The Holy Bible Luke 1:1-25 by Robert Alter Lyrics
Since many have set their hands to laying out an orderly narrative regarding the events that have been brought to fulfillment among us, Just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning, and who became servants of the word, passed it on to us, It seemed a good thing that I also, having exactingly traced out everything from the beginning, should write it out in order for you, most exalted Theophilus, So that you might recognize the reliability of the accounts you have been taught.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, Zacharias by name, from the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife came from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And both were upright before God, conducting themselves impeccably in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were well advanced in their days. Now it happened that, when it was his order’s turn in the presence of God, and as he was serving as priest, It fell to him by lot — as was the custom of the priesthood — to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. And all the main body of the people was outside praying during the hour of incense. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of the incense. And seeing him Zacharias was alarmed, and fear descended upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your supplication has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall declare his name to be John; And for you there will be joy and delight, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the Lord’s eyes; and he must not drink wine or fermented drink, and he will be filled with a Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God; And he will go forth in his presence, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and to turn the wayward to the wisdom of the upright, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.” And Zacharias said to the angel, “In what way shall I know this? For I am old and my wife is well advanced in her days.” And in reply the angel said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand before the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and announce these good tidings to you; See then: You shall be silent and unable to speak till the day these things take place, because you did not trust my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Now the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they were amazed that he was taking so much times in the sanctuary. And when he came out he was unable to speak to them and they knew he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; and he was gesturing to them, and remained mute. And it happened that when the days of his service were completed he departed to his house. And after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself concealed, saying: “Thus the Lord has done for me, in the days when he looked to remove the censure that is mine among men.”
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, Zacharias by name, from the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife came from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And both were upright before God, conducting themselves impeccably in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were well advanced in their days. Now it happened that, when it was his order’s turn in the presence of God, and as he was serving as priest, It fell to him by lot — as was the custom of the priesthood — to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. And all the main body of the people was outside praying during the hour of incense. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of the incense. And seeing him Zacharias was alarmed, and fear descended upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your supplication has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall declare his name to be John; And for you there will be joy and delight, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the Lord’s eyes; and he must not drink wine or fermented drink, and he will be filled with a Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God; And he will go forth in his presence, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and to turn the wayward to the wisdom of the upright, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.” And Zacharias said to the angel, “In what way shall I know this? For I am old and my wife is well advanced in her days.” And in reply the angel said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand before the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and announce these good tidings to you; See then: You shall be silent and unable to speak till the day these things take place, because you did not trust my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Now the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they were amazed that he was taking so much times in the sanctuary. And when he came out he was unable to speak to them and they knew he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; and he was gesturing to them, and remained mute. And it happened that when the days of his service were completed he departed to his house. And after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself concealed, saying: “Thus the Lord has done for me, in the days when he looked to remove the censure that is mine among men.”