1Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto youⁱ in order, most excellent Theophilus [friend of God], 4That youⁱ might know the certainty of those things, wherein youⁱ have been instructed.

5There was in the days of Herod [heroic], the king of Y’hudah [praised], a certain priest named Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah], of the course of Aviyah [Yah is my father]: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aharon [Bright, Very High], and her name [was] Elisheva [the oath of God]. 6And they were both righteous before God-Theos, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord - Kurios blameless. 7And they had no child, because that Elisheva [the oath of God] was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.

8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God-Theos in the order of his course, 9According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord - Kurios. 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord - Kurios standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And when Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah] saw [him], he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah]: for yourⁱ prayer is heard; and yourⁱ wife Elisheva [the oath of God] shall bear youⁱ a son, and youⁱ shall call his name Yochanan [Yehovah has graced]. 14And youⁱ shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord - Kurios, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh], even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the people of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heal Of God] shall he turn to the Lord - Kurios their God-Theos. 17And he shall go before him in the Spirit [Ruach] and power of Eliyahu [my God is Yehovah], 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 - Kurios.

18And Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah] said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God-Theos; and am sent to speak unto youⁱ, and to show youⁱ these glad tidings. 20And, behold, youⁱ shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because youⁱ believe not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21And the people waited for Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah], and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22And 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. 23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration (service; ministry) were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24And after those days his wife Elisheva [the oath of God] conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus has the Lord - Kurios dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach (disgrace; shame) among men.

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God-Theos unto a city of Galil [circuit, district], named Natzeret [one separated], 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Yosef [God will add], of the house of David [Beloved]; and the virgin's name [was] Miryam [waters of strength]. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, [youⁱ that are] highly favoured, the Lord - Kurios [is] with youⁱ: Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [are] youⁱ among women. 29And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of Greeting this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Miryam [waters of strength]: for youⁱ have found favour with God-Theos. 31And, behold, youⁱ shall conceive in yourⁱ womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name YESHUA (GOD SAVES). 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord - Kurios God-Theos shall give unto him the throne of his father David [Beloved]: 33And he shall reign over the house of Ya’akov [He who grabs onto the heal of] [Heal of God] forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Miryam [waters of strength] unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh] shall come upon youⁱ, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow youⁱ: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of youⁱ shall be called the Son of God-Theos. 36And, behold, yourⁱ cousin Elisheva [the oath of God], she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37For with God-Theos nothing shall be impossible. 38And Miryam [waters of strength] said, Behold the female slave of the Lord - Kurios; be it unto me according to yourⁱ word. And the angel departed from her.

39And Miryam [waters of strength] arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Y’hudah [praised]; 40And entered into the house of Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah], and saluted Elisheva [the oath of God]. 41And it came to pass, that, when Elisheva [the oath of God] heard the Greeting of Miryam [waters of strength], the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisheva [the oath of God] was filled with the Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh]: 42And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [are] youⁱ among women, and Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [is] the fruit of yourⁱ womb. 43And from what place [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord - Kurios should come to me? 44For, lo, as soon as the voice of yourⁱ Greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45And Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord - Kurios.

46And Miryam [waters of strength] said, My soul does magnify the Lord - Kurios,

47And my Spirit [Ruach] has rejoiced in God-Theos my Saviour.

48For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from from this time forth (from now on) all generations shall call me Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous).

49For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy [is] his name.

50And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He has put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away.

54He has helped his slave Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heal Of God], in remembrance of [his] mercy;

55As he spoke to our fathers, to Avraham [Exalted Father], and to his seed forever.

56And Miryam [waters of strength] abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

57Now Elisheva [the oath of God]'s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord - Kurios had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah], after the name of his father. 60And his mother answered and said, Not [so]; but he shall be called Yochanan [Yehovah has graced]. 61And they said unto her, There is none of yourⁱ family that is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is Yochanan [Yehovah has graced]. And they marvelled all. 64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spoke, and praised God-Theos. 65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Y’hudah [praised]. 66And 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 - Kurios was with him.

67And his father Z’kharyah [remembered by Yehovah] was filled with the Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh], and prophesied, saying,

68Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [be] the Lord - Kurios God-Theos of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heal Of God]; for he has visited and redeemed his people,

69And has raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his slave David [Beloved];

70As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72To finish the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73The oath which he swore to our father Avraham [Exalted Father],

74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76And yourⁱ, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for youⁱ shall go before the face of the Lord - Kurios to prepare his ways;

77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the forgiveness (pardon) of their sins,

78Through the tender mercy of our God-Theos; whereby the Dayspring (sunrise) from on high has visited us,

79To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80And the child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit [Ruach], and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heal Of God].