路加福音 1

^1–2提阿非羅大人哪，有好些人提筆作書，述說在我們中間所成就的事，是照傳道的人從起初親眼看見又傳給我們的。Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

³這些事我既從起頭都詳細考察了，就定意要按著次序寫給你，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使你知道所學之道都是確實的。so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

⁵當猶太王希律的時候，亞比雅班裡有一個祭司，名叫撒迦利亞；他妻子是亞倫的後人，名叫伊利莎白。In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.

⁶他們二人在　神面前都是義人，遵行主的一切誡命禮儀，沒有可指摘的，Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

⁷只是沒有孩子；因為伊利莎白不生育，兩個人又年紀老邁了。But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

⁸撒迦利亞按班次在　神面前供祭司的職分，One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

⁹照祭司的規矩掣籤，得進主殿燒香。he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

¹⁰燒香的時候，眾百姓在外面禱告。And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

¹¹有主的使者站在香壇的右邊，向他顯現。Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

¹²撒迦利亞看見，就驚慌害怕。When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

¹³天使對他說：「撒迦利亞，不要害怕，因為你的祈禱已經被聽見了。你的妻子伊利莎白要給你生一個兒子，你要給他起名叫約翰。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你必歡喜快樂；有許多人因他出世，也必喜樂。He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

¹⁵他在主面前將要為大，淡酒濃酒都不喝，從母腹裡就被聖靈充滿了。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他要使許多以色列人回轉，歸於主─他們的　神。Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.

¹⁷他必有以利亞的心志能力，行在主的前面，叫為父的心轉向兒女，叫悖逆的人轉從義人的智慧，又為主預備合用的百姓。」And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸撒迦利亞對天使說：「我憑著甚麼可知道這事呢？我已經老了，我的妻子也年紀老邁了。」“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天使回答說：「我是站在　神面前的加百列，奉差而來對你說話，將這好信息報給你。“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到了時候，這話必然應驗；只因你不信，你必啞巴，不能說話，直到這事成就的日子。」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.”

²¹百姓等候撒迦利亞，詫異他許久在殿裡。Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.

²²及至他出來，不能和他們說話，他們就知道他在殿裡見了異象；因為他直向他們打手式，竟成了啞巴。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他供職的日子已滿，就回家去了。And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

²⁴這些日子以後，他的妻子伊利莎白懷了孕，就隱藏了五個月，After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,

²⁵說：「主在眷顧我的日子，這樣看待我，要把我在人間的羞恥除掉。」“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

²⁶到了第六個月，天使加百列奉　神的差遣往加利利的一座城去（這城名叫拿撒勒），In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

²⁷到一個童女那裡，是已經許配大衛家的一個人，名叫約瑟。童女的名字叫馬利亞；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天使進去，對她說：「蒙大恩的女子，我問你安，主和你同在了！」The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹馬利亞因這話就很驚慌，又反覆思想這樣問安是甚麼意思。Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

³⁰天使對她說：「馬利亞，不要怕！你在　神面前已經蒙恩了。So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹你要懷孕生子，可以給他起名叫耶穌。Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

³²他要為大，稱為至高者的兒子；主　神要把他祖大衛的位給他。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他要作雅各家的王，直到永遠；他的國也沒有窮盡。」and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

³⁴馬利亞對天使說：「我沒有出嫁，怎麼有這事呢？」“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵天使回答說：「聖靈要臨到你身上，至高者的能力要蔭庇你，因此所要生的聖者必稱為　神的兒子（或譯：所要生的，必稱為聖，稱為　神的兒子）。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況且你的親戚伊利莎白，在年老的時候也懷了男胎，就是那素來稱為不生育的，現在有孕六個月了。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因為，出於　神的話，沒有一句不帶能力的。」For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸馬利亞說：「我是主的使女，情願照你的話成就在我身上。」天使就離開她去了。“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

³⁹那時候，馬利亞起身，急忙往山地裡去，來到猶大的一座城；In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,

⁴⁰進了撒迦利亞的家，問伊利莎白安。where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹伊利莎白一聽馬利亞問安，所懷的胎就在腹裡跳動。伊利莎白且被聖靈充滿，When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴²高聲喊著說：「你在婦女中是有福的！你所懷的胎也是有福的！In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³我主的母到我這裡來，這是從哪裡得的呢？And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴因為你問安的聲音一入我耳，我腹裡的胎就歡喜跳動。For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

⁴⁵這相信的女子是有福的！因為主對她所說的話都要應驗。」Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

⁴⁶馬利亞說：我心尊主為大；Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷我靈以　神我的救主為樂；and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

⁴⁸因為他顧念他使女的卑微；從今以後，萬代要稱我有福。For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹那有權能的，為我成就了大事；他的名為聖。For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.

⁵⁰他憐憫敬畏他的人，直到世世代代。His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

⁵¹他用膀臂施展大能；那狂傲的人正心裡妄想就被他趕散了。He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

⁵²他叫有權柄的失位，叫卑賤的升高；He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

⁵³叫飢餓的得飽美食，叫富足的空手回去。He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴他扶助了他的僕人以色列，He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,

⁵⁵為要記念亞伯拉罕和他的後裔，施憐憫直到永遠，正如從前對我們列祖所說的話。as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

⁵⁶馬利亞和伊利莎白同住，約有三個月，就回家去了。Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

⁵⁷伊利莎白的產期到了，就生了一個兒子。When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸鄰里親族聽見主向她大施憐憫，就和她一同歡樂。Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹到了第八日，他們來要給孩子行割禮，並要照他父親的名字叫他撒迦利亞。On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

⁶⁰他母親說：「不可！要叫他約翰。」But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”

⁶¹他們說：「你親族中沒有叫這名字的。」They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”

⁶²他們就向他父親打手式，問他要叫這孩子甚麼名字。So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.

⁶³他要了一塊寫字的板，就寫上，說：「他的名字是約翰。」他們便都希奇。Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

⁶⁴撒迦利亞的口立時開了，舌頭也舒展了，就說出話來，稱頌　神。Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

⁶⁵周圍居住的人都懼怕；這一切的事就傳遍了猶太的山地。All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.

⁶⁶凡聽見的人都將這事放在心裡，說：「這個孩子將來怎麼樣呢？因為有主與他同在。」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他父親撒迦利亞被聖靈充滿了，就預言說：Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸主─以色列的　神是應當稱頌的！因他眷顧他的百姓，為他們施行救贖，“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

⁶⁹在他僕人大衛家中，為我們興起了拯救的角，He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,

⁷⁰正如主藉著從創世以來聖先知的口所說的話，as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,

⁷¹拯救我們脫離仇敵和一切恨我們之人的手，salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,

⁷²向我們列祖施憐憫，記念他的聖約─to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

⁷³就是他對我們祖宗亞伯拉罕所起的誓─the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

⁷⁴叫我們既從仇敵手中被救出來，deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,

⁷⁵就可以終身在他面前，坦然無懼地用聖潔、公義事奉他。in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

⁷⁶孩子啊！你要稱為至高者的先知；因為你要行在主的前面，預備他的道路，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叫他的百姓因罪得赦，就知道救恩。to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

⁷⁸因我們　神憐憫的心腸，叫清晨的日光從高天臨到我們，because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,

⁷⁹要照亮坐在黑暗中死蔭裡的人，把我們的腳引到平安的路上。to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

⁸⁰那孩子漸漸長大，心靈強健，住在曠野，直到他顯明在以色列人面前的日子。And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.