Luukkaan evankeliumi:
1:1 Koska monet ovat ryhtyneet tekemään kertomusta
meidän keskuudessamme tosiksi tunnetuista tapahtumista,
1:2 sen mukaisesti kuin meille ovat kertoneet ne,
jotka alusta asti ovat omin silmin ne nähneet ja olleet sanan palvelijoita,
1:3 niin olen minäkin, tarkkaan tutkittuani alusta
alkaen kaikki, päättänyt kirjoittaa ne järjestyksessään sinulle,
korkea-arvoinen Teofilus,
1:4 että oppisit tuntemaan, kuinka varmat ne asiat
ovat, jotka sinulle on opetettu.
1:5 Herodeksen, Juudean kuninkaan, aikana oli pappi,
nimeltä Sakarias, Abian osastoa. Ja hänen vaimonsa oli Aaronin tyttäriä, ja
tämän nimi oli Elisabet.
1:6 He olivat molemmat hurskaita Jumalan edessä,
vaeltaen kaikissa Herran käskyissä ja säädöksissä nuhteettomina.
1:7 Mutta heillä ei ollut lasta, sillä Elisabet oli
hedelmätön; ja he olivat molemmat tulleet iällisiksi.
1:8 Niin tapahtui, kun hänen osastonsa palvelusvuoro
tuli ja hän toimitti papillisia tehtäviä Jumalan edessä,
1:9 että hän tavanmukaisessa pappistehtävien
arpomisessa sai osaksensa mennä Herran temppeliin suitsuttamaan.
1:10 Ja kaikki kansa oli suitsuttamisen aikana
ulkopuolella rukoilemassa.
1:11 Silloin ilmestyi hänelle Herran enkeli seisoen
suitsutusalttarin oikealla puolella.
1:12 Ja hänet nähdessään Sakarias hämmästyi, ja hänet
valtasi pelko.
1:13 Mutta enkeli sanoi hänelle: "Älä pelkää,
Sakarias; sillä sinun rukouksesi on kuultu, ja vaimosi Elisabet on synnyttävä
sinulle pojan, ja sinun on annettava hänelle nimi Johannes.
1:14 Ja hän on oleva sinulle iloksi ja riemuksi, ja
monet iloitsevat hänen syntymisestään.
1:15 Sillä hän on oleva suuri Herran edessä; viiniä
ja väkijuomaa hän ei juo, ja hän on oleva täytetty Pyhällä Hengellä hamasta
äitinsä kohdusta.
1:16 Ja hän kääntää monta Israelin lapsista Herran,
heidän Jumalansa, tykö.
1:17 Ja hän käy hänen edellään Eliaan hengessä ja
voimassa, kääntääksensä isien sydämet lasten puoleen ja tottelemattomat
vanhurskasten mielenlaatuun, näin Herralle toimittaaksensa valmistetun
kansan."
1:18 Niin Sakarias sanoi enkelille: "Kuinka minä
tämän käsittäisin? Sillä minä olen vanha, ja minun vaimoni on iälliseksi
tullut."
1:19 Enkeli vastasi ja sanoi hänelle: "Minä olen
Gabriel, joka seison Jumalan edessä, ja minä olen lähetetty puhumaan sinulle ja
julistamaan sinulle tämän ilosanoman.
1:20 Ja katso, sinä tulet mykäksi etkä kykene mitään
puhumaan siihen päivään saakka, jona tämä tapahtuu, sentähden ettet uskonut
minun sanojani, jotka käyvät aikanansa toteen."
1:21 Ja kansa oli odottamassa Sakariasta, ja he ihmettelivät,
että hän niin kauan viipyi temppelissä.
1:22 Mutta ulos tullessaan hän ei kyennyt puhumaan
heille; silloin he ymmärsivät, että hän oli nähnyt näyn temppelissä. Ja hän
viittoi heille ja jäi mykäksi.
1:23 Ja kun hänen virkatoimensa päivät olivat
päättyneet, meni hän kotiinsa.
1:24 Ja niiden päiväin perästä Elisabet, hänen
vaimonsa, tuli raskaaksi ja pysytteli salassa viisi kuukautta, sanoen:
1:25 "Näin on Herra tehnyt minulle niinä
päivinä, jolloin hän katsoi minun puoleeni poistaaksensa minusta ihmisten
ylenkatseen."
1:26 Kuudentena kuukautena sen jälkeen Jumala lähetti
enkeli Gabrielin Galilean kaupunkiin, jonka nimi on Nasaret,
1:27 neitsyen tykö, joka oli kihlattu Joosef
nimiselle miehelle Daavidin suvusta; ja neitsyen nimi oli Maria.
1:28 Ja tullessaan sisälle hänen tykönsä enkeli
sanoi: "Terve, armoitettu! Herra olkoon sinun kanssasi."
