Many have been at pains to set forth the history of what time has brought to fulfilment among us,

Quoniam quidem multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem, quæ in nobis completæ sunt, rerum:

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;

following the tradition of those first eye-witnesses who gave themselves up to the service of the word.

sicut tradiderunt nobis, qui ab initio ipsi viderunt, et ministri fuerunt sermonis:

According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:

And I too, most noble Theophilus, have resolved to put the story in writing for thee as it befell, having first traced it carefully from its beginnings,

visum est et mihi, assecuto omnia a principio diligenter, ex ordine tibi scribere, optime Theophile,

It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

that thou mayst understand the instruction thou hast already received, in all its certainty.

ut cognoscas eorum verborum, de quibus eruditus es, veritatem.

That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.

In the days when Herod was king of Judaea, there was a priest called Zachary, of Abia’s turn of office, who had married a wife of Aaron’s family, by name Elizabeth;

Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judææ, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

they were both well approved in God’s sight, following all the commandments and observances of the Lord without reproach.

Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela.

And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.

They had no child; Elizabeth was barren, and both were now well advanced in years.

Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis.

And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

He, then, as it happened, was doing a priest’s duty before God in the order of his turn of office;

Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suæ ante Deum,

And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,

and had been chosen by lot, as was the custom among the priests, to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense there,

secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini:

According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.

while the whole multitude of the people stood praying without, at the hour of sacrifice.

et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi.

And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.

Suddenly he saw an angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar where incense was burnt.

Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi.

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Zachary was bewildered at the sight, and overcome with fear;

Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum.

And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

but the angel said, Zachary, do not be afraid; thy prayer has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth is to bear thee a son, to whom thou shalt give the name of John.

Ait autem ad illum angelus: Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua: et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem:

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:

Joy and gladness shall be thine, and many hearts shall rejoice over his birth,

et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt:

And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.

for he is to be high in the Lord’s favour; he is to drink neither wine nor strong drink; and from the time when he is yet a child in his mother’s womb he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.

erit enim magnus coram Domino: et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suæ:

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.

He shall bring back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,

et multos filiorum Israël convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum:

And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

ushering in his advent in the spirit and power of an Elias. He shall unite the hearts of all, the fathers with the children, and teach the disobedient the wisdom that makes men just, preparing for the Lord a people fit to receive him.

et ipse præcedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliæ: ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.

And Zachary said to the angel, By what sign am I to be assured of this? I am an old man now, and my wife is far advanced in age.

Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum: Unde hoc sciam? ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis.

And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.

The angel answered, My name is Gabriel, and my place is in God’s presence; I have been sent to speak with thee, and to bring thee this good news.

Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Ego sum Gabriel, qui asto ante Deum: et missus sum loqui ad te, et hæc tibi evangelizare.

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.

Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and have no power of speech, until the day when this is accomplished; and that, because thou hast not believed my promise, which shall in due time be fulfilled.

Et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo hæc fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quæ implebuntur in tempore suo.

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.

And now all the people were waiting for Zachary, and wondering that he delayed in the temple so long;

Et erat plebs exspectans Zachariam: et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo.

And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.

but he, when he came out, could speak no word to them; whereupon they made sure that he had seen some vision in the sanctuary. He could but stand there making signs to them, for he remained dumb.

Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo. Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus.

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.

And so, when the days of his ministry were at an end, he went back to his house.

Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam:

And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

It was after those days that his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she dwelt retired; she said,

post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor ejus, et occultabat se mensibus quinque, dicens:

And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:

It is the Lord who has done this for me, visiting me at his own time, to take away my reproach among men.

Quia sic fecit mihi Dominus in diebus, quibus respexit auferre opprobrium meum inter homines.

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.

When the sixth month came, God sent the angel Gabriel to a city of Galilee called Nazareth,

In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilææ, cui nomen Nazareth,

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

where a virgin dwelt, betrothed to a man of David’s lineage; his name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David: et nomen virginis Maria.

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Into her presence the angel came, and said, Hail, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.

Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit: Ave gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus.

And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

She was much perplexed at hearing him speak so, and cast about in her mind, what she was to make of such a greeting.

Quæ cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio.

Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

Then the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid; thou hast found favour in the sight of God.

Et ait angelus ei: Ne timeas, Maria: invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum.

And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call him Jesus.

Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum:

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and men will know him for the Son of the most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally;

hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus: et regnabit in domo Jacob in æternum,

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.

his kingdom shall never have an end.

et regni ejus non erit finis.

And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

But Mary said to the angel, How can that be, since I have no knowledge of man?

Dixit autem Maria ad angelum: Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco?

And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the most High will overshadow thee. Thus this holy offspring of thine shall be known for the Son of God.

Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei.

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.

See, moreover, how it fares with thy cousin Elizabeth; she is old, yet she too has conceived a son; she who was reproached with barrenness is now in her sixth month,

Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua: et hic mensis sextus est illi, quæ vocatur sterilis:

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:

to prove that nothing can be impossible with God.

quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum.

