¹ The Lord God said to Abraham: As for Sara your wife, her name shall not be called Sara, but Sarra shall be her name. I will bless her and will give you a child from her; and I will bless it and it shall be for nations and kings of nations will come from it. And Abraham fell on his face, and laughed and said in his mind; Shall a son be born in my hundredth year? And shall Sarra who is ninety bear a child? God said to Abraham: Yes; see, your wife Sarra will bear you a son and you will call his name Isaac; and I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant. Now Abraham and Sarra were old, advanced in years. But Sarra laughed to herself, saying: The thing has not happened to me until now; and my lord is old. And the Lord God said to Abraham: Why did Sarra laugh to herself, saying: Shall I really give birth? For I am aged. But nothing is impossible for God. And the Lord visited Sarra, as He had said, and she conceived and bore a son to Abraham in their old age at the time the Lord had said to him. But he circumcised him on the eighth day, as the Lord God had commanded him. And Abraham was a hundred when Isaac his son was born to him. But Sarra said: The Lord has given me laughter; for whoever hears will rejoice with me. And she said: Who will announce to Abraham that Sarra is suckling a child, for I have born a child in my old age? And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham held a great banquet on the day his son Isaac was weaned.

¹ In those days there was a man of the tribe of Dan and his name was Manoe, and his wife was barren and had not borne a child. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to his wife and said to her: See, you are barren and have not borne a child or conceived a son. But now take care, and do not drink wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. Because see, you will conceive in the womb and bear a son, and no iron shall touch his head, because the child is to be a Nazarite to God from his mother’s womb. And the woman came and spoke to her husband, saying: A Man of God came to me, and his appearance was as the appearance on an Angel of God, exceedingly bright. And he said: See, you will conceive in the womb and bear a son; and now take care, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazarite of God from the womb to the day of his death. And Manoe besought the Lord and said: My Lord, let the man of God, whom You sent, come again to us, and enlighten us what we should do for the child that is to be born. Then the Angel came to Manoe and said: Of all the things that I said to your wife, let her take care. She is not to eat anything that comes from the vine; she is not to drink wine or strong drink. And Manoe said to the Angel of the Lord: What is your name? That when your word comes to pass, we may glorify you. And the Angel of the Lord said to him: Why do you ask my name? For it is wonderful. And the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoe and his wife.

¹ Thus says the Lord: Comfort, comfort my people, says God. Priests, speak to the heart of Jerusalem. Comfort her, because her humiliation has been completed; for her has sin has been abolished, because she has received from the Lord’s hand double for her sins. A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God. Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill made low; what is crooked will become straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Go up onto a high mountain, you who bring good tidings to Sion; lift up your voice with strength, you who bring good tidings to Jerusalem. Lift it up, do not be afraid. I the Lord God, I, the God of Israel, will hearken and will not forsake them; but I will open rivers from the mountains and springs in the middle of plains. I will turn the wilderness into water meadows and the thirsty earth with water courses. Let the heavens rejoice from on high and let the clouds rain justice. Let the earth sprout and blossom with mercy and justice. Announce a voice of gladness to the end of the earth and let this be heard: Say that the Lord has delivered his servant Jacob. And if they thirst through deserts, he will bring water for them from a rock. Rejoice you barren who have never given birth, break out and shout, you who have never known birth pangs, for the children of the deserted are more than those of her who has a husband.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

⁶¹ And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

⁶² And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

⁶³ And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

⁶⁴ And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

⁶⁵ And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.

⁶⁶ And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

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;

⁸⁰ And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

²⁸ وكما لم يستحسنوا ان يبقوا الله في معرفتهم اسلمهم الله الى ذهن مرفوض ليفعلوا ما لا يليق.

²⁹ مملوئين من كل اثم وزنى وشر وطمع وخبث مشحونين حسدا وقتلا وخصاما ومكرا وسؤا

³⁰ نمّامين مفترين مبغضين لله ثالبين متعظمين مدّعين مبتدعين شرورا غير طائعين للوالدين

³¹ بلا فهم ولا عهد ولا حنو ولا رضى ولا رحمة

³² الذين اذ عرفوا حكم الله ان الذين يعملون مثل هذه يستوجبون الموت لا يفعلونها فقط بل ايضا يسرّون بالذين يعملون

¹ لذلك انت بلا عذر ايها الانسان كل من يدين. لانك في ما تدين غيرك تحكم على نفسك. لانك انت الذي تدين تفعل تلك الامور بعينها.

