Luke 1:26-56

Contemporary English Version

An Angel Tells about the Birth of Jesus

²⁶One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee ²⁷^(A) with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. ²⁸The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant. ³⁰Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, ³¹^(B) and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. ³²^(C) He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. ³³He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!”

³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. ³⁶Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. ³⁷^(D) Nothing is impossible for God!”

³⁸Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. ⁴⁰She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her.

The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. ⁴²^(E) Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:

God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. ⁴³Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? ⁴⁴As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. ⁴⁵The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.

Mary's Song of Praise

⁴⁶^(F) Mary said:

With all my heart
    I praise the Lord,
⁴⁷and I am glad
    because of God my Savior.
⁴⁸God cares for me,
    his humble servant.
From now on,
all people will say
    God has blessed me.
⁴⁹God All-Powerful has done
great things for me,
    and his name is holy.
⁵⁰He always shows mercy
to everyone
    who worships him.
⁵¹The Lord has used
    his powerful arm
to scatter those
    who are proud.
⁵²^(G) God drags strong rulers
    from their thrones
and puts humble people
    in places of power.
⁵³God gives the hungry
    good things to eat,
and sends the rich away
    with nothing.
⁵⁴God helps his servant Israel
and is always merciful
    to his people.
⁵⁵^(H) The Lord made this promise
    to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his family
    forever!