Because no word shall be impossible with God.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word. And with that the angel left her.

Dixit autem Maria: Ecce ancilla Domini: fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.

And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

In the days that followed, Mary rose up and went with all haste to a town of Juda, in the hill country

Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione, in civitatem Juda:

And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

where Zachary dwelt; and there entering in she gave Elizabeth greeting.

et intravit in domum Zachariæ, et salutavit Elisabeth.

And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

No sooner had Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, than the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Ghost;

Et factum est, ut audivit salutationem Mariæ Elisabeth, exsultavit infans in utero ejus: et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth:

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:

so that she cried out with a loud voice, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

et exclamavit voce magna, et dixit: Benedicta tu inter mulieres, et benedictus fructus ventris tui.

And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

How have I deserved to be thus visited by the mother of my Lord?

Et unde hoc mihi, ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me?

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Why, as soon as ever the voice of thy greeting sounded in my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy.

Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuæ in auribus meis, exsultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo.

For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed art thou for thy believing; the message that was brought to thee from the Lord shall have fulfilment.

Et beata, quæ credidisti, quoniam perficientur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Domino.

And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord;

Et ait Maria: Magnificat anima mea Dominum:

And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.

my spirit has found joy in God, who is my Saviour,

et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

because he has looked graciously upon the lowliness of his handmaid. Behold, from this day forward all generations will count me blessed;

Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ: ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

because he who is mighty, he whose name is holy, has wrought for me his wonders.

quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et sanctum nomen ejus,

Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.

He has mercy upon those who fear him, from generation to generation;

et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

he has done valiantly with the strength of his arm, driving the proud astray in the conceit of their hearts;

Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.

He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

he has put down the mighty from their seat, and exalted the lowly;

Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty-handed.

Esurientes implevit bonis: et divites dimisit inanes.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He has protected his servant Israel, keeping his merciful design in remembrance,

Suscepit Israël puerum suum, recordatus misericordiæ suæ:

He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:

according to the promise which he made to our forefathers, Abraham and his posterity for evermore.

sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini ejus in sæcula.

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

Mary returned home when she had been with her about three months;

Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus: et reversa est in domum suam.

And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.

meanwhile, Elizabeth’s time had come for her child-bearing, and she bore a son.

Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium.

Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.

Her neighbours and her kinsfolk, hearing how wonderfully God had shewed his mercy to her, came to rejoice with her;

Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei.

And her neighbors and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.

and now, when they assembled on the eighth day for the circumcision of the child, they were for calling him Zachary, because it was his father’s name;

Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.

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.

but his mother answered, No, he is to be called John.

Et respondens mater ejus, dixit: Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes.

And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.

And they said, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name,

Et dixerunt ad illam: Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocetur hoc nomine.

And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

and began asking his father by signs, what name he would have him called by.

Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum.

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

So he asked for a tablet, and wrote on it the words, His name is John; and they were all astonished.

Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens: Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi.

And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.

Then, of a sudden, his lips and his tongue were unloosed, and he broke into speech, giving praise to God;

Apertum est autem illico os ejus, et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum.

And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

so that fear came upon all their neighbourhood, and there was none of these happenings but was noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum: et super omnia montana Judææ divulgabantur omnia verba hæc:

And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.

All those who heard it laid it to heart; Why then, they asked, what will this boy grow to be? And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes: Quis, putas, puer iste erit? etenim manus Domini erat cum illo.

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.

Then his father Zachary was filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke in prophecy:

Et Zacharias pater ejus repletus est Spiritu Sancto: et prophetavit, dicens:

And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has visited his people, and wrought their redemption.

Benedictus Dominus Deus Israël, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suæ:

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:

He has raised up a sceptre of salvation for us among the posterity of his servant David,

et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui,

And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:

according to the promise which he made by the lips of holy men that have been his prophets from the beginning;

sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a sæculo sunt, prophetarum ejus:

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:

salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us.

salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos:

Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:

So he would carry out his merciful design towards our fathers, by remembering his holy covenant.

ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris: et memorari testamenti sui sancti:

To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,

He had sworn an oath to our father Abraham, that he would enable us

jusjurandum, quod juravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis

The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,

to live without fear in his service, delivered from the hand of our enemies,

ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamus illi

That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,

passing all our days in holiness, and approved in his sight.

in sanctitate et justitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.

In holiness and justice before him, all our days.

And thou, my child, wilt be known for a prophet of the most High, going before the Lord, to clear his way for him;

Et tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis: præibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus,

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:

thou wilt make known to his people the salvation that is to release them from their sins.

ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi ejus in remissionem peccatorum eorum

To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:

Such is the merciful kindness of our God, which has bidden him come to us, like a dawning from on high,

per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto:

Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:

to give light to those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent: ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.

To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.

And as the child grew, his spirit achieved strength, and he dwelt in the wilderness until the day when he was made manifest to Israel.

Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur spiritu: et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suæ ad Israël.

And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.