2 HSG כַּאֲשֶׁר מָסְרוּ לָנוּ אֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ עֵדִים רֹאִים מֵרֹאשׁ וּמְשָׁרְתֵי דְּבַר־יְהוָֹה׃ BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 HSG וּבְכֵן גַּם־אֲנִי אֲשֶׁר בָּחַנְתִּי הֵיטֵב אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים הָהֵם מֵרֵאשִׁיתָם הֲכִינֹתִי אֶת־לִבִּי לְכָתְבָם אֵלֶיךָ תְּאוֹפִילוֹס גִּבּוֹר הֶחָיִל דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל־אָפְנָיו׃ 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 HSG לְבַעֲבוּר תֵּדַע כִּי תוֹרַת אֱמֶת לָמַדְתָּ מִפִּי מְלַמְּדֶיךָ׃ BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 HSG וּשְׁנֵיהֶם הָיוּ צַדִּיקִים לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְהֹלְכִים בִּדְרָכָיו בְּכָל־מִצְוֹתָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו׃ BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 HSG וְלֹא־הָיָה לָהֶם וָלָד כִּי אֱלִישֶׁבַע עֲקָרָה וּשְׁנֵיהֶם בָּאוּ בַיָּמִים׃ BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 HSG וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם בְּכַהֲנוֹ לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים בְּסֵדֶר מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ׃ BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 HSG וַיָּבֹא אֶל־הֵיכַל יְהוָֹה לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת לְפִי־גוֹרָלוֹ כְּמִשְׁפַּט עֲבֹדַת הַכֹּהֲנִים׃ 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 HSG וְכָל־קְהַל הָעָם מִתְפַּלְּלִים אָז מִחוּץ בְּעֵת הַקְטֵר הַקְּטֹרֶת׃ BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 HSG וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהוָֹה עֹמֵד אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת לִימִינוֹ׃ BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 HSG וַיַּרְא זְכַרְיָהוּ וַיֶּחֱרָד וְאֵימָה נָפְלָה עָלָיו׃ BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 HSG וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הַמַּלְאָךְ אַל־תִּירָא זְכַרְיָהוּ כִּי תְפִלָּתְךָ עָלְתָה לְרָצוֹן וְאֱלִישֶׁבַע אִשְׁתְּךָ תֵּלֵד לְךָ בֵן וְקָרָאתָ שְׁמוֹ יוֹחָנָן׃ 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 HSG וְהָיָה־לְךָ לְשִׂמְחָה וּלְשָׂשׂוֹן וְרַבִּים בְּהִוָּלְדוֹ יַעֲלֹזוּ׃ BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 HSG כִּי־יִגְדַּל לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה וְיַיִן וְשֵׁכָר לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ יִמָּלֵא בְּעוֹד הֱיוֹתוֹ בְּבֶטֶן אִמּוֹ׃ 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 HSG וְרַבִּים מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יָשִׁיב אֶל־יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם׃ BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 HSG וַיֹּאמֶר זְכַרְיָהוּ אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ בַּמָּה אֵדַע זֹאת הֵן אֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי וְאִשְׁתִּי בָּאָה בַיָּמִים׃ 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 HSG וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אָנֹכִי גַבְרִיאֵל הָעֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים שֻׁלַּחְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ וּלְבַשֶּׂרְךָ כָּזֹאת׃ 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 HSG וְהִנֵּה אַתָּה תֵאָלֵם וְלֹא תוּכַל דַבֵּר עַד אֲשֶׁר יָקוּם הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר לֹא הֶאֱמַנְתָּ לִדְבָרַי אֲשֶׁר יָקוּמוּ בְּעִתָּם׃ 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 HSG וְהָעָם הוֹחִילוּ לִזְכַרְיָהוּ עַד־בּוֹשׁ וַיִּתְפַּלְאוּ כִּי הִתְמַהְמַהּ בַּהֵיכָל׃ BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 HSG וּבְצֵאתוֹ לֹא יָכֹל דַּבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וַיַּכִּירוּ כִּי־חִזָּיוֹן חָזָה בַּהֵיכָל וַיָּנַע לָהֶם בְּרֹאשׁוֹ כִּי הוּא אִלֵּם׃ 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 HSG וְכַאֲשֶׁר מָלְאוּ יְמֵי עֲבֹדָתוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיָּשָׁב אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ׃ BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 HSG וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתַּהַר אֱלִישֶׁבַע אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתַּסְתֵּר חֲמִשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים לֵאמֹר׃ BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 HSG כָּכָה עָשָׂה לִי יְהוָֹה בַּיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר פְּקָדַנִי וְאָסַף אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִי לְעֵינֵי בְנֵי־אָדָם׃ 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.”
