누가복음 1
Korean Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
누가가 예수의 생애에 대해 쓰다
1 존경하는 데오빌로 각하[a], 우리 가운데서 일어난 여러 가지 일을 이야기로 엮어 낸 사람들이 많이 있었습니다. 2 그들은 우리가 다른 사람들에게서 전해 들은 것과 꼭 같은 이야기를 썼습니다. 다른 사람들이란, 그 사건들을 처음부터 직접 눈으로 보고, 하나님의 말씀을 전하는 일로 하나님을 섬긴 사람들입니다. 3 저 또한 그 일을 처음부터 자세히 조사해 보았습니다. 그리고 사건들을 잘 정리하여 글로 써서 각하께 올리는 것이 좋겠다고 생각했습니다. 4 그것은, 각하께서 이미 배워 알고 계신 것이 사실이었다는 것을 확실히 아시게 하려는 것입니다.
사가랴와 엘리사벳
5 헤롯왕[b]이 유대를 다스리고 있을 때에, 사가랴라고 하는 제사장이 있었다. 그는 아비야 갈래[c]에 들어 있었다. 그의 아내 엘리사벳 또한 아론[d] 가문 출신이었다. 6 사가랴와 엘리사벳 두 사람은 하나님 보시기에 선한 사람들이었다. 그들은 주의 명령과 규율을 흠 잡을 데 없이 잘 지켰다. 7 그런데 두 사람에게는 아이가 없었다. 엘리사벳이 아기를 가질 수 없는 여자였기 때문이었다. 그리고 두 사람 다 나이가 많았다.
8 아비야 갈래의 차례가 되어, 사가랴가 제사장으로서 성전에서 하나님을 섬기는 일을 하고 있었다. 9 제사장들은 언제나 성전에 들어가 향 제사[e]를 드릴 제사장을 제비로 뽑았는데, 이날은 사가랴가 뽑혔다. 10 향 제사를 드릴 시간이 되어, 많은 사람이 밖에 모여 기도하고 있었다. 11 그때 주의 천사가 사가랴에게 나타나 향을 피우는 제단 오른쪽에 섰다. 12 사가랴는 천사를 보고 무서워 떨었다. 13 천사가 말하였다. “두려워하지 말아라, 사가랴야. 주께서 네 기도를 들으셨다. 엘리사벳이 아들을 낳을 터이니, 이름을 요한이라고 지어라. 14 그 아들은 너를 무척 기쁘게 해 줄 것이다. 아기가 태어나면 많은 사람이 기뻐할 것이다. 15 그 아기는 주님 앞에서 큰 사람이 될 것이다. 그는 결코 포도주나 맥주를 마셔서는 안 된다. 그는 어머니 뱃속에서부터 성령 16 그리고 많은 이스라엘 사람을 하나님께 돌아오게 할 것이다. 17 그는 엘리야[f]의 정신과 능력을 가지고, 주님보다 먼저 올 것이다. 그는 부모들의 마음을 돌려 자식들을 사랑하게 하고, 하나님께 순종하지 않는 사람들이 의인들의 지혜를 따라 살게 할 것이다. 이렇게 하여 사람들로 하여금 주님을 맞이할 준비를 갖추게 할 것이다.”
18 사가랴가 말하였다. “그 말씀이 정말인지 제가 어찌 알 수 있겠습니까? 저도 나이가 많은데다 제 아내도 아주 나이가 많습니다.”
19 천사가 대답하였다. “나는 하나님 앞에서 하나님을 모시는 천사 가브리엘이다. 하나님께서 이 기쁜 소식을 네게 전하라고 나를 보내셨다. 20 잘 들어라. 이제 너는 아기가 태어날 때까지 말을 하지 못할 것이다. 내 말을 믿지 않았기 때문이다. 그러나 때가 되면 내가 말한 일이 반드시 이루어질 것이다.”
21 밖에 있던 사람들은 사가랴가 한참 동안 나오지 않자 궁금히 여기고 있었다. 22 드디어 사가랴가 밖으로 나왔다. 그러나 그는 말을 하지 못하였다. 그가 계속 손짓만 하고 말을 하지 못하자, 사람들은 사가랴가 성전 안에서 환상같은 것을 본 모양이라고 생각하였다. 23 그는 성전에서 섬기는 기간이 끝나자 집으로 돌아갔다.
24 얼마 뒤에 엘리사벳은 아기를 가지게 되었고, 다섯 달 동안 집 밖으로 나가지 않았다. 엘리사벳은 이렇게 말하였다. 25 “주께서 나를 위하여 이런 좋은 일을 해 주시다니! 사람들이 나를 부끄러운 여자라고 생각하더니, 주께서 내 부끄러움[g]을 없애 주셨구나!”
