶稣。
32 他将要为大，
被称为至高者的儿子；
主、神要把他先祖大卫的王位赐给他。
33 他要做王统管雅各家，直到永远，
他的国度没有穷尽。”
34 玛丽亚对天使说：“我既然没有出嫁[e]，怎么会有这事呢？”
35 天使回答她，说：
“圣灵将要临到你，
至高者的大能要荫庇你，
因此，那要诞生的圣者
将被称为神的儿子。
36 你看，你的亲戚伊莉莎白虽然年老，也怀了男胎；那被称为不能生育的，现在已有六个月的身孕[f]了。 37 因为在神没有什么事是不可能的。”
38 玛丽亚说：“看哪，我是主的婢女，愿这事照着你的话成就在我身上。”于是天使离开了她。
玛丽亚与伊莉莎白
39 就在那些日子里，玛丽亚起身到山区去，赶往犹大的一个城， 40 进了撒迦利亚的家，问候伊莉莎白。 41 伊莉莎白一听到玛丽亚的问候，胎儿就在她的腹中跳动，伊莉莎白也被圣灵充满， 42 大声呼喊说：
“你在妇女中是蒙祝福的，
你腹中的胎儿[g]也是蒙祝福的！
43 我主的母亲竟然到我这里来，这事怎么会临到我呢？ 44 看哪，原来你问候的声音一传入我的耳朵，胎儿就在我的腹中欢喜跳跃。 45 这相信的女子是蒙福的，因为主对她说的话都会实现。”
玛丽亚的颂赞
46 玛丽亚说：
“我的心尊主为大，
47 我的灵以神我的救主为乐，
48 因为他看顾他婢女的卑微。
看哪，从今以后，
世世代代都要称我有福，
49 因为那全能者
为我行了大事；
他的名是神圣的。
50 他的怜悯，
世世代代临到敬畏他的人。
51 他用膀臂施展大能，
驱散那些心思意念骄傲的人。
52 他把权能者从高位上拉下，
又把卑微的人[h]高举。
53 他用美物满足饥饿的人，
让富有的人空手而去。
54 他扶助他的仆人以色列，
不忘怜悯，
55 正如他对我们祖先，
对亚伯拉罕和他的后裔所说的，直到永远。”
56 玛丽亚与伊莉莎白一起住了大约三个月，就回家去了。
约翰的出生与命名
57 伊莉莎白产期到了，生了一个儿子。 58 她的邻居和亲戚听说主向她大施怜悯，就与她一同欢乐。
59 到了第八天，他们来给孩子行割礼，要按照他父亲的名字叫他撒迦利亚。 60 可是孩子的母亲应声说：“不！他要被称为约翰。”
61 他们对她说：“你的亲族中没有叫这名字的。” 62 于是他们向孩子的父亲打手势，到底他愿意叫他什么名字。 63 撒迦利亚要了一块写字板，写上：“他的名字是约翰。”大家都感到惊奇。 64 撒迦利亚的口立刻开了，舌头也松了，就说出话来，颂赞神。 65 于是住在他们周围的人都感到惧怕，整个犹太山区的人也都在谈论这一切事。 66 所有听见的人都把这一切存在心里，说：“这孩子将来究竟会怎么样呢？”因为显然有主的手与他同在。
撒迦利亚的预言
67 他的父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满，就预言说：
68 “主——以色列的神是当受颂赞的，
因为他临到[i]了他的子民，
并施行了救赎。
69 他在他的仆人大卫家中，
为我们兴起了一只救恩的角，
70 正如他自古以来藉着圣先知们的口所说的，
71 拯救我们脱离敌人[j]、脱离一切恨我们之人的手，
72 向我们的祖先施怜悯，
不忘他神圣的约，
73 就是向我们的先祖亚伯拉罕所起的誓，
74 使我们从敌人[k]的手中被救出，
75 在我们所有的日子里无所惧怕，以圣洁和公义事奉他；
76 而你——孩子啊！
你将被称为至高者的先知，
因为你将走在主的前面，
预备他的路，
77 藉着罪得赦免，
赐给他的子民救恩的知识。
78 因着我们神怜悯的心肠[l]，
黎明的曙光将从高天临到[m]我们，
79 照亮那些坐在黑暗
和死亡阴影中的人，
引导我们的脚步进入平安[n]之路。”
80 那孩子渐渐长大，灵里刚强。他住在旷野，直到他向以色列公开出现的那天。
Footnotes
- 路加福音 1:2 福音——原文直译“话语”或“道”。
- 路加福音 1:5 子孙——原文直译“女儿”。
- 路加福音 1:28 天使——有古抄本作“他”。
- 路加福音 1:28 有古抄本附“你在妇女中是蒙祝福的！”
- 路加福音 1:34 没有出嫁——原文直译“没有亲近男人”。
- 路加福音 1:36 的身孕——辅助词语。
- 路加福音 1:42 胎儿——原文直译“果实”。
- 路加福音 1:52 卑微的人——或译作“谦卑的人”。
- 路加福音 1:68 临到——或译作“照顾”。
- 路加福音 1:71 敌人——或译作“反对者”。
- 路加福音 1:74 敌人——或译作“反对者”。
- 路加福音 1:78 心肠——或译作“情感”。
- 路加福音 1:78 临到——或译作“照顾”。
- 路加福音 1:79 平安——或译作“和平”。
路加福音 1