27 HSG אֶל־עַלְמָה בְּתוּלָה מְאֹרָשָׂה לְאִישׁ וּשְׁמוֹ יוֹסֵף מִבֵּית דָּוִד וְהָעַלְמָה שְׁמָהּ מִרְיָם׃ 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 HSG וַיָּבֹא הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵלֶיהָ הַבָּיְתָה וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁלוֹם לָךְ הַבַּת רֻחָמָה יְהוָֹה עִמָּךְ בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ בַּנָּשִׁים׃ BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 HSG וְהִיא בִּרְאוֹתָה וַתִּתְחַלְחַל לִדְבָרוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר בְּלִבָּהּ מָה הַבְּרָכָה הַזֹּאת׃ BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 HSG וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ הַמַּלְאָךְ אַל־תִּירְאִי מִרְיָם כִּי־מָצָאת חֵן בְּעֵינֵי הָאֱלֹהִים׃ BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 HSG וְהִנָּךְ הָרָה וְיָלַדְתְּ בֵּן וְקָרָאת שְׁמוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ׃ BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 HSG וְהוּא גָּדוֹל יִהְיֶה וּבֶן־עֶלְיוֹן יִקָּרֵא וְנָתַן לוֹ יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהִים אֶת־כִּסֵּא דָּוִד אָבִיו׃ 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 HSG וּמָלַךְ עַל־בֵּית יַעֲקֹב לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד וּלְמַלְכוּתוֹ אֵין קֵץ׃ BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 HSG וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ תָּבֹא עָלַיִךְ וְכֹחַ עֶלְיוֹן יָסֶךְ־לָךְ עַל־כֵּן גַּם־הַקָּדוֹשׁ הַיִּלוֹד יִקָּרֵא בֶּן־אֱלֹהִים׃ 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 HSG וְהִנֵּה אֱלִישֶׁבַע מוֹדַעְתֵּךְ הַנִּקְרֵאת עֲקָרָה הָרָה גַּם־הִיא לָלַת בֵּן בְּזִקְנָתָהּ וְזֶה־לָּהּ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי׃ 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 HSG כִּי מֵאֱלֹהִים לֹא יִפָּלֵא כָּל־דָּבָר׃ BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 HSG וַתָּקָם מִרְיָם בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וַתַּחַשׁ לָלֶכֶת הָהָרָה אֶל־עִיר יְהוּדָה׃ BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 HSG וַתָּבֹא בֵּית זְכַרְיָה וַתִּפְקֹד אֶת־אֱלִישֶׁבַע לְשָׁלוֹם׃ BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 HSG וַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ אֱלִישֶׁבַע פְּקוּדַת שָׁלוֹם מִפִּי מִרְיָם וַיִּרְקַד הַיֶּלֶד בְּקִרְבָּהּ וַתִּמָּלֵא אֱלִישֶׁבַע רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ׃ BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 HSG וַתִּקְרָא בְקוֹל גָּדוֹל וַתֹּאמַר בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ מִנָּשִׁים וּבָרוּךְ פְּרִי בִטְנֵךְ׃ BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 HSG וּמֵאַיִן בָּאַתְנִי כָזֹאת כִּי־אֵם אֲדֹנִי אֶלַי תָּבֹא׃ BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 HSG כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמְעָה אָזְנִי קוֹל פְּקוּדַת שָׁלוֹם מִפִּיךְ רָקַד הַיֶּלֶד בְּקִרְבִּי מֵרֹב שִׂמְחָה׃ BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 HSG אַשְׁרֵךְ כִּי תַאֲמִינִי כִּי יָקוּם הַדָּבָר הָאָמוּר לָךְ מִפִּי־יְהוָֹה׃ BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 HSG וְתָגֵל רוּחִי בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי׃ BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 HSG גְּדֹלוֹת עָשָׂה עִמָּדִי אַדִּיר הוּא וְקָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹ׃ BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 HSG וְחַסְדּוֹ עַל־יְרֵאָיו בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדוֹר׃ BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 HSG בִּזְרֹעוֹ עָשָׂה נִפְלָאוֹת הֵפִיץ גֵּאִים בִּמְזִמַּת לִבָּם׃ BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 HSG שַׁלִּיטִים הָדַף מִכִּסְאוֹתָם וַיָּשֶׂם שְׁפָלִים לַמָּרוֹם׃ BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 HSG רְעֵבִים מִלֵּא טוֹב וַעֲשִׁירִים שָׁלַח רֵיקָם׃ BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 HSG הֶחֱזִיק בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ וַיִּזְכָּר־לוֹ אֶת־רַחֲמָיו׃ BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 HSG כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ לְאַבְרָהָם וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד־עוֹלָם׃ BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 HSG וַתֵּשֶׁב עִמָּהּ מִרְיָם כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת יְרָחִים וַתָּשָׁב אֶל־בֵּיתָהּ׃ BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 HSG וַיִּמְלְאוּ יְמֵי אֱלִישֶׁבַע לָלֶדֶת וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן׃ BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 HSG וּשְׁכֵנֶיהָ וּקְרוֹבֶיהָ שָׁמְעוּ כִּי־הִגְדִּיל יְהוָֹה חַסְדּוֹ עָלֶיהָ וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ אִתָּהּ׃ BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 HSG וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וַיָּבֹאוּ לָמוּל אֶת־הַיָּלֶד וַיִּקְרְאוּ לוֹ זְכַרְיָהוּ עַל־שֵׁם אָבִיו׃ BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 HSG וַתַּעַן אִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמַר לֹא־כֵן כִּי הוּא יוֹחַנָן יִקָּרֵא׃ BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 HSG וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶיהָ הֲלֹא אֵין־בְּמִשְׁפַּחְתֵּךְ אִישׁ נִקְרָא בַּשֵּׁם הַזֶּה׃ BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 HSG וַיִּתְּנוּ אוֹת לְאָבִיו לֵאמֹר מָה־עִם לְבָבוֹ מַה־יִּקְרָא־לוֹ׃ BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 HSG וַיִּשְׁאַל לוּחַ וַיִּכְתֹּב עָלָיו לֵאמֹר יוֹחָנָן שְׁמוֹ וַיִּתְמְהוּ כֻלָּם׃ BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 HSG וּפִתְאֹם נִפְתַּח פִּיהוּ וּמִלָּתוֹ עַל־לְשֹׁנוֹ וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים׃ BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 HSG וַתִּפֹּל יִרְאָה עַל־כָּל־שְׁכֵנֵיהֶם מִסָּבִיב וְהַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה סֻפְּרוּ בְּכָל־הָרֵי יְהוּדָה׃ BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 HSG וְכָל־הַשֹּׁמְעִים דִבְּרוּ עַל־לִבָּם לֵאמֹר מַה יִהְיֶה אֵפוֹא הַיֶּלֶד הַזֶּה וְיַד־יְהוָֹה הָיְתָה עָלָיו׃ 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.
67 HSG וַיִּמָלֵא זְכַרְיָהוּ אָבִיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַיִּנָּבֵא לֵאמֹר׃ BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 HSG בָּרוּךְ יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי פָקַד וְשָׁלַח פְּדוּת לְעַמוֹ׃ BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 HSG וַיָּרֶם לָנוּ קֶרֶן יְשׁוּעָה בְּבֵית־דָּוִד עַבְדּוֹ׃ BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 HSG כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּפִי־נְבִיאָיו הַקְּדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר מִקֶּדֶם׃ BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 HSG לְהוֹשִׁיעַ לָנוּ מִיַּד אֹיְבֵינוּ וּמִכַּף כָּל־שׂנְאֵינוּ׃ BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 HSG לִגְמָל־חֶסֶד עִם־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלִזְכֹּר אֶת־בְּרִית קָדְשׁוֹ׃ BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 HSG אֶת־בְּרִית הַשְּׁבוּעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לְאַבְרָהָם אֲבִינוּ׃ BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 HSG כִּי יַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד־צָר וְיִתְּנֵנוּ לְעָבְדוֹ בִּבְלִי־פָחָד׃ BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 HSG וְנִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּקֹדֶשׁ וּבִצְדָקָה לְפָנָיו כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ׃ BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 HSG וְגַם־אַתָּה הַיֶּלֶד נְבִיא־עֶלְיוֹן תִּקָּרֵא כִּי לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה תֵּלֵךְ וְאֶת־דְּרָכָיו תְּפַנֶּה׃ 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 HSG וְנָתַתָּ דַּעַת יְשׁוּעָה לְעַמּוֹ הִיא הַסְּלִיחָה לְחַטֹּאתָם׃ BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 HSG בִּזְרֹחַ לָנוּ אוֹר־בֹּקֶר מִמָּרוֹם מִמְּקוֹר רַחֲמֵי אֱלֹהֵינוּ׃ BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 HSG לְהָאִיר לְישְׁבֵי חֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּלְיַשֵּׁר אַשּׁוּרֵינוּ בְּמַעְגְּלֵי שָׁלוֹם׃ 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 HSG וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד הוֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק בָּרוּחַ וַיִּתְגּוֹרֵר בַּמִּדְבָּר עַד־יוֹם הֵרָאֹתוֹ אֶל־יִשְׁרָאֵל׃ 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.