King James Version KJV
Lexham English Bible LEB
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,
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Since many have attempted to compile an account concerning the events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
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just as those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning passed on to us,
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,
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it seemed best to me also--[because I] have followed all [things] carefully from the beginning--to write [them] down in orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
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so that you may know the certainty concerning the things about which you were taught.
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.
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It happened that in the days of Herod, king of Judea, [there was] a certain priest, Zechariah by name, of the division of Abijah. And {he had a wife} from 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.
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And they were both righteous in the sight of God, living blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
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And {they did not have} a child, because Elizabeth was barren. And they were both advanced {in years}.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
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And it happened that [while] he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
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.
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according to the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
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And the whole crowd of the people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
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And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
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And Zechariah was terrified [when he] saw [the angel], 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.
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But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
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And {you will experience joy and exultation}, and many will 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.
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For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or beer, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit [while he is] still in his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
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And he will turn many of the sons of Israel 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.
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And he will go on 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 righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people made ready."
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.
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And Zechariah said to the angel, "By what will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced {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.
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And the angel answered [and] said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.
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.
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And behold, you will be silent 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 time."
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
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And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and began to wonder [when] he was delayed 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.
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And [when he] came out he was not able to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them, and remained unable to speak.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
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And it happened that when the days of his service came to an end, he went away to his home.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
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Now after these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she kept herself in seclusion [for] 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.
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"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which he has concerned himself with [me], to take away my disgrace among people."
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
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Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town 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.
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to a virgin legally promised in marriage to a man {named} Joseph of the house of David. And the name of the virgin [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.
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And he came to her [and] said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord [is] with you."
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
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But she was greatly perplexed at the statement, and was pondering what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
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And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
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And behold, you will conceive in the womb and will give birth to a son, and you will 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:
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This one will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give 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.
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And he will reign over the house of Jacob {forever}, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
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And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with 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.
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And the angel answered [and] said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the one to be born will be called holy, 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.
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And behold, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
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For {nothing will be impossible with God}."
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
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So Mary said, "Behold, the Lord's female slave! May it happen to me according to your 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;
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Now in those days Mary set out [and] traveled with haste into the hill country, to a town of Judah,
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
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and entered into the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth.
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:
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And it happened that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
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And she cried out with a loud shout and said, "Blessed [are] you among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of your womb!
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
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And why [is] this [granted] 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.
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For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped 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.
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And blessed [is] she who believed that [there] will be a fulfillment to what was spoken to her from the Lord!"
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
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And Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
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and my spirit has rejoiced greatly in God my Savior,
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
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because he has looked upon the humble state of his female slave, for behold, from now on all generations will consider me blessed,
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
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because the Mighty [One] has done great [things] for me, and holy [is] his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
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And his mercy [is] for generation after generation to those who fear him.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
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He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has dispersed the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
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He has brought down rulers from [their] thrones, and has exalted the lowly.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
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He has filled those who are hungry with good [things], and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed.
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
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He has helped Israel his servant, remembering [his] mercy,
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
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just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants {forever}."
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
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And Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her home.
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
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Now the time came for Elizabeth that she should give birth, and she gave birth to a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
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And her neighbors and relatives heard that {the Lord had shown his great mercy to 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.
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And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were wanting to name him {after} his father Zechariah.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
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And his mother answered [and] said, "No, but he will be named John."
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
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And they said to her, "There is no one of your relatives who is called by this name."
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
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So they made signs to his father [asking] what he wanted him to be named,
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
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and he asked for a writing tablet [and] wrote, saying, "John is his name." And they were all astonished.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
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And his mouth and his tongue were opened immediately, and he began to speak, praising 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.
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And fear came on all those who lived near them, and in all the hill country of Judea all these events were discussed.
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.
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And all those who heard kept [these things] in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be? For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him!"
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
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And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
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"Blessed [be] the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited to help and {has redeemed} his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
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and has raised up a 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:
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just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from earliest times--
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
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salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all those who hate us,
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
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to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
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the oath that he swore to Abraham our father, to grant us
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
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[that] we, being rescued from the hand of [our] enemies, could serve him without fear
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
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in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
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;
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And so you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
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to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
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because of the merciful compassion of our God by which the dawn will visit to help us from on high,
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.
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to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct 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.
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And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.