Dedication to Theophilus (Acts 1:1–3)
2 DRA According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word: BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 DRA It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, BSB BSB: Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 DRA That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth 6 DRA And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 DRA And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 DRA And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 DRA According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord. BSB BSB: he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 DRA And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 DRA And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 DRA And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 DRA But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John: BSB BSB: But 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 are to give him the name John.
14 DRA And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity. BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 DRA For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. BSB BSB: for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
16 DRA And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 DRA And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. BSB BSB: “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 DRA And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. BSB BSB: “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 DRA And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time. BSB BSB: And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
21 DRA And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 DRA And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb. BSB BSB: When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 DRA And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 DRA And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying: BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 DRA Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men. BSB BSB: “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth 27 DRA To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. BSB BSB: to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 DRA And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 DRA Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 DRA And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 DRA Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 DRA He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. BSB BSB: He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 DRA And of his kingdom there shall be no end. BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 DRA And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. BSB BSB: The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 DRA And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: BSB BSB: Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
37 DRA Because no word shall be impossible with God. BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 DRA And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 DRA And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 DRA And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 DRA And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 DRA And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 DRA For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 DRA And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord. BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
Mary’s Song (1 Samuel 2:1–11)
47 DRA And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 DRA Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 DRA And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 DRA He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 DRA He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 DRA He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 DRA He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 DRA As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever. BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 DRA And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist 57 DRA Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 DRA And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 DRA And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name Zachary. BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 DRA And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John. BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 DRA And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 DRA And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 DRA And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered. BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 DRA And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 DRA And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 DRA And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. BSB BSB: And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Song 67 DRA And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying: BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 DRA Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people: BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 DRA And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant: BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 DRA As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning: BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 DRA Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us: BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 DRA To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 DRA The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us, BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 DRA That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear, BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 DRA In holiness and justice before him, all our days. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 DRA 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: BSB BSB: And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
77 DRA To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins: BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 DRA Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us: BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 DRA To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace. BSB BSB: to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 DRA And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel. BSB BSB: And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.