| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, | 1Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, |
| 2just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, | 2just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. |
| 3I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, | 3It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, |
| 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. | 4so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. |
| 5During the reign of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. | 5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. |
| 6Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. | 6Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. |
| 7They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old. | 7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. |
| 8When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God's presence, | 8When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, |
| 9he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. | 9it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. |
| 10And the entire congregation of people was praying outside at the time when the incense was burned. | 10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. |
| 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. | 11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. |
| 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him. | 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. |
| 13But the angel told him, "Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. | 13But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. |
| 14You will have great joy, and many people will rejoice at his birth, | 14There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. |
| 15because he will be great in the Lord's presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. | 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. |
| 16He will bring many of Israel's descendants back to the Lord their God. | 16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. |
| 17He is the one who will go before the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord." | 17And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people." |
| 18Then Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?" | 18How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." |
| 19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. | 19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. |
| 20But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens." | 20Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." |
| 21Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. | 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. |
| 22But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. | 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. |
| 23When the days of his service were over, he went home. | 23When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. |
| 24After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, | 24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, " |
| 25"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace." | 25The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." |
| 26Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, | 26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, |
| 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. | 27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
| 28The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" | 28And the angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you." |
| 29Startled by his statement, she tried to figure out what his greeting meant. | 29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. |
| 30Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. | 30Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
| 31Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. | 31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. |
| 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. | 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. |
| 33He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end." | 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. |
| 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?" | 34Mary asked the angel, "How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?" |
| 35The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. | 35The angel replied to her:" The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. |
| 36And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month. | 36And consider your relative Elizabeth--even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. |
| 37Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God's promises." | 37For nothing will be impossible with God."" |
| 38Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her. | 38I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her. |
| 39Later on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. | 39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah |
| 40She went into Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. | 40where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. |
| 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit | 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
| 42and she loudly exclaimed, "How blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in your womb! | 42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry:" You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed! |
| 43Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me? | 43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. | 44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! |
| 45How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!" | 45She who has believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled!" |
| 46Then Mary said, "My soul praises the greatness of the Lord! | 46And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, |
| 47My spirit exults in God, my Savior, | 47and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, |
| 48because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, | 48because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, |
| 49because the Almighty has done great things for me. His name is holy. | 49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. |
| 50His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him. | 50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. |
| 51He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart. | 51He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; |
| 52He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones and lifted up humble people. | 52He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. |
| 53He filled hungry people with good things and sent rich people away with nothing. | 53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. |
| 54He helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, | 54He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, |
| 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors— to Abraham and his descendants forever." | 55just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. |
| 56Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home. | 56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home. |
| 57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. | 57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. |
| 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. | 58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. |
| 59On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, | 59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. |
| 60but his mother said, "Absolutely not! He must be named John." | 60But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John." |
| 61Their friends told her, "None of your relatives has that name." | 61Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." |
| 62So they motioned to the baby's father to see what he wanted to name him. | 62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. |
| 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And everyone was amazed. | 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed. |
| 64Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. | 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. |
| 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. | 65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. |
| 66Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, "What will this child become?" because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him. | 66All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him. |
| 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: | 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: |
| 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! He has taken care of his people and has set them free. | 68Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. |
| 69He has raised up a mighty Savior for us from the family of his servant David, | 69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, |
| 70just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets | 70just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times; |
| 71that he would save us from our enemies and from the grip of all who hate us. | 71salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. |
| 72He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant, | 72He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered His holy covenant-- |
| 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. He granted us | 73the oath that He swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, |
| 74deliverance from our enemies' grip so that we could serve him without fear | 74since we have been rescued from our enemies' clutches, to serve Him without fear |
| 75and be holy and righteous before him all of our days. | 75in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days. |
| 76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way | 76And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, |
| 77and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. | 77to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. |
| 78Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us, | 78Because of our God's merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us |
| 79to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." | 79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. |
| 80Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel. | 80The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. |
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