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 (A)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, (B)“Rejoice, highly favored one, (C)the Lord is with you; [a]blessed are you among women!”

29 But [b]when she saw him, (D)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 (E)favor with God. 31 (F)And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and (G)shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, (H)and will be called the Son of the Highest; and (I)the Lord God will give Him the (J)throne of His (K)father David. 33 (L)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 [c]do not know a man?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, (M)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 (N)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 (O)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, (P)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 (Q)filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, (R)“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 (S)Blessed is she who [d]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:

(T)“My soul [e]magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has (U)rejoiced in (V)God my Savior.
48 For (W)He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth (X)all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty (Y)has done great things for me,
And (Z)holy is His name.
50 And (AA)His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 (AB)He has shown strength with His arm;
(AC)He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 (AD)He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has (AE)filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His (AF)servant Israel,
(AG)In remembrance of His mercy,
55 (AH)As He spoke to our (AI)fathers,
To Abraham and to his (AJ)seed forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:28 NU omits blessed are you among women
  2. Luke 1:29 NU omits when she saw him
  3. Luke 1:34 Am a virgin
  4. Luke 1:45 Or believed that there
  5. Luke 1:46 Declares the greatness of

Prayer for Safety from Enemies(A)

To the Chief Musician. Set to [a]“Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David (B)when he fled from Saul into the cave.

57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
(C)And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
(D)Until these calamities have passed by.

I will cry out to God Most High,
To God (E)who performs all things for me.
(F)He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who [b]would swallow me up. Selah
God (G)shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
(H)Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
(I)Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

(J)They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

(K)My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
Awake, (L)my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.

(M)I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the [c]nations.
10 (N)For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.

11 (O)Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 57:1 Heb. Al Tashcheth
  2. Psalm 57:3 snaps at or hounds me, or crushes me
  3. Psalm 57:9 Gentiles

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