처녀 마리아
26 엘리사벳이 아기를 가진 지 여섯 달이 되었을 때에, 하나님께서 가브리엘을 갈리리 지방 나사렛 마을에 사는 한 처녀에게 보내셨다. 27 마리아라는 이름의 그 처녀는 다윗[h] 가문 사람인 요셉과 약혼한 사이였다. 28 가브리엘이 처녀에게 말하였다. “크게 은혜를 입은 그대여, 기뻐하여라. 주께서 그대와 함께하신다.”
29 마리아는 천사의 말에 놀라 어찌할 바를 몰랐다. 그리고 이것이 대체 무슨 인사일까 곰곰이 생각하였다.
30 천사가 말하였다. “두려워하지 말아라, 마리아야. 하나님께서 너를 아주 마음에 들어 하신다. 31 잘 들어라. 너는 아기를 가져 아들을 낳을 것이니, 이름을 예수라고 지어라. 32 아기는 아주 위대한 분이 되고, 지극히 높으신 하나님의 아들이라 불릴 것이다. 주 하나님께서 그에게 그의 조상 다윗의 왕위를 주실 것이다. 33 그는 야곱의 가문[i]을 영원히 다스릴 것이다. 그리고 그의 나라는 결코 망하지 않을 것이다.”[j]
34 마리아가 천사에게 물었다. “어떻게 이런 일이 있을 수 있습니까? 저는 남자를 모르는 처녀입니다.”
35 천사가 마리아에게 대답하였다. “성령이 네게 내려오시고, 지극히 높으신 하나님의 힘이 너를 감싸 주실 것이다. 그러므로 태어날 아기는 거룩한 아기로, 하나님의 아들이라 불릴 것이다. 36 보라, 네 친척 엘리사벳도 너무 늙었지만 아기를 가졌다. 사람들은 엘리사벳이 아기를 낳지 못할 것이라고 생각하였다. 그러나 그가 아기를 가진 지 벌써 여섯 달이 되었다. 37 하나님께는 못 하실 일이 없다.”
38 마리아가 대답하였다. “저는 주님의 종입니다. 천사님의 말씀대로 제게 이루어지기를 바랍니다.” 그러자 천사는 마리아에게서 떠나갔다.
마리아가 사가랴와 엘리사벳을 찾아가다
39 마리아는 길 떠날 채비를 하여 서둘러 유대 산골에 있는 한 동네를 찾아갔다. 40 그리고 그 동네에 있는 사가랴의 집으로 가서, 엘리사벳에게 문안 인사를 드렸다. 41 엘리사벳이 마리아의 인사를 듣는 순간 엘리사벳의 뱃속에서 아기가 마구 뛰었으며, 엘리사벳은 성령으로 가득 찼다. 42 엘리사벳이 큰 소리로 말하였다. “그대는 모든 여자 가운데서 가장 큰 복을 받았습니다. 뱃속의 아기도 은혜를 받은 분입니다. 43 내 주님의 어머니께서 나를 찾아오시다니! 이렇게 좋은 일이 어찌 나 같은 여자에게 일어날 수 있단 말입니까! 44 그대의 인사를 듣는 순간 뱃속의 아기가 기뻐 뛰었습니다. 45 당신은 주께서 당신에게 하신 말씀을 믿었기 때문에 복을 받으셨습니다.”
마리아가 하나님을 찬양하다
46 그러자 마리아가 말하였다.
47 “내 영혼이 주님을 찬양하며
내 마음이
나의 구원자 하나님 안에서 기뻐합니다.
48 그것은
주께서 이 종의 비천한 신세를
돌보아 주셨기 때문입니다.
이제부터는 모든 세대가 나를
복 받은 여인이라 부를 것입니다.
49 큰 능력을 가지신 분께서
내게 큰일을 해 주셨기 때문입니다.
그분의 이름은 거룩합니다.
50 주님의 자비의 손길이
주님을 두려워하는 사람들에게
대대로 미칠 것입니다.
51 주께서 팔을 뻗어
당신의 힘을 보여 주셨으니
마음속 깊이 교만한 생각을 품은 사람들을
멀리 흩어 버리셨습니다.
52 왕들은 왕좌에서 끌어내리시고
낮은 사람들은 높여 주셨습니다.
53 굶주린 사람들은
좋은 것으로 배부르게 하시고
부자들은
빈손으로 돌려보내셨습니다.
54 주께서 당신의 종 이스라엘을 도우셨으니
그에게 약속하신 자비를 기억하셨기 때문입니다.
