World English Bible WEB
New International Version NIV
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
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In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
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Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
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But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
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Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
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he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
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And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
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Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell on him.
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When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
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But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
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He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
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for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
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He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 He will go before his face 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."
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And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
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Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
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The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
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And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled while he delayed in the temple.
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Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.
22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
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When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
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When his time of service was completed, he returned home.
24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
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After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."
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“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
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In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
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to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 Having come in to her, the angel said, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"
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The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
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Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
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But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
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You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father, David,
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He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end of his kingdom."
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and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
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“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one which is born from you will be called the Son of God.
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The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
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Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
37 For no word from God will be void of power."
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For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
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“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
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At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
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where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
41 It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
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When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
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In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
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But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
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As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
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Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
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And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
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and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 For he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
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for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 For he who is mighty has done to me great things. Holy is his name.
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for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
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His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
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He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
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He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
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He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy
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He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 (As he spoke to our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed forever."
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to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her house.
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Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
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