1:29 Mutta hän hämmästyi suuresti siitä puheesta ja
mietti, mitä tämä tervehdys mahtoi tarkoittaa.
1:30 Niin enkeli sanoi hänelle: "Älä pelkää,
Maria; sillä sinä olet saanut armon Jumalan edessä.
1:31 Ja katso, sinä tulet raskaaksi ja synnytät
pojan, ja sinun on annettava hänelle nimi Jeesus.
1:32 Hän on oleva suuri, ja hänet pitää kutsuttaman
Korkeimman Pojaksi, ja Herra Jumala antaa hänelle Daavidin, hänen isänsä,
valtaistuimen,
1:33 ja hän on oleva Jaakobin huoneen kuningas
iankaikkisesti, ja hänen valtakunnallansa ei pidä loppua oleman."
1:34 Niin Maria sanoi enkelille: "Kuinka tämä
voi tapahtua, kun minä en miehestä mitään tiedä?"
1:35 Enkeli vastasi ja sanoi hänelle: "Pyhä
Henki tulee sinun päällesi, ja Korkeimman voima varjoaa sinut; sentähden myös
se pyhä, mikä syntyy, pitää kutsuttaman Jumalan Pojaksi.
1:36 Ja katso, sinun sukulaisesi Elisabet, hänkin kantaa
kohdussaan poikaa vanhalla iällään, ja tämä on kuudes kuukausi hänellä, jota
sanottiin hedelmättömäksi;
1:37 sillä Jumalalle ei mikään ole mahdotonta."
1:38 Silloin Maria sanoi: "Katso, minä olen
Herran palvelijatar; tapahtukoon minulle sinun sanasi mukaan." Ja enkeli
lähti hänen tyköänsä.
1:39 Niinä päivinä Maria nousi ja kulki kiiruusti
vuorimaahan erääseen Juudan kaupunkiin
1:40 ja meni Sakariaan kotiin ja tervehti Elisabetia.
1:41 Ja kun Elisabet kuuli Marian tervehdyksen,
hypähti lapsi hänen kohdussansa; ja Elisabet täytettiin Pyhällä Hengellä.
1:42 Ja hän puhkesi puhumaan suurella äänellä ja
sanoi: "Siunattu sinä vaimojen joukossa, ja siunattu sinun kohtusi
hedelmä!
1:43 Ja kuinka minulle tapahtuu tämä, että minun
Herrani äiti tulee minun tyköni?
1:44 Sillä katso, kun sinun tervehdyksesi ääni tuli
minun korviini, hypähti lapsi ilosta minun kohdussani.
1:45 Ja autuas se, joka uskoi, sillä se sana on
täyttyvä, mikä hänelle on tullut Herralta!"
1:46 Ja Maria sanoi: "Minun sieluni suuresti ylistää Herraa,
1:47 ja minun henkeni riemuitsee Jumalasta, vapahtajastani;
1:48 sillä hän on katsonut palvelijattarensa
alhaisuuteen. Katso, tästedes kaikki sukupolvet ylistävät minua autuaaksi.
1:49 Sillä Voimallinen on tehnyt minulle suuria, ja
hänen nimensä on pyhä,
1:50 ja hänen laupeutensa pysyy polvesta polveen
niille, jotka häntä pelkäävät. 1:51 Hän on osoittanut voimansa käsivarrellaan;
hän on hajottanut ne, joilla oli ylpeät ajatukset sydämessään.
1:52 Hän on kukistanut valtiaat valtaistuimilta ja
korottanut alhaiset.
1:53 Nälkäiset hän on täyttänyt hyvyyksillä, ja
rikkaat hän on lähettänyt tyhjinä pois.
1:54 Hän on ottanut huomaansa palvelijansa Israelin,
muistaaksensa laupeuttaan
1:55 Aabrahamia ja hänen siementänsä kohtaan
iankaikkisesti, niinkuin hän on meidän isillemme puhunut."
1:56 Ja Maria oli hänen tykönänsä noin kolme
kuukautta ja palasi jälleen kotiinsa.Luke 1 Amplified Bible (AMP)
1 Since [[a]as is well known] many have undertaken to put in order
and draw up a [[b]thorough] narrative of the surely established deeds
which have been accomplished and fulfilled [c] in and among us,
2 Exactly as they were handed down to us by those who from the [[d]official] beginning [of Jesus’ ministry] were
eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word [that is, of [e]the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ
of salvation in the kingdom of God],
3 It seemed good and desirable to me, [and so I have
determined] also after [f]having searched out diligently and followed all
things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the
minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most
excellent Theophilus,
4 [My purpose is] that you may know the full truth and
understand with certainty and security against error the accounts
(histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and
in which you have been [g]orally instructed.