55 그것은 우리 조상들
곧 아브라함과
그 뒤를 이을 후손들과 맺으신
영원한 약속에 따라 하신 것입니다.”
56 마리아는 엘리사벳과 석 달쯤 함께 있다가 집으로 돌아갔다.
요한이 태어나다
57 엘리사벳이 아기를 낳을 때가 되어 아들을 낳았다. 58 이웃 사람들과 친척들은 주께서 엘리사벳에게 큰 은혜를 베푸셨다는 말을 듣고 함께 기뻐하였다.
59 아기가 난 지 여드레째 되는 날 그들이 아기에게 할례를 베풀려고 왔다. 그들은 사가랴의 이름을 따서 아기의 이름도 사가랴로 지으려고 하였다. 60 그러자 아기 어머니가 말하였다. “안 됩니다. 아기의 이름은 요한이라고 지어야 합니다.”
61 그들이 그 여자에게 말하였다. “당신의 친척 가운데에는 그런 이름을 가진 사람이 없지 않습니까?” 62 그리고 아기 아버지에게 아기의 이름을 무엇으로 하려는지 손짓으로 물어보았다.
63 사가랴는 글 쓸 판을 달라고 하여 그 위에 이렇게 썼다. “아기 이름은 요한입니다.” 사람들은 모두 놀랐다. 64 그러자 곧 그의 입이 열리고 혀가 풀렸다. 그가 말을 하게 되고 하나님을 찬양하기 시작하였다. 65 이웃 사람들은 모두 두려운 마음이 들었다. 이 일은 유대 산골 지방의 이야깃거리가 되었다. 66 이 이야기를 들은 사람들은, “이 아이가 커서 무엇이 될까?” 하고 말하였다. 그들이 그렇게 말한 것은, 주의 손길이 그 아이와 함께하시는 것이 분명했기 때문이었다.
사가랴가 하나님을 찬양하다
67 요한의 아버지 사가랴가 성령으로 가득 차서 이렇게 예언하였다.
68 “주 이스라엘의 하나님께서
당신의 백성을 찾아오셔서
그들을 해방시키셨으니
그분을 찬양하여라.
69 그분은 우리를 위하여
당신의 종 다윗 가문에서
능력 있는 구세주를 일으키셨다.
70 주께서는 오래 전에
거룩한 예언자들을 통하여
말씀하셨다.
71 우리를
원수들과
우리를 미워하는 모든 사람의 손에서
구해 주시리라 말씀하셨다.
72 그리하여 주께서는
우리 조상에게 약속하신
자비를 베푸셨다.
그리고 당신이 맺은 거룩한 계약을 기억하셨다.
73-75 곧 우리 조상 아브라함에게 하신 맹세이니
우리가 원수의 손에서 놓여나
두려움 없이 주님을 섬기게 하시고
평생 동안 주님 앞에서
거룩하고 의롭게 살아가게 하시겠다는 것이다.
76 아기야, 너는
가장 높으신 분의 예언자라 불릴 것이다.
너는 주님보다 앞서 가서
그분이 오실 길을 준비할 것이기 때문이다.
77 너는
구원에 이르는 지식을
그분의 백성에게 가르칠 것이니
곧 그들이 죄를 용서받음으로써
구원을 얻으리라는 것이다.
78 그것은
우리 하나님께서 자비로우시기 때문이다.
그분의 자비가
하늘에 떠오르는 해를 우리 위에 비치게 하리니
79 그 빛이 죽음의 공포 속에 사는 사람들 위에 비치고
또한 우리의 발을 평화의 길로 인도할 것이다.”
80 아이는 자라 갔다. 그리고 영적으로 더욱 굳세어졌다. 그는 이스라엘 백성들 에게 하나님의 말씀을 전하기 위해 나설 때까지 광야에서 지냈다.
Footnotes
- 1:1 각하 말이나 글에서 왕이나 통치자에게 존경심을 나타내기 위해 쓰이곤 하던 말
- 1:5 헤롯왕 기원전 40-4년 동안에 유대를 다스린 왕으로, 헤롯대왕이라고 불렸다.
- 1:5 아비야 갈래 유대 사람 제사장들은 24갈래로 나뉘어 있었다.(대상 24장)
- 1:5 아론 모세의 형으로, 이스라엘의 첫번째 제사장이었다.
- 1:9 향 제사 특별한 나무의 어린잎을 태워 향기로운 냄새를 하나님께 바쳤다.
- 1:17 엘리야 기원전 850년 무렵에 이스라엘에서 활동했던 예언자
- 1:25 부끄러움 유대 사람들은 여자가 아기를 낳지 못하는 것을 부끄러운 일로 생각하였다.
