Luke 1
Contemporary English Version
1 Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. 2 They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. 3 So I made a careful study[a] of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, 4 I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.
An Angel Tells about the Birth of John
5 (A) When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron.[b] 6 Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded. 7 But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.
8 One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest. 9 According to the custom of the priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord's temple that day and to burn incense,[c] 10 while the people stood outside praying.
11 All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. 12 Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. 13 But the angel told him:
Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John. 14 His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad. 15 (B) Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.
16 John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. 17 (C) He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah[d] had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. This is how John will get people ready for the Lord.
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”
19 (D) The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. 20 You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”
21 The crowd was waiting for Zechariah and kept wondering why he was staying in the temple so long. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak, and they knew he had seen a vision. He motioned to them with his hands, but did not say a thing.
23 When Zechariah's time of service in the temple was over, he went home. 24 Soon after this, his wife was expecting a baby, and for five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself, 25 “What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.”[e]
An Angel Tells about the Birth of Jesus
26 One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee 27 (E) with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. 28 The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 (F) and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 (G) He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 (H) Nothing is impossible for God!”
38 Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. 42 (I) Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. 43 Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. 45 The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
Mary's Song of Praise
46 (J) Mary said:
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
47 and I am glad
because of God my Savior.
48 God cares for me,
his humble servant.
From now on,
all people will say
God has blessed me.
49 God All-Powerful has done
great things for me,
and his name is holy.
50 He always shows mercy
to everyone
who worships him.
51 The Lord has used
his powerful arm
to scatter those
who are proud.
52 (K) God drags strong rulers
from their thrones
and puts humble people
in places of power.
53 God gives the hungry
good things to eat,
and sends the rich away
with nothing.
54 God helps his servant Israel
and is always merciful
to his people.
55 (L) The Lord made this promise
to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his family
forever!
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 When Elizabeth's son was born, 58 her neighbors and relatives heard how kind the Lord had been to her, and they too were glad.
59 (M) Eight days later they did for the child what the Law of Moses commands.[f] They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John.”
61 The people argued, “No one in your family has ever been named John.” 62 So they motioned to Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. 64 At once, Zechariah started speaking and praising God.
65 All the neighbors were frightened because of what had happened, and everywhere in the hill country people kept talking about these things. 66 Everyone who heard about this wondered what this child would grow up to be. They knew the Lord was with him.
Zechariah Praises the Lord
67 The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah, and he began to speak:
68 Praise the Lord,
the God of Israel!
He has come
to save his people.
69 Our God has given us
a mighty Savior[g]
from the family
of David his servant.
70 Long ago the Lord promised
by the words
of his holy prophets
71 to save us from our enemies
and from everyone
who hates us.
72 God said he would be kind
to our people and keep
his sacred promise.
73 He told our ancestor Abraham
74 that he would rescue us
from our enemies.
Then we could serve him
without fear,
75 by being holy and good
as long as we live.
76 (N) You, my son, will be called
the prophet of God Most High.
You will go ahead of the Lord
to get everything ready
for him.
77 You will tell his people
that they can be saved
when their sins
are forgiven.
78 God's love and kindness
will shine upon us
like the sun that rises
in the sky.[h]
79 (O) On us who live
in the dark shadow
of death
this light will shine
to guide us
into a life of peace.
80 As John grew up, God's Spirit gave him great power. John lived in the desert until the time he was sent to the people of Israel.
Footnotes
- 1.3 a careful study: Or “a study from the beginning.”
- 1.5 Aaron: The brother of Moses and the first priest.
- 1.9 burn incense: This was done twice a day, once in the morning and again in the late afternoon.
- 1.17 Elijah: The prophet Elijah was known for his power to work miracles.
- 1.25 keep people from looking down on me: When a married woman could not have children, it was thought that the Lord was punishing her.
- 1.59 what the Law of Moses commands: This refers to circumcision. It is the cutting off of skin from the private part of Jewish boys eight days after birth to show that they belong to the Lord.
- 1.69 a mighty Savior: The Greek text has “a horn of salvation.” In the Scriptures animal horns are often a symbol of great strength.
- 1.78 like the sun that rises in the sky: Or “like the Messiah coming from heaven.”
