路加福音 1

^1–2提阿非罗大人哪，有好些人提笔作书，述说在我们中间所成就的事，是照传道的人从起初亲眼看见又传给我们的。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这些事我既从起头都详细考察了，就定意要按着次序写给你，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使你知道所学之道都是确实的。so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

⁵当犹太王希律的时候，亚比雅班里有一个祭司，名叫撒迦利亚；他妻子是亚伦的后人，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他们二人在　神面前都是义人，遵行主的一切诫命礼仪，没有可指摘的，Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

⁷只是没有孩子；因为伊利莎白不生育，两个人又年纪老迈了。But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

⁸撒迦利亚按班次在　神面前供祭司的职分，One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

⁹照祭司的规矩掣签，得进主殿烧香。he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

¹⁰烧香的时候，众百姓在外面祷告。And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

¹¹有主的使者站在香坛的右边，向他显现。Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

¹²撒迦利亚看见，就惊慌害怕。When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

¹³天使对他说：“撒迦利亚，不要害怕，因为你的祈祷已经被听见了。你的妻子伊利莎白要给你生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫约翰。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你必欢喜快乐；有许多人因他出世，也必喜乐。He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

¹⁵他在主面前将要为大，淡酒浓酒都不喝，从母腹里就被圣灵充满了。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他要使许多以色列人回转，归于主—他们的　神。Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.

¹⁷他必有以利亚的心志能力，行在主的前面，叫为父的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转从义人的智慧，又为主预备合用的百姓。”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撒迦利亚对天使说：“我凭着什么可知道这事呢？我已经老了，我的妻子也年纪老迈了。”“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天使回答说：“我是站在　神面前的加百列，奉差而来对你说话，将这好信息报给你。“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到了时候，这话必然应验；只因你不信，你必哑巴，不能说话，直到这事成就的日子。”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.”

²¹百姓等候撒迦利亚，诧异他许久在殿里。Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.

²²及至他出来，不能和他们说话，他们就知道他在殿里见了异象；因为他直向他们打手式，竟成了哑巴。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他供职的日子已满，就回家去了。And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

²⁴这些日子以后，他的妻子伊利莎白怀了孕，就隐藏了五个月，After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,

²⁵说：“主在眷顾我的日子，这样看待我，要把我在人间的羞耻除掉。”“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

²⁶到了第六个月，天使加百列奉　神的差遣往加利利的一座城去（这城名叫拿撒勒），In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

²⁷到一个童女那里，是已经许配大卫家的一个人，名叫约瑟。童女的名字叫马利亚；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天使进去，对她说：“蒙大恩的女子，我问你安，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马利亚因这话就很惊慌，又反复思想这样问安是什么意思。Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

³⁰天使对她说：“马利亚，不要怕！你在　神面前已经蒙恩了。So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹你要怀孕生子，可以给他起名叫耶稣。Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

³²他要为大，称为至高者的儿子；主　神要把他祖大卫的位给他。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，直到永远；他的国也没有穷尽。”and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

³⁴马利亚对天使说：“我没有出嫁，怎么有这事呢？”“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵天使回答说：“圣灵要临到你身上，至高者的能力要荫庇你，因此所要生的圣者必称为　神的儿子（或译：所要生的，必称为圣，称为　神的儿子）。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况且你的亲戚伊利莎白，在年老的时候也怀了男胎，就是那素来称为不生育的，现在有孕六个月了。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因为，出于　神的话，没有一句不带能力的。”For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸马利亚说：“我是主的使女，情愿照你的话成就在我身上。”天使就离开她去了。“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

³⁹那时候，马利亚起身，急忙往山地里去，来到犹大的一座城；In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,

⁴⁰进了撒迦利亚的家，问伊利莎白安。where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹伊利莎白一听马利亚问安，所怀的胎就在腹里跳动。伊利莎白且被圣灵充满，When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴²高声喊着说：“你在妇女中是有福的！你所怀的胎也是有福的！In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³我主的母到我这里来，这是从哪里得的呢？And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴因为你问安的声音一入我耳，我腹里的胎就欢喜跳动。For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

⁴⁵这相信的女子是有福的！因为主对她所说的话都要应验。”Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

⁴⁶马利亚说：我心尊主为大；Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷我灵以　神我的救主为乐；and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

⁴⁸因为他顾念他使女的卑微；从今以后，万代要称我有福。For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹那有权能的，为我成就了大事；他的名为圣。For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.

⁵⁰他怜悯敬畏他的人，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；那狂傲的人正心里妄想就被他赶散了。He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

⁵²他叫有权柄的失位，叫卑贱的升高；He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.

⁵³叫饥饿的得饱美食，叫富足的空手回去。He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

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

⁵⁵为要记念亚伯拉罕和他的后裔，施怜悯直到永远，正如从前对我们列祖所说的话。as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

⁵⁶马利亚和伊利莎白同住，约有三个月，就回家去了。Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

⁵⁷伊利莎白的产期到了，就生了一个儿子。When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸邻里亲族听见主向她大施怜悯，就和她一同欢乐。Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹到了第八日，他们来要给孩子行割礼，并要照他父亲的名字叫他撒迦利亚。On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

⁶⁰他母亲说：“不可！要叫他约翰。”But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”

⁶¹他们说：“你亲族中没有叫这名字的。”They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”

⁶²他们就向他父亲打手式，问他要叫这孩子什么名字。So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.

⁶³他要了一块写字的板，就写上，说：“他的名字是约翰。”他们便都希奇。Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

⁶⁴撒迦利亚的口立时开了，舌头也舒展了，就说出话来，称颂　神。Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

⁶⁵周围居住的人都惧怕；这一切的事就传遍了犹太的山地。All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.

⁶⁶凡听见的人都将这事放在心里，说：“这个孩子将来怎么样呢？因为有主与他同在。”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他父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满了，就预言说：Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸主—以色列的　神是应当称颂的！因他眷顾他的百姓，为他们施行救赎，“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

⁶⁹在他仆人大卫家中，为我们兴起了拯救的角，He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,

⁷⁰正如主借着从创世以来圣先知的口所说的话，as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,

⁷¹拯救我们脱离仇敌和一切恨我们之人的手，salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,

⁷²向我们列祖施怜悯，记念他的圣约—to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

⁷³就是他对我们祖宗亚伯拉罕所起的誓—the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

⁷⁴叫我们既从仇敌手中被救出来，deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,

⁷⁵就可以终身在他面前，坦然无惧地用圣洁、公义事奉他。in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

⁷⁶孩子啊！你要称为至高者的先知；因为你要行在主的前面，预备他的道路，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因我们　神怜悯的心肠，叫清晨的日光从高天临到我们，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荫里的人，把我们的脚引到平安的路上。to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

⁸⁰那孩子渐渐长大，心灵强健，住在旷野，直到他显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.