5 In the days when Herod was king of Judea there was a certain
priest whose name was Zachariah, [h]of the daily service (the division) of Abia; and his
wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they both were righteous in the sight of God, walking
blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
7 But they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren; and both were [i]far advanced in years.
8 Now while on duty, serving as priest before God in the order of
his division,
9 As was the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to
enter [the [j]sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And all the throng of people were praying outside [in the court]
at the hour of incense [burning].11 And there appeared to him an
angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.12 And
when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him.
13 But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because
your petition [k]was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
son, and you must call his name John [God is favorable].
14 And you shall have joy and exultant delight, and many will
rejoice over his birth,
15 For he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the
Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with and
controlled by the Holy Spirit even [l]in and from his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons
of Israel to the Lord their God,
17 And he will [himself] go before Him in the spirit and power of
Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of
the upright [which is [m]the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]—in
order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, [n]adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral
state].
18 And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and
be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.
19 And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very]
presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good
news.
20 Now behold, you will be and [o]will continue to be silent and not able to speak till
the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told
you; but my words are [p]of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and
proper time.
21 Now the people kept waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered at
his delaying [so long] in the [q]sanctuary.
22 But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them; and
they [[r]clearly] perceived that he had seen a vision in the [s]sanctuary; and he kept making signs to them, still he
remained dumb.
23 And when his time of performing priestly functions was ended, he
returned to his [own] house.
24 Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five
months she secluded herself [t]entirely, saying, [I have hid myself]
25 [u]Because thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days
when He deigned to look on me to take away my reproach among men.
26 Now in the sixth month
[after that], the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named
Nazareth,
27 To a girl never having been married and a [v]virgin engaged to be married to a man whose name was
Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, Hail,
O favored one [[w]endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! [x]Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other
women!
29 But when she saw him, she
was greatly troubled and
disturbed and confused at what
he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.
30 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace ([y]free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness)
with God.
31 And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and
you shall call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great (eminent)
and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him
the throne of His forefather David,
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the
ages; and of His reign there will be no end.
34 And Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no
[intimacy with any man as a] husband?
35 Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing
(Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.
36 And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called
barren.
37 For with God nothing is
ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or
impossible of fulfillment.
38 Then Mary said, Behold, I
am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you
have said. And the angel left her.
39 And at that time Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country
to a town of Judah,
40 And she went to the house of Zachariah and, entering it, saluted
Elizabeth.
41 And it occurred that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the
baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth
was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
42 And she cried out with a loud cry, and then exclaimed, Blessed (favored of God) above all
other women are you! And blessed (favored of God) is the Fruit of your womb!
43 And how [have I deserved that this honor should] be granted to
me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, the instant the sound of your salutation reached my
ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed (happy, [z]to be envied) is she who believed that there would be
a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord,
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 For He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of
His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations [of all ages] will call
me blessed and declare me happy and [aa]to be envied!
49 For He Who is almighty has done great things for me—and holy is His name
[to be venerated in His purity, majesty and glory]!
50 And His mercy (His compassion and kindness toward the miserable
and afflicted) is on those who fear Him with godly reverence, from generation
to generation and age to age.
51 He has shown strength and [ab]made might with His arm; He has scattered the proud and
haughty in and by the imagination and purpose and designs
of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those
of low degree.
53 He has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty-handed [without a gift].
54 He has laid hold on His servant Israel [to help him, to espouse
his cause], in remembrance of His mercy,
55 Even as He promised to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his
descendants forever.
56 And Mary remained with her [Elizabeth] for about three months and
[then] returned to her [own] home.
Luke 1 The Message (MSG)1 1-4 So many others have tried their hand at putting
together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took
place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who
served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the
reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to
write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the
shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.
A Childless Couple Conceives
5-7 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest
assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife
was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together
they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the
commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were
childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.
8-12 It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties
before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in
life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was
gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering.
Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of
incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.
13-15 But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your
prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to
name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only
you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.
15-17 “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the
Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons
and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the
style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and
kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready
for God.”
18 Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this?
I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”
19-20 But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent
especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me,
you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word
I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”
21-22 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting
restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they
knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language
with the people.
23-25 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed,
he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months,
relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate
condition!” she said.A
Virgin Conceives
26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel
to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man
descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon
entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.
29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a
greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth
to a son and call his name Jesus.
He will be great,
be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
no end, ever, to his kingdom.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”
35 The angel answered,
The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.
36-38 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son,
old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant!
Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”And Mary said,Yes, I see it all now:
I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.Then the angel left her.
Blessed
Among Women
39-45 Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah
in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and
sang out exuberantly,
You’re so blessed among women,
and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God
said,
believed every word would come true!
