The conception of John the Baptist, and of Christ. The visitation and canticle of the Blessed Virgin. The birth of the Baptist and the canticle of Zachary.

 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;
Quoniam quidem multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem, quae in nobis completae sunt, rerum :

 2 According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:
sicut tradiderunt nobis, qui ab initio ipsi viderunt, et ministri fuerunt sermonis :

 3 It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
visum est et mihi, assecuto omnia a principio diligenter, ex ordine tibi scribere, optime Theophile,

 4 That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.
ut cognoscas eorum verborum, de quibus eruditus es, veritatem.

 5 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.
Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judaeae, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth.

 6 And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.
Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela.

 7 And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis.

 8 And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,
Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suae ante Deum,

 9 According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.
secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini :

 10 And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.
et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi.

 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi.

 12 And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum.

 13 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:
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 :

 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.
et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt :

 15 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.
erit enim magnus coram Domino : et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suae :

 16 And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
et multos filiorum Israel convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum :

 17 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.
et ipse praecedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliae : ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam.

 18 And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.
Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum : Unde hoc sciam? ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis.

 19 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.
Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Ego sum Gabriel, qui asto ante Deum : et missus sum loqui ad te, et haec tibi evangelizare.

 20 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.
Et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo haec fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quae implebuntur in tempore suo.

 21 And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple.
Et erat plebs exspectans Zachariam : et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo.

 22 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.
Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo. Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus.

 23 And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam :

 24 And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying:
post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor ejus, et occultabat se mensibus quinque, dicens :

 25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.
Quia sic fecit mihi Dominus in diebus, quibus respexit auferre opprobrium meum inter homines.

 26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth,

 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David : et nomen virginis Maria.

 28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, 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.

 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
Quae cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio.

 30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
Et ait angelus ei : Ne timeas, Maria : invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum.

 31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum :

 32 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.
hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus : et regnabit in domo Jacob in aeternum,

 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
et regni ejus non erit finis.

 34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
Dixit autem Maria ad angelum : Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco?

 35 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.
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.

 36 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:
Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua : et hic mensis sextus est illi, quae vocatur sterilis :

 37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum.

 38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Dixit autem Maria : Ecce ancilla Domini : fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.

 39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.
Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione, in civitatem Juda :

 40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.
et intravit in domum Zachariae, et salutavit Elisabeth.

 41 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:
Et factum est, ut audivit salutationem Mariae Elisabeth, exsultavit infans in utero ejus : et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth :

 42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: 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.

 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Et unde hoc mihi, ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me?

 44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuae in auribus meis, exsultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo.

 45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
Et beata, quae credidisti, quoniam perficientur ea, quae dicta sunt tibi a Domino.

 46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
Et ait Maria : Magnificat anima mea Dominum :

 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.

 48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae : ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,

 49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est : et sanctum nomen ejus,

 50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.

 51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo : dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.

 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.

 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Esurientes implevit bonis : et divites dimisit inanes.

 54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae :

 55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini ejus in saecula.

 56 And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.
Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus : et reversa est in domum suam.

 57 Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.
Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium.

 58 And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.
Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei.

 59 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.
Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.

 60 And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.
Et respondens mater ejus, dixit : Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes.

 61 And they said to her: 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.

 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum.

 63 And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.
Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens : Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi.

 64 And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Apertum est autem illico os ejus, et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum.

 65 And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.
Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum : et super omnia montana Judaeae divulgabantur omnia verba haec :

 66 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.
et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes : Quis, putas, puer iste erit? etenim manus Domini erat cum illo.

 67 And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:
Et Zacharias pater ejus repletus est Spiritu Sancto : et prophetavit, dicens :

 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suae :

 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:
et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui,

 70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:
sicut locutum est per os sanctorum, qui a saeculo sunt, prophetarum ejus :

 71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:
salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos :

 72 To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,
ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris : et memorari testamenti sui sancti :

 73 The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,
jusjurandum, quod juravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis

 74 That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamus illi

 75 In holiness and justice before him, all our days.
in sanctitate et justitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.

 76 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:
Et tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis : praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus,

 77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:
ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi ejus in remissionem peccatorum eorum

 78 Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto :

 79 To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.
illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent : ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.

 80 And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur spiritu : et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suae ad Israel.