Luke 1

The angel Gabriel appears to Zacharias in the temple, announcing that his wife Elisabeth will bear a son named John. Gabriel then visits the virgin Mary in Nazareth and tells her she will conceive the Son of the Highest by the Holy Ghost. Mary visits Elisabeth, sings the Magnificat, and John the Baptist is born.

v	King James Version	Modern English
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,	Many people have undertaken to write an account of the things 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;	They wrote what was passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and who became servants of the word.
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,	It seemed good to me as well, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for You, most excellent Theophilus.
4	That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.	I write so that You may know the certainty of the things You have been 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.	In the days of Herod, king of Judaea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. his wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6	And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.	Both of them were righteous before God. They walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord without fault.
7	And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.	They had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they were both very old.
8	And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,	One day while Zacharias 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.	it was his lot, according to the priestly custom, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10	And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.	The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11	And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.	An angel of the Lord appeared to Him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12	And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.	When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear came over 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.	But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elisabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14	And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.	You will have joy and gladness, 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.	He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink no wine or strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from His mother's womb.
16	And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.	He will turn many of the children 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.	He will go 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 make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
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.	Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is very old."
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.	The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring 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.	Because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day these things happen."
21	And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.	The people were waiting for Zacharias and wondered why he was taking so long 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.	When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple. 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.	When the days of his service were completed, he went home.
24	And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,	After those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,
25	Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.	"This is what the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on 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,	In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee called 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.	to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name 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.	The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with You. You are blessed among women."
29	And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.	She was troubled at His words and wondered what kind of greeting this could be.
30	And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.	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.	You will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall 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:	He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest. 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.	He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end."
34	Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?	Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not known 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.	The angel answered her, "The Holy Ghost will come upon You, and the power of the Highest will overshadow You. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of You will be called 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.	Your cousin Elisabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37	For with God nothing shall be impossible.	For nothing is 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.	Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be 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;	In those days Mary arose and went quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.
40	And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.	She entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elisabeth.
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:	When Elisabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb. Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.
42	And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.	She cried out with a loud voice 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?	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.	The moment Your greeting reached 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.	Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
46	And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,	Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47	And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.	and my spirit has rejoiced 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.	For He has looked on the humble condition of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
49	For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.	He who is mighty 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.	His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
51	He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.	He has shown strength with His arm. He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52	He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.	He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.
53	He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.	He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
54	He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;	He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55	As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.	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.	Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her own home.
57	Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.	When the time came for Elisabeth to give birth, she had a son.
58	And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.	Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown 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.	On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zacharias after his father.
60	And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.	His mother said, "No — he shall be called John."
61	And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.	They said to her, "None of your family is called by that name."
62	And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.	They made signs to his father, asking what he wanted the child to be called.
63	And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.	He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." They were all amazed.
64	And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.	Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed, and he spoke and praised 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.	Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these things were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
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.	All who heard these things kept them in their hearts and said, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with Him.
67	And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,	His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied, saying,
68	Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,	"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.
69	And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;	He 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:	as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from long ago:
71	That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;	salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
72	To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;	to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73	The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,	the oath He swore to our father Abraham:
74	That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,	to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,
75	In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.	in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
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;	And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,
77	To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,	to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78	Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,	through the tender mercy of our God, by which the dayspring from on high has visited us,
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.	to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide 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.	The child grew and grew strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was presented to Israel.