² ونحن نعلم ان دينونة الله هي حسب الحق على الذين يفعلون مثل هذه.

³ أفتظن هذا ايها الانسان الذي تدين الذين يفعلون مثل هذه وانت تفعلها انك تنجو من دينونة الله.

⁴ ام تستهين بغنى لطفه وامهاله وطول اناته غير عالم ان لطف الله انما يقتادك الى التوبة.

⁵ ولكنك من اجل قساوتك وقلبك غير التائب تذخر لنفسك غضبا في يوم الغضب واستعلان دينونة الله العادلة

⁶ الذي سيجازي كل واحد حسب اعماله.

⁷ اما الذين بصبر في العمل الصالح يطلبون المجد والكرامة والبقاء فبالحياة الابدية.

⁸ واما الذين هم من اهل التحزب ولا يطاوعون للحق بل يطاوعون للاثم فسخط وغضب

⁹ شدة وضيق على كل نفس انسان يفعل الشر اليهودي اولا ثم اليوناني.

¹¹ هذا وانكم عارفون الوقت انها الآن ساعة لنستيقظ من النوم. فان خلاصنا الآن اقرب مما كان حين آمنّا.

¹² قد تناهى الليل وتقارب النهار فلنخلع اعمال الظلمة ونلبس اسلحة النور.

¹³ لنسلك بلياقة كما في النهار لا بالبطر والسكر لا بالمضاجع والعهر لا بالخصام والحسد.

¹⁴ بل البسوا الرب يسوع المسيح ولا تصنعوا تدبيرا للجسد لاجل الشهوات

¹ ومن هو ضعيف في الايمان فاقبلوه لا لمحاكمة الافكار.

² واحد يؤمن ان يأكل كل شيء واما الضعيف فيأكل بقولا.

³ لا يزدر من يأكل بمن لا يأكل. ولا يدن من لا يأكل من يأكل. لان الله قبله.

⁴ من انت الذي تدين عبد غيرك. هو لمولاه يثبت او يسقط. ولكنه سيثبت لان الله قادر ان يثبته.

²⁷ قد سمعتم انه قيل للقدماء لا تزن.

²⁸ واما انا فاقول لكم ان كل من ينظر الى امرأة ليشتهيها فقد زنى بها في قلبه.

²⁹ فان كانت عينك اليمنى تعثرك فاقلعها وألقها عنك. لانه خير لك ان يهلك احد اعضائك ولا يلقى جسدك كله في جهنم.

³⁰ وان كانت يدك اليمنى تعثرك فاقطعها والقها عنك. لانه خير لك ان يهلك احد اعضائك ولا يلقى جسدك كله في جهنم

³¹ وقيل من طلق امرأته فليعطها كتاب طلاق.

³² واما انا فاقول لكم ان من طلّق امرأته الا لعلّة الزنى يجعلها تزني. ومن يتزوج مطلّقة فانه يزني

¹ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

² Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

³ It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

⁴ That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

⁷ And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

⁸ And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

⁹ According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

⁵⁷ Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

⁶¹ And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

⁶² And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

⁶³ And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

⁶⁴ And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

⁶⁵ And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.

⁶⁶ And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

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;

⁸⁰ And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

¹ احترزوا من ان تصنعوا صدقتكم قدام الناس لكي ينظروكم. والا فليس لكم اجر عند ابيكم الذي في السموات.

² فمتى صنعت صدقة فلا تصوت قدامك بالبوق كما يفعل المراؤون في المجامع وفي الازقة لكي يمجّدوا من الناس. الحق اقول لكم انهم قد استوفوا اجرهم.

³ واما انت فمتى صنعت صدقة فلا تعرف شمالك ما تفعل يمينك.

⁴ لكي تكون صدقتك في الخفاء. فابوك الذي يرى في الخفاء هو يجازيك علانية

⁵ ومتى صلّيت فلا تكن كالمرائين. فانهم يحبون ان يصلّوا قائمين في المجامع وفي زوايا الشوارع لكي يظهروا للناس. الحق اقول لكم انهم قد استوفوا اجرهم.

⁶ واما انت فمتى صلّيت فادخل الى مخدعك واغلق بابك وصلّ الى ابيك الذي في الخفاء. فابوك الذي يرى في الخفاء يجازيك علانية.

⁷ وحينما تصلّون لا تكرروا