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The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,(A) 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.(B) 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”[a](C) 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.(D) 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.(E) 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”(F) 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[b] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God.(G) 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”(H) 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

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Footnotes

  1. 1.28 Other ancient authorities add Blessed are you among women
  2. 1.34 Gk I do not know a man
  3. 1.35 Other ancient authorities add of you

Mary’s Song of Praise

46 And Mary[a] said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,(A)
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,(B)
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
    Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,(C)
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name;(D)
50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.(E)
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.(F)
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
    and lifted up the lowly;(G)
53 he has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty.(H)
54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,(I)
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.46 Other ancient authorities read Elizabeth