46-55 And Mary said,
I’m bursting with God-news;
I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me,
and look what happened—
I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set
apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his
strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies,
piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her
own home.Luke 1 Living Bible (TLB)
1 1-2 Dear friend who
loves God:[a]Several biographies of Christ have already been
written using as their source material the reports circulating among us from
the early disciples and other eyewitnesses. 3 However, it occurred
to me that it would be well to recheck all these accounts from first to last
and after thorough investigation to pass this summary on to you,[b] 4 to reassure you of the truth of all you
were taught.5 My story begins with a Jewish priest, Zacharias, who
lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zacharias was a member of the Abijah
division of the Temple service corps. (His wife, Elizabeth, was, like himself,
a member of the priest tribe of the Jews, a descendant of Aaron.) 6 Zacharias and Elizabeth were godly folk,
careful to obey all of God’s laws in spirit as well as in letter. 7 But
they had no children, for Elizabeth was barren; and now they were both very
old.
8-9 One day as Zacharias was going about his work in the Temple—for
his division was on duty that week—the honor fell to him by lot[c] to enter the inner sanctuary and burn incense before
the Lord. 10 Meanwhile, a great crowd stood outside in the Temple
court, praying as they always did during that part of the service when the
incense was being burned.
11-12 Zacharias was in the sanctuary when suddenly an angel
appeared, standing to the right of the altar of incense! Zacharias was startled
and terrified.
13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias! For I have come
to tell you that God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear
you a son! And you are to name him John. 14
You will both have great joy and gladness at his birth, and many will
rejoice with you. 15 For he will be one of the Lord’s great men.
He must never touch wine or hard liquor—and he will be filled with the Holy
Spirit, even from before his birth! 16 And he will persuade many a
Jew to turn to the Lord his God. 17 He will be a man of rugged[d] spirit and power like Elijah, the prophet of old; and
he will precede the coming of the Messiah, preparing the people for his
arrival. He will soften adult hearts to become like little children’s, and will
change disobedient minds to the wisdom of faith.”*
18 Zacharias said to the angel, “But this is impossible! I’m an old
man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence
of God. It was he who sent me to you with this good news! 20 And
now, because you haven’t believed me, you are to be stricken silent, unable to
speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the
proper time.”
21 Meanwhile the crowds outside were waiting for Zacharias to appear
and wondered why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally came out,
he couldn’t speak to them, and they realized from his gestures that he must
have seen a vision in the Temple. 23 He stayed on at the Temple for
the remaining days of his Temple duties and then returned home. 24 Soon
afterwards Elizabeth his wife became pregnant and went into seclusion for five
months.
25 “How kind the Lord is,” she exclaimed, “to take away my disgrace
of having no children!”
26 The following month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village
in Galilee, 27 to a virgin, Mary, engaged to be married to a man
named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
28 Gabriel appeared to her
and said, “Congratulations, favored lady! The Lord is with you!”[e]
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
30 “Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to wonderfully bless
you! 31 Very soon now, you will become pregnant and have a baby
boy, and you are to name him ‘Jesus.’ 32 He shall be very great and
shall be called the Son of God. And the Lord God shall give him the throne of
his ancestor David. 33 And he shall reign over Israel forever; his
Kingdom shall never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the
power of God shall overshadow you; so the baby born to you will be utterly
holy—the Son of God. 36 Furthermore, six months ago your Aunt[f] Elizabeth—‘the barren one,’ they called her—became
pregnant in her old age! 37 For
every promise from God shall surely come true.”
38 Mary said, “I am the
Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you
said come true.” And then the angel disappeared.
39-40 A few days later Mary hurried to the highlands of Judea to the
town where Zacharias lived, to visit Elizabeth.
41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within
her and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 She gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “You are favored by
God above all other women, and your child is destined for God’s mightiest
praise. 43 What an honor this is, that the mother of my Lord should
visit me! 44 When you came in and greeted me, the instant I heard
your voice, my baby moved in me for joy! 45
You believed that God would do what he said; that is why he has given you
this wonderful blessing.”
46 Mary responded, “Oh, how I
praise the Lord. 47 How I rejoice in God my Savior! 48 For
he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation
forever shall call me blest of God. 49 For he, the mighty Holy One,
has done great things to me. 50 His mercy goes on from generation to
generation, to all who reverence him.
51 “How powerful is his mighty arm! How he scatters the proud and
haughty ones! 52 He has torn princes from their thrones and exalted
the lowly. 53 He has satisfied the hungry hearts and sent the rich
away with empty hands. 54 And how he has helped his servant Israel!
He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. 55 For he promised
our fathers—Abraham and his children—to be merciful to them forever.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went
back to her own home.
