Luc 1
La Bible du Semeur
Introduction
1 Plusieurs personnes ont entrepris de composer un récit des événements qui se sont passés parmi nous, 2 d’après ce que nous ont transmis ceux qui en ont été les témoins oculaires depuis le début et qui sont devenus des serviteurs de la Parole de Dieu.
3 J’ai donc décidé à mon tour de m’informer soigneusement sur tout ce qui est arrivé depuis le commencement, et de te l’exposer par écrit de manière suivie, très honorable Théophile[a] ; 4 ainsi, tu pourras reconnaître l’entière véracité des enseignements que tu as reçus.
Naissance et enfance de Jésus
L’annonce de la naissance de Jean-Baptiste
5 Il y avait, à l’époque où Hérode était roi de Judée[b], un prêtre nommé Zacharie, qui appartenait à la classe sacerdotale d’Abiya. Sa femme était une descendante d’Aaron ; elle s’appelait Elisabeth. 6 Tous deux étaient justes aux yeux de Dieu et observaient tous les commandements et toutes les lois du Seigneur de façon irréprochable. 7 Ils n’avaient pas d’enfant, car Elisabeth était stérile et tous deux étaient déjà très âgés.
8 Un jour, Zacharie assurait son service devant Dieu : c’était le tour de sa classe sacerdotale. 9 Suivant la coutume des prêtres, il avait été désigné par le sort pour entrer dans le sanctuaire[c] du Seigneur et y offrir l’encens. 10 A l’heure de l’offrande des parfums, toute la multitude du peuple se tenait en prière à l’extérieur. 11 Tout à coup, un ange du Seigneur lui apparut, debout à droite de l’autel des parfums. 12 Quand Zacharie le vit, il en fut bouleversé et la peur s’empara de lui. 13 Mais l’ange lui dit : N’aie pas peur, Zacharie, car Dieu a entendu ta prière : ta femme Elisabeth te donnera un fils. Tu l’appelleras Jean. 14 Il sera pour toi le sujet d’une très grande joie, et beaucoup de gens se réjouiront de sa naissance. 15 Il sera grand aux yeux du Seigneur. Il ne boira ni vin, ni boisson alcoolisée. Il sera rempli de l’Esprit Saint dès le sein maternel. 16 Il ramènera beaucoup d’Israélites au Seigneur, leur Dieu. 17 Il accomplira sa mission sous le regard de Dieu, avec l’Esprit et la puissance qui résidaient en Elie, pour réconcilier les pères avec leurs enfants, pour amener ceux qui sont désobéissants à penser comme des hommes justes et former ainsi un peuple prêt pour le Seigneur.
18 Zacharie demanda à l’ange : A quoi le reconnaîtrai-je ? Car je suis moi-même déjà vieux et ma femme est très âgée.
19 L’ange lui répondit : Je suis Gabriel. Je me tiens devant Dieu, qui m’a envoyé pour te parler et t’annoncer cette nouvelle. 20 Alors, voici : tu vas devenir muet et tu resteras incapable de parler jusqu’au jour où ce que je viens de t’annoncer se réalisera ; il en sera ainsi parce que tu n’as pas cru à mes paroles, qui s’accompliront au temps prévu.
21 Pendant ce temps, la foule attendait Zacharie ; elle s’étonnait de le voir s’attarder dans le sanctuaire. 22 Lorsqu’il sortit enfin, il était incapable de parler aux personnes rassemblées. Elles comprirent alors qu’il avait eu une vision dans le sanctuaire. Quant à lui, il leur faisait des signes et restait muet. 23 Lorsqu’il eut terminé son temps de service, il retourna chez lui.
24 Quelque temps après, sa femme Elisabeth devint enceinte et, pendant cinq mois, elle se tint cachée. Elle se disait : 25 C’est l’œuvre du Seigneur en ma faveur : il a décidé d’effacer ce qui faisait ma honte aux yeux de tous[d] !
L’annonce de la naissance de Jésus
26 Six mois plus tard, Dieu envoya l’ange Gabriel dans une ville de Galilée appelée Nazareth, 27 chez une jeune fille liée par fiançailles[e] à un homme nommé Joseph, un descendant de David. Cette jeune fille s’appelait Marie.
28 L’ange entra chez elle et lui dit : Réjouis-toi, toi à qui Dieu a accordé sa faveur : le Seigneur est avec toi.
29 Marie fut profondément troublée par ces paroles ; elle se demandait ce que signifiait cette salutation.
30 L’ange lui dit alors : N’aie pas peur, Marie, car Dieu t’a accordé sa faveur. 31 Voici : bientôt tu seras enceinte et tu mettras au monde un fils ; tu le nommeras Jésus. 32 Il sera grand. Il sera appelé « Fils du Très-Haut », et le Seigneur Dieu lui donnera le trône de David, son ancêtre. 33 Il régnera éternellement sur le peuple issu de Jacob, et son règne n’aura pas de fin.