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
1 1-2 提阿非罗大人，已经有很多人根据最初的目击者和传道者给我们的口述，把我们中间发生的事记载下来。 3 我把一切事情从头至尾仔细查考之后，决定按次序写出来， 4 使你知道自己所学的道都是有真凭实据的。
天使预告施洗者约翰出生
5 犹太王希律执政期间，亚比雅的班里有位祭司名叫撒迦利亚，他妻子伊丽莎白是亚伦的后裔。 6 夫妻二人遵行主的一切诫命和条例，无可指责，在上帝眼中是义人。 7 但他们没有孩子，因为伊丽莎白不能生育，二人又年纪老迈。
8 有一天，轮到撒迦利亚他们那一班祭司当值， 9 他们按照祭司的规矩抽签，抽中撒迦利亚到主的殿里去烧香。 10 众百姓都在外面祷告。 11 那时，主的天使在香坛的右边向撒迦利亚显现， 12 撒迦利亚见了，惊慌害怕起来。
13 天使对他说：“撒迦利亚，不要害怕，你的祷告已蒙垂听。你的妻子伊丽莎白要为你生一个儿子，你要给他取名叫约翰。 14 你必欢喜快乐，许多人也会因为他的诞生而欣喜雀跃， 15 因为他将成为主伟大的仆人。他必滴酒不沾，并且在母腹里就被圣灵充满。 16 他将劝导许多以色列人回心转意，归顺主——他们的上帝。 17 他将以先知以利亚的心志和能力做主的先锋，使父亲的心转向儿女，使叛逆的人回转、顺从义人的智慧，为主预备合用的子民。”
18 撒迦利亚对天使说：“我已经老了，我的妻子也上了年纪，我如何知道这是真的呢？” 19 天使回答说：“我是侍立在上帝面前的加百列，奉命来向你报这喜讯。 20 我说的这些话到时候必定应验。但因为你不肯相信我的话，所以这事成就以前，你将变成哑巴，不能说话。”
21 人们在等候撒迦利亚，见他在圣殿里迟迟不出来，都感到奇怪。 22 后来他出来了，却成了哑巴，不能说话，只能打手势，大家意识到他在圣殿里看见了异象。 23 撒迦利亚供职期满，就回家去了。 24 不久，伊丽莎白果然怀了孕，她有五个月闭门不出。 25 她说：“主真是眷顾我，除掉了我不生育的羞耻。”
天使预告耶稣降生
26 伊丽莎白怀孕六个月的时候，天使加百列又奉上帝的命令到加利利的拿撒勒， 27 去见一位童贞女，她叫玛丽亚。玛丽亚已经和大卫的后裔约瑟订了婚。
28 天使到了玛丽亚那里，说：“恭喜你，蒙大恩的女子，主与你同在！”
29 玛丽亚听了觉得十分困惑，反复思想这话的意思。
30 天使对她说：“玛丽亚，不要害怕，你在上帝面前已经蒙恩了。 31 你要怀孕生子，并给祂取名叫耶稣。 32 祂伟大无比，将被称为至高者的儿子，主上帝要把祂祖先大卫的王位赐给祂。 33 祂要永远统治以色列[a]，祂的国度永无穷尽。”
34 玛丽亚对天使说：“这怎么可能呢？我还是童贞女。”
35 天使回答说：“圣灵要临到你身上，至高者的能力要荫庇你，所以你要生的那圣婴必称为上帝的儿子。 36 看啊，你的亲戚伊丽莎白年纪老迈，一向不能生育，现在已经怀男胎六个月了。 37 因为上帝无所不能。”
38 玛丽亚说：“我是主的婢女，愿你所说的话在我身上成就。”于是天使离开了她。
玛丽亚看望伊丽莎白
39 不久，玛丽亚便动身赶到犹太山区的一座城， 40 进了撒迦利亚的家，向伊丽莎白请安。 41 伊丽莎白一听见玛丽亚的问安，腹中的胎儿便跳动起来，伊丽莎白被圣灵充满， 42 高声喊着说：“在妇女中你是最蒙福的！你腹中的孩子也是蒙福的！ 43 我主的母亲来探望我，我怎么敢当呢？ 44 我一听到你问安的声音，腹中的孩子就欢喜跳动。 45 相信主所说的话必实现的女子有福了！”
46 玛丽亚说：
“我的心尊主为大，
47 我的灵因我的救主上帝而欢喜，
48 因祂眷顾我这卑微的婢女，
从今以后，
世世代代都要称我是有福的。
49 全能者在我身上行了奇事，
祂的名是神圣的。
50 祂怜悯敬畏祂的人，
直到世世代代。
51 祂伸出臂膀，施展大能，
驱散心骄气傲的人。
52 祂使当权者失势，
叫谦卑的人升高。
53 祂使饥饿的得饱足，
叫富足的空手而去。
54 祂扶助了自己的仆人以色列，
55 祂要施怜悯给亚伯拉罕和他的子孙，
直到永远，
正如祂对我们祖先的应许。”
56 玛丽亚和伊丽莎白同住了约三个月，便回家去了。
施洗者约翰出生
57 伊丽莎白的产期到了，生下一个儿子。 58 亲戚和邻居听见主向她大施怜悯，都和她一同欢乐。 59 到了第八天，他们来给孩子行割礼，想照他父亲的名字给他取名叫撒迦利亚。
60 但伊丽莎白说：“不！要叫他约翰。”
61 他们说：“你们家族中没有人用这个名字啊！” 62 他们便向他父亲打手势，问他要给孩子起什么名字。 63 撒迦利亚就要了一块写字板，写上：“他的名字叫约翰。”大家看了都很惊奇。 64 就在那时，撒迦利亚恢复了说话的能力，便开口赞美上帝。 65 住在周围的人都很惧怕，这消息很快就传遍了整个犹太山区。 66 听见的人都在想：“这孩子将来会怎样呢？因为主与他同在。”
