26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, |
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. |
28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." |
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. |
30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. |
31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. |
32 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 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." |
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" |
35 The angel answered, "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 called3 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. |
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. |
37 For nothing is impossible with God." |
38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. |
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, |
40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. |
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. |
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! |
43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. |
45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" |
46 And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
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47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
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48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
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49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me--
holy is his name.
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50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
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51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
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52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
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53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
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54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
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55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers." |
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. |