路加福音 1
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
序言（参(A)
1 尊敬的提阿非罗先生，因为有许多人，已经把在我们中间成就了的事， 2 按照起初亲眼看见的传道人所传给我们的，编着成书； 3 我已经把这些事从头考查过，认为也应该按着次序写给你， 4 让你晓得所学到的道理，都是确实的。
天使预言施洗约翰出生
5 犹太王希律在位的日子，亚比雅班里有一个祭司，名叫撒迦利亚，他妻子是亚伦的后代，名叫以利沙伯。 6 他们在 神面前都是义人，遵行主的一切诫命规条，无可指摘， 7 只是没有孩子，因为以利沙伯不生育，二人又都上了年纪。
8 有一次，撒迦利亚在 神面前按着班次执行祭司的职务， 9 照祭司的惯例抽中了签，进入主的圣殿烧香。 10 烧香的时候，众人都在外面祈祷。 11 有主的使者站在香坛右边，向他显现。 12 撒迦利亚一见就惊慌起来，十分害怕。 13 天使说：“撒迦利亚，不要怕，因为你的祈求已蒙垂听，你妻子以利沙伯要给你生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫约翰。 14 你必欢喜快乐，许多人因他出生，也必喜乐。 15 他在主面前要被尊为大，淡酒浓酒都不喝，未出母腹就被圣灵充满。 16 他要使许多以色列人转向主他们的 神。 17 他必有以利亚的灵和能力，行在主的前面，叫父亲的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的转向义人的意念，为主安排那预备好了的人民。” 18 撒迦利亚对天使说：“我怎么能知道这事呢？我已经老了，我妻子也上了年纪。” 19 天使回答：“我是站在 神面前的加百列，奉差遣向你说话，报给你这好消息。 20 看吧！到了时候我的话必要应验；因为你不信我的话，你必成为哑巴，直到这些事成就的那一天，才能说话。”
21 众人等候撒迦利亚；因他在圣殿里迟迟不出来，觉得奇怪。 22 等到他出来，却不能讲话，竟成了哑巴，不断地向他们打手式，他们就知道他在圣殿里见了异象。 23 供职的日子满了，他就回家去。 24 过了几天，他妻子以利沙伯怀了孕，隐藏了五个月，说： 25 “主在眷顾的日子，这样看待我，要把我在人间的羞耻除掉。”
天使预言耶稣降生
26 到了第六个月，天使加百列奉 神差遣，往加利利的拿撒勒城去， 27 到了一个童贞女那里，她已经和大卫家一个名叫约瑟的人订了婚，童贞女的名字是马利亚。 28 天使进去，对她说：“恭喜！蒙大恩的女子，主与你同在！” 29 她却因这话惊慌起来，反复思想这样祝贺是甚么意思。 30 天使说：“马利亚，不要怕！因你已从 神那里蒙了恩。 31 你将怀孕生子，要给他起名叫耶稣。 32 他将要被尊为大，称为至高者的儿子，主 神要把他祖大卫的王位赐给他， 33 他要作王统治雅各家，直到永远，他的国没有穷尽。” 34 马利亚对天使说：“我还没有出嫁（“我还没有出嫁”原文作“我不认识男人”），怎能有这事呢？” 35 天使回答：“圣灵要临到你，至高者的能力要覆庇你，因此那将要出生的圣者，必称为 神的儿子。 36 你看，你亲戚以利沙伯，被称为不生育的，在老年也怀了男胎，现在已是第六个月了， 37 因为在 神没有一件事是不可能的。” 38 马利亚说：“我是主的婢女，愿照你的话成就在我身上！”天使就离开她去了。
马利亚往见以利沙伯
39 后来，马利亚就起身，急忙向山地去，来到犹大的一座城， 40 进了撒迦利亚的家，向以利沙伯问安。 41 以利沙伯一听见马利亚的问安，腹中的胎儿就跳动，以利沙伯也被圣灵充满， 42 就高声说：“你在女子中是有福的！你腹中的胎儿也是有福的！ 43 我主的母亲竟然到我这里来。这事怎会临到我呢？ 44 你看，你问安的声音一进我的耳朵，我腹中的胎儿就欢喜跳跃。 45 这相信主传给她的话必要成就的女子是有福的。”
马利亚尊主为大（参(B)
46 马利亚说：
“我心尊主为大，
47 我灵以 神我的救主为乐，
48 因为他垂顾他婢女的卑微，
看哪！今后万代都要称我为有福。
49 全能者为我行了大事，他的名为圣；
50 他的怜悯世世代代归与敬畏他的人。
51 他用膀臂施展大能，
驱散心里妄想的狂傲人。
52 他使有权能的失位，
叫卑微的升高，
53 让饥饿的得饱美食，
使富足的空手回去。
54 他扶助了他的仆人以色列，
为要记念他的怜悯，
55 正如他向我们列祖所说的，
恩待亚伯拉罕和他的后裔，直到永远。”
56 马利亚和以利沙伯同住约有三个月，就回家去了。
施洗约翰出生
57 以利沙伯的产期到了，生了一个儿子。 58 邻里亲戚，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，要照他父亲的名字，叫他撒迦利亚。 60 但他母亲说：“不可，要叫他约翰。” 61 他们说：“你亲族里没有叫这名字的。” 62 他们就向孩子的父亲打手式，看他要叫他甚么。 63 他要了一块写字版，写上说：“他的名字是约翰。”众人都希奇。 64 撒迦利亚的口舌立刻开了，就出声称颂 神。 65 住在周围的人都害怕，这一切事传遍了整个犹太山地， 66 凡听见的就把这些事放在心里，说：“这孩子将会成为怎样的人呢？因为主的手与他同在。”
撒迦利亚的预言
67 他的父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满，预言说：
68 “主，以色列的 神，是应当称颂的，
因他眷顾自己的子民，施行救赎，
69 在他仆人大卫家中，
为我们兴起救恩的角，
70 正如主自古以来藉圣先知口中所说的，
71 救我们脱离仇敌，和恨我们的人的手；
72 向我们列祖施怜悯，记念他的圣约，
73 就是他对我们祖先亚伯拉罕所起的誓，
74 把我们从仇敌手中救拔出来，
叫我们可以坦然无惧，用圣洁公义，
75 在他面前一生一世敬拜他。
76 孩子啊，你要称为至高者的先知，
因为你要行在主的面前，预备他的路，
77 使他的子民，因罪得赦，就知道救恩。
78 因我们 神的怜悯，
使清晨的阳光从高天临到我们，
79 光照那坐在黑暗中死荫里的人，
引导我们的脚，走上平安的路。”
80 这孩子渐渐长大，心灵健壮，住在旷野，直到他在以色列人中公开露面的日子。
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.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.