- 1:27 다윗 기원전 1000년 즈음에 이스라엘을 다스린 왕
- 1:33 야곱의 가문 이스라엘 백성을가리킴.
- 1:33 결코 망하지 않을 것이다 또는 ‘결코 끝나지 않을 것이다.’
Luke 1
King James Version
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
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 helped 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.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Luke 1
English Standard Version
Dedication to Theophilus
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that (A)have been accomplished among us, 2 (B)just as those who (C)from the beginning were (D)eyewitnesses and (E)ministers of (F)the word (G)have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write (H)an orderly account for you, (I)most excellent (J)Theophilus, 4 that you may have (K)certainty concerning the things (L)you have been taught.
Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 (M)In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[a] (N)of (O)the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both (P)righteous before God, walking (Q)blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because (R)Elizabeth was barren, and (S)both were advanced in years.
8 Now (T)while he was serving as priest before God when (U)his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot (V)to enter (W)the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people (X)were praying (Y)outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of (Z)the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and (AA)fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for (AB)your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and (AC)you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will (AD)rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be (AE)great before the Lord. And (AF)he must not drink wine or strong (AG)drink, and (AH)he will be (AI)filled with the Holy Spirit, (AJ)even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and (AK)he will go before him (AL)in the spirit and power of Elijah, (AM)to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and (AN)the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, (AO)to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, (AP)“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am (AQ)Gabriel. (AR)I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, (AS)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.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in (AT)the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in (AU)the temple. And (AV)he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And (AW)when his time of (AX)service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, (AY)to take away my reproach among people.”
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel (AZ)Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named (BA)Nazareth, 27 (BB)to a virgin betrothed[b] to a man whose name was Joseph, (BC)of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, (BD)O favored one, (BE)the Lord is with you!”[c] 29 But (BF)she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for (BG)you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, (BH)you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and (BI)you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of (BJ)the Most High. And the Lord God (BK)will give to him the throne of (BL)his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob (BM)forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[d]
35 And the angel answered her, (BN)“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of (BO)the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[e] will be called (BP)holy—(BQ)the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her (BR)who was called barren. 37 For (BS)nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And (BT)the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into (BU)the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth (BV)was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, (BW)“Blessed are you among women, and (BX)blessed is (BY)the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of (BZ)my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And (CA)blessed is she who believed that there would be[g] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
(CB)“My (CC)soul (CD)magnifies the Lord,
47 (CE)and my (CF)spirit rejoices in (CG)God my Savior,
48 for (CH)he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations (CI)will call me blessed;
49 for (CJ)he who is mighty (CK)has done great things for me,
and (CL)holy is his name.
50 And (CM)his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 (CN)He has shown strength with his arm;
(CO)he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 (CP)he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
(CQ)and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled (CR)the hungry with good things,
and the rich (CS)he has sent away empty.
54 He has (CT)helped (CU)his servant Israel,
(CV)in remembrance of his mercy,
55 (CW)as he spoke to our fathers,
(CX)to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord (CY)had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And (CZ)on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; (DA)he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And (DB)they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for (DC)a writing tablet and wrote, (DD)“His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 (DE)And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue (DF)loosed, and he spoke, (DG)blessing God. 65 And (DH)fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all (DI)the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them (DJ)laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For (DK)the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah's Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah (DL)was filled with the Holy Spirit and (DM)prophesied, saying,
68 (DN)“Blessed be the Lord (DO)God of Israel,
for he has (DP)visited and (DQ)redeemed his people
69 and (DR)has raised up (DS)a horn of salvation for us
(DT)in the house of his servant David,
70 (DU)as (DV)he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 (DW)that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 (DX)to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and (DY)to remember his holy (DZ)covenant,
73 (EA)the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him (EB)without fear,
75 (EC)in holiness and righteousness before him (ED)all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called (EE)the prophet of (EF)the Most High;
for (EG)you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
(EH)in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the (EI)tender mercy of our God,
whereby (EJ)the sunrise shall (EK)visit us[h] (EL)from on high
79 to (EM)give light to (EN)those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into (EO)the way of (EP)peace.”
80 (EQ)And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was (ER)in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Footnotes
- Luke 1:5 Greek Zacharias
- Luke 1:27 That is, legally pledged to be married
- Luke 1:28 Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women!
- Luke 1:34 Greek since I do not know a man
- Luke 1:35 Some manuscripts add of you
- Luke 1:38 Greek bondservant; also verse 48
- Luke 1:45 Or believed, for there will be
- Luke 1:78 Or when the sunrise shall dawn upon us; some manuscripts since the sunrise has visited us
Copyright © 2021 by Bible League International
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