34 Marie dit à l’ange : Comment cela se fera-t-il, puisque je suis vierge ?
35 L’ange lui répondit : L’Esprit Saint descendra sur toi, et la puissance du Dieu très-haut te couvrira de son ombre. C’est pourquoi le saint enfant qui naîtra de toi sera appelé Fils de Dieu. 36 Vois : ta parente Elisabeth attend elle aussi un fils, malgré son grand âge ; on disait qu’elle ne pouvait pas avoir d’enfant, et elle en est à son sixième mois. 37 Car rien n’est impossible à Dieu.
38 Alors Marie répondit : Je suis la servante du Seigneur. Que tout ce que tu m’as dit s’accomplisse pour moi.
Et l’ange la quitta.
Marie chez Elisabeth
39 Peu après, Marie partit pour se rendre en hâte dans une ville de montagne du territoire de Judée. 40 Elle entra chez Zacharie et salua Elisabeth. 41 Au moment où celle-ci entendit la salutation de Marie, elle sentit son enfant remuer en elle. Elle fut remplie du Saint-Esprit 42 et s’écria d’une voix forte : Tu es bénie plus que toutes les femmes et l’enfant que tu portes est béni. 43 Comment ai-je mérité l’honneur que la mère de mon Seigneur vienne me voir ? 44 Car, vois-tu, au moment même où je t’ai entendu me saluer, mon enfant a bondi de joie au-dedans de moi. 45 Tu es heureuse, toi qui as cru à l’accomplissement de ce que le Seigneur t’a annoncé[f].
46 Alors Marie dit :
Mon âme chante ╵la grandeur du Seigneur
47 et mon esprit se réjouit ╵à cause de Dieu, mon Sauveur.
48 Car il a bien voulu ╵abaisser son regard ╵sur son humble servante.
C’est pourquoi, désormais, ╵à travers tous les temps, ╵on m’appellera bienheureuse.
49 Car le Dieu tout-puissant ╵a fait pour moi de grandes choses ;
lui, il est saint[g] .
50 Et sa bonté ╵s’étendra d’âge en âge
sur ceux qui le craignent[h] .
51 Il est intervenu ╵de toute sa puissance
et il a dispersé ╵les hommes dont le cœur ╵était rempli d’orgueil.
52 Il a précipité ╵les puissants de leurs trônes,
et il a élevé les humbles[i] .
53 Il a comblé de biens ╵ceux qui sont affamés,
et il a renvoyé ╵les riches les mains vides[j].
54 Oui, il a pris en main ╵la cause d’Israël[k],
il a témoigné sa bonté ╵au peuple qui le sert[l],
55 comme il l’avait promis à nos ancêtres,
à Abraham et à ses descendants
pour tous les temps.
56 Marie resta environ trois mois avec Elisabeth, puis elle retourna chez elle.
La naissance de Jean-Baptiste
57 Le moment arriva où Elisabeth devait accoucher. Elle donna naissance à un fils. 58 Ses voisins et les membres de sa famille apprirent combien le Seigneur avait été bon pour elle, et ils se réjouissaient avec elle.
59 Le huitième jour après sa naissance, ils vinrent pour la circoncision du nouveau-né. Tout le monde voulait l’appeler Zacharie comme son père, 60 mais sa mère intervint et dit : Non, il s’appellera Jean.
61 – Mais, lui fit-on remarquer, personne dans ta famille ne porte ce nom-là !
62 Alors ils interrogèrent le père, par des gestes, pour savoir quel nom il voulait donner à l’enfant. 63 Zacharie se fit apporter une tablette et, au grand étonnement de tous, il y traça ces mots : Son nom est Jean.
64 A cet instant, sa bouche s’ouvrit et sa langue se délia : il parlait et louait Dieu.
65 Tous les gens du voisinage furent remplis de crainte, et l’on parlait de tous ces événements dans toutes les montagnes de Judée. 66 Tous ceux qui les apprenaient en étaient profondément impressionnés et disaient : « Que sera donc cet enfant ? » Car le Seigneur était avec lui.
67 Zacharie, son père, fut rempli de l’Esprit Saint et prophétisa en ces termes :
68 Loué soit le Seigneur, ╵Dieu d’Israël,
car il est venu prendre soin de son peuple ╵et il l’a délivré.
69 Pour nous, il a fait naître ╵parmi les descendants ╵du roi David, son serviteur,
un Libérateur plein de force.
70 Il vient d’accomplir la promesse ╵qu’il avait faite ╵depuis les premiers temps ╵par la voix de ses saints prophètes
71 qu’il nous délivrerait ╵de tous nos ennemis, ╵et du pouvoir de ceux qui nous haïssent.
72 Il manifeste sa bonté ╵à l’égard de nos pères
et il agit conformément ╵à son alliance sainte.
73 Il accomplit pour nous ╵le serment qu’il a fait ╵à notre ancêtre, Abraham,
74 de nous accorder la faveur, ╵après nous avoir délivrés ╵de tous nos ennemis,
75 de le servir sans crainte ╵en étant saints et justes ╵en sa présence ╵tous les jours de la vie.
