Luke 1:26-55

New International Version

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel^(A) to Nazareth,^(B) a town in Galilee, ²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,^(C) a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,^(D) Mary; you have found favor with God.^(E) ³¹You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.^(F) ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.^(G) The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,^(H) ³³and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom^(I) will never end.”^(J)

³⁴“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you,^(K) and the power of the Most High^(L) will overshadow you. So the holy one^(M) to be born will be called^[a] the Son of God.^(N) ³⁶Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child^(O) in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷For no word from God will ever fail.”^(P)

³⁸“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,^(Q) ⁴⁰where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.^(R) ⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women,^(S) and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord^(T) should come to me? ⁴⁴As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song^(U)

⁴⁶And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord^(V)
⁴⁷    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,^(W)
⁴⁸for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.^(X)
From now on all generations will call me blessed,^(Y)
⁴⁹    for the Mighty One has done great things^(Z) for me—
    holy is his name.^(AA)
⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.^(AB)
⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;^(AC)
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.^(AD)
⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.^(AE)
⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things^(AF)
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful^(AG)
⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants^(AH) forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”