撒迦利亚的预言
67 孩子的父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满，便预言说：
68 “主——以色列的上帝当受称颂，
因祂眷顾、救赎了自己的子民，
69 在祂仆人大卫的家族中为我们兴起了一位大能的拯救者[b]，
70 正如祂从亘古借着祂圣先知们的口所说的。
71 祂要从仇敌和一切恨我们之人手中拯救我们。
72 祂怜悯我们的祖先，
持守自己的圣约，
73 就是祂对我们的先祖亚伯拉罕所起的誓，
74 要把我们从仇敌手中拯救出来，
75 使我们一生一世在圣洁和公义中坦然无惧地事奉祂。
76 至于你，我的儿子啊！
你将要被称为至高者的先知，
因为你要走在主的前面，
为祂预备道路，
77 使百姓因罪得赦免而明白救恩的真谛。
78 由于上帝的怜悯，
清晨的曙光必从高天普照我们，
79 照亮那些生活在黑暗中和死亡阴影下的人，
带领我们走平安的道路。”
80 那孩子渐渐长大，心灵强健，在向以色列人公开露面之前，一直住在旷野。
Luke 1
The Voice
In the time of Jesus, Jewish life is centered in the temple in Jerusalem. Priests are responsible for the temple’s activities—which include receiving religious pilgrims and their sacrifices (cattle, sheep, goats, and doves). Animal sacrifices may sound strange to a modern society, but in the ancient world, they are quite common. The slaughter of animals is a daily experience; it is part of any meal that includes meat. So this meal brings together the Jewish family from near and far, seeking to affirm their connections to the one true and living God. Their gift of animals is their contribution to the meal. (The priests, by the way, are authorized to use the meat for the sustenance of their families.)
The presentation of the blood and meat of these sacrifices is accompanied by a number of prescribed rituals, performed by priests wearing prescribed ornamental clothing, according to a prescribed schedule. As the story continues, these solemn rituals are interrupted in an unprecedented way.
1 1-3 For those who love God, several other people have already written accounts of what God has been bringing to completion among us, using the reports of the original eyewitnesses, those who were there from the start to witness the fulfillment of prophecy. Like those other servants who have recorded the messages, I present to you my carefully researched, orderly account of these new teachings. 4 I want you to know that you can fully rely on the things you have been taught about Jesus, God’s Anointed One.
5 To understand the life of Jesus, I must first give you some background history, events that occurred when Herod ruled Judea for the Roman Empire. Zacharias was serving as a priest in the temple in Jerusalem those days as his fathers had before him. He was a member of the priestly division of Abijah (a grandson of Aaron who innovated temple practices), and his wife, Elizabeth, was of the priestly lineage of Aaron, Moses’ brother. 6 They were good and just people in God’s sight, walking with integrity in the Lord’s ways and laws. 7 Yet they had this sadness. Due to Elizabeth’s infertility, they were childless, and at this time, they were both quite old—well past normal childbearing years.
8 One day Zacharias was chosen to perform his priestly duties in God’s presence, according to the temple’s normal schedule and routine. 9 He had been selected from all the priests by the customary procedure of casting lots for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter the sacred precincts of the temple. There he burned sweet incense, 10 while outside a large crowd of people prayed. 11 Suddenly Zacharias realized he was not alone: a messenger of the Lord was there with him. The messenger stood just to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was shocked and afraid, 13 but the messenger reassured him.
Messenger: Zacharias, calm down! Don’t be afraid!
Zacharias is a priest working in the temple, but priests don’t normally hear from God. Those who hear from God are called prophets, not priests. One becomes a priest by being born in a priestly family line. Prophets, on the other hand, arise unpredictably and have no special credentials except the message they carry. So Zacharias has no reason to believe his duties will be interrupted in this way. Often in the biblical story, when people receive a message from God—after getting over the initial shock—they start asking questions. They push back; they doubt.
Messenger: Zacharias, your prayers have been heard. Your wife is going to have a son, and you will name him John. 14 He will bring you great joy and happiness—and many will share your joy at John’s birth.
15 This son of yours will be a great man in God’s sight. He will not drink alcohol in any form;[a] instead of alcoholic spirits, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he is in his mother’s womb. 16 Here is his mission: he will turn many of the children of Israel around to follow the path to the Lord their God. 17 Do you remember the prophecy about someone to come in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; someone who will turn the hearts of the parents back to their children;[b] someone who will turn the hearts of the disobedient to the mind-set of the just and good? Your son is the one who will fulfill this prophecy: he will be the Lord’s forerunner, the one who will prepare the people and make them ready for God.
Zacharias: 18 How can I be sure of what you’re telling me? I am an old man, and my wife is far past the normal age for women to bear children. This is hard to believe!
Messenger (sternly): 19 I am Gabriel, the messenger who inhabits God’s presence. I was sent here to talk with you and bring you this good news. 20 Because you didn’t believe my message, you will not be able to talk—not another word—until you experience the fulfillment of my words.
21 Meanwhile the crowd at the temple wondered why Zacharias hadn’t come out of the sanctuary yet. It wasn’t normal for the priest to be delayed so long. 22 When at last he came out, he was making signs with his hands to give the blessing, but he couldn’t speak. They realized he had seen some sort of vision. 23 When his time on duty at the temple came to an end, he went back home to his wife. 24 Shortly after his return, Elizabeth became pregnant. She avoided public contact for the next five months.
Elizabeth: 25 I have lived with the disgrace of being barren for all these years. Now God has looked on me with favor. When I go out in public with my baby, I will not be disgraced any longer.
26 Six months later in Nazareth, a city in the rural province of Galilee, the heavenly messenger Gabriel made another appearance. This time the messenger was sent by God 27 to meet with a virgin named Mary, who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David himself. 28 The messenger entered her home.
Messenger: Greetings! You are favored, and the Lord is with you! [Among all women on the earth, you have been blessed.][c]
29 The heavenly messenger’s words baffled Mary, and she wondered what type of greeting this was.
Messenger: 30 Mary, don’t be afraid. You have found favor with God. 31 Listen, you are going to become pregnant. You will have a son, and you must name Him “Savior,” or Jesus.[d] 32 Jesus will become the greatest among men. He will be known as the Son of the Highest God. God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David, 33 and He will reign over the covenant family of Jacob forever.
Mary: 34 But I have never been with a man. How can this be possible?
Messenger: 35 The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The Most High will overshadow you. That’s why this holy child will be known, as not just your son, but also as the Son of God. 36 It sounds impossible, but listen—you know your relative Elizabeth has been unable to bear children and is now far too old to be a mother. Yet she has become pregnant, as God willed it. Yes, in three months, she will have a son. 37 So the impossible is possible with God.
Mary (deciding in her heart): 38 Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant. As you have said, let it be done to me.
Luke is very interested in the ways that disadvantaged people of his day respond to God. Already there is a fascinating interplay between Zacharias’s response to God and Mary’s.
And the heavenly messenger was gone. 39 Mary immediately got up and hurried to the hill country, in the province of Judah, 40-41 where her cousins Zacharias and Elizabeth lived. When Mary entered their home and greeted Elizabeth, who felt her baby leap in her womb, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth (shouting): 42 You are blessed, Mary, blessed among all women, and the child you bear is blessed! 43 And blessed I am as well, that the mother of my Lord has come to me! 44 As soon as I heard your voice greet me, my baby leaped for joy within me. 45 How fortunate you are, Mary, for you believed that what the Lord told you would be fulfilled.
Mary is deeply moved by these amazing encounters—first with the messenger and then with her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary’s response can’t be contained in normal prose; her noble soul overflows in poetry. And this poetry isn’t simply religious; it has powerful social and political overtones. It speaks of a great reversal—what might be called a social, economic, and political revolution. To people in Mary’s day, there is little question as to what she is talking about. The Jewish people are oppressed by the Roman Empire, and to speak of a King who will demote the powerful and rich and elevate the poor and humble means one thing: God is moving toward setting them free! Soon Zacharias will overflow in poetry of his own.
46 Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord!
47 My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator!
48 For though I’m God’s humble servant,
God has noticed me.
Now and forever,
I will be considered blessed by all generations.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
holy is God’s name!
50 From generation to generation,
God’s lovingkindness endures
for those who revere Him.
51 God’s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.
The proud in mind and heart,
God has sent away in disarray.
52 The rulers from their high positions of power,
God has brought down low.
And those who were humble and lowly,
God has elevated with dignity.
53 The hungry—God has filled with fine food.
The rich—God has dismissed with nothing in their hands.
54 To Israel, God’s servant,
God has given help,
55 As promised to our ancestors,
remembering Abraham and his descendants in mercy forever.
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth in Judea for the next three months and then returned to her home in Galilee.
57 When the time was right, Elizabeth gave birth to a son. 58 News about the Lord’s special kindness to her had spread through her extended family and the community. Everyone shared her joy, for after all these years of infertility, she had a son! 59 As was customary, eight days after the baby’s birth the time came for his circumcision and naming. Everyone assumed he would be named Zacharias, like his father.
Elizabeth (disagreeing): 60 No. We will name him John.
Her Relatives (protesting): 61 That name is found nowhere in your family.
62 They turned to Zacharias and asked him what he wanted the baby’s name to be.
63 He motioned for a tablet, and he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was shocked by this breach of family custom. 64 They were even more surprised when, at that moment, Zacharias was able to talk again, and he shouted out praises to God. 65 A sense of reverence spread through the whole community. In fact, this story was spread throughout the hilly countryside of Judea. 66 People were certain that God’s hand was on this child, and they wondered what sort of person John would turn out to be when he became a man.
67 When Zacharias’s voice was restored to him, he sang from the fullness of the Spirit a prophetic blessing.
68 Zacharias: May the Lord God of Israel be blessed indeed!
For God’s intervention has begun,
and He has moved to rescue us, the people of God.
69 And the Lord has raised up a powerful sign of liberation for us
from among the descendants of God’s servant, King David.
70 As was prophesied through the mouths of His holy prophets in ancient times:
71 God will liberate us from our enemies
and from the hand of our oppressors![e]
72-74 God will show mercy promised to our ancestors,
upholding the abiding covenant He made with them,
Remembering the original vow He swore to Abraham,
from whom we are all descended.
God will rescue us from the grasp of our enemies
so that we may serve Him without fear all our days
75 In holiness and justice, in the presence of the Lord.
76 And you, my son, will be called the prophet of the Most High.
For you will be the one to prepare the way for the Lord[f]
77 So that the Lord’s people will receive knowledge of their freedom
through the forgiveness of their sins.
78 All this will flow from the kind and compassionate mercy of our God.
A new day is dawning:
the Sunrise from the heavens will break through in our darkness,
79 And those who huddle in night,
those who sit in the shadow of death,
Will be able to rise and walk in the light,[g]
guided in the pathway of peace.
80 And John grew up and became strong in spirit. He lived in the wilderness, outside the cities, until the day came for him to step into the public eye in Israel.
Footnotes
- 1:15 Numbers 6:3; Leviticus 10:9
- 1:17 Malachi 4:5–6
- 1:28 The earliest manuscripts omit this portion.
- 1:31 Through the naming of Jesus, God is speaking prophetically about the role Jesus will play in our salvation.
- 1:71 Psalm 106:10
- 1:76 Isaiah 40:3
- 1:79 Isaiah 9:2
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.