76 Et toi, petit enfant, ╵tu seras appelé ╵prophète du Très-Haut,
car, devant le Seigneur, ╵tu marcheras en précurseur ╵pour préparer sa route,
77 en faisant savoir à son peuple ╵que Dieu lui donne le salut ╵et qu’il pardonne ses péchés.
78 Car notre Dieu ╵est plein de compassion ╵et de bonté,
et c’est pourquoi l’astre levant ╵viendra pour nous d’en haut,
79 pour éclairer tous ceux ╵qui habitent dans les ténèbres ╵et l’ombre de la mort[m],
et pour guider nos pas ╵sur la voie de la paix.
80 Le petit enfant grandissait et son esprit se fortifiait. Plus tard, il vécut dans des lieux déserts jusqu’au jour où il se manifesta publiquement au peuple d’Israël.
Footnotes
- 1.3 Personnage sans doute riche et haut placé à qui Luc dédie son ouvrage. Le titre qui lui est donné était employé pour les membres de l’ordre équestre à Rome.
- 1.5 Les Grecs avaient l’habitude d’appeler ainsi tout le pays des Juifs.
- 1.9 C’est-à-dire le lieu saint où seuls les prêtres avaient le droit de pénétrer.
- 1.25 Pour la femme juive, c’était un déshonneur de ne pas avoir d’enfants.
- 1.27 En Israël, les fiancés étaient juridiquement mariés mais n’avaient pas encore de vie commune.
- 1.45 Autre traduction : car ce que le Seigneur t’a annoncé s’accomplira.
- 1.49 1 S 2.2.
- 1.50 Ps 103.13, 17.
- 1.52 1 S 2.7.
- 1.53 1 S 2.5 ; Ps 107.9.
- 1.54 Es 41.8-9.
- 1.54 Ps 98.3.
- 1.79 Es 9.1.
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
Luke 1
New King James Version
Dedication to Theophilus
1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those (A)things which [a]have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who (B)from the beginning were (C)eyewitnesses and ministers of the word (D)delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having [b]had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, (E)most excellent Theophilus, 4 (F)that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias
5 There was (G)in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, (H)of the division of (I)Abijah. His (J)wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, [c]his lot fell (K)to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 (L)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 on the right side of (M)the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, (N)he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and (O)you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and (P)many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be (Q)great in the sight of the Lord, and (R)shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, (S)even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 (T)He will also 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, (U)“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 (V)Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you [d]these glad (W)tidings. 20 But behold, (X)you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But 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 So it was, as soon as (Y)the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to (Z)take away my reproach among people.”
Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin (AA)betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, (AB)“Rejoice, highly favored one, (AC)the Lord is with you; [e]blessed are you among women!”
29 But [f]when she saw him, (AD)she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found (AE)favor with God. 31 (AF)And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and (AG)shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, (AH)and will be called the Son of the Highest; and (AI)the Lord God will give Him the (AJ)throne of His (AK)father David. 33 (AL)And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I [g]do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, (AM)“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called (AN)the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For (AO)with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, (AP)to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was (AQ)filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, (AR)“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 (AS)Blessed is she who [h]believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
The Song of Mary
46 And Mary said:
(AT)“My soul [i]magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has (AU)rejoiced in (AV)God my Savior.
48 For (AW)He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth (AX)all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty (AY)has done great things for me,
And (AZ)holy is His name.
50 And (BA)His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 (BB)He has shown strength with His arm;
(BC)He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 (BD)He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has (BE)filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His (BF)servant Israel,
(BG)In remembrance of His mercy,
55 (BH)As He spoke to our (BI)fathers,
To Abraham and to his (BJ)seed forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they (BK)rejoiced with her.
Circumcision of John the Baptist
59 So it was, (BL)on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, (BM)“No; he shall be called John.”
61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them (BN)kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And (BO)the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zacharias’ Prophecy
67 Now his father Zacharias (BP)was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68 “Blessed(BQ) is the Lord God of Israel,
For (BR)He has visited and redeemed His people,
69 (BS)And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
70 (BT)As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been (BU)since the world began,
71 That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
72 (BV)To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 (BW)The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
74 To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might (BX)serve Him without fear,
75 (BY)In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76 “And you, child, will be called the (BZ)prophet of the Highest;
For (CA)you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 To give (CB)knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the [j]Dayspring from on high [k]has visited us;
79 (CC)To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To (CD)guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 So (CE)the child grew and became strong in spirit, and (CF)was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Footnotes
- Luke 1:1 Or are most surely believed
- Luke 1:3 Lit. accurately followed
- Luke 1:9 he was chosen by lot
- Luke 1:19 this good news
- Luke 1:28 NU omits blessed are you among women
- Luke 1:29 NU omits when she saw him
- Luke 1:34 Am a virgin
- Luke 1:45 Or believed that there
- Luke 1:46 Declares the greatness of
- Luke 1:78 Lit. Dawn; the Messiah
- Luke 1:78 NU shall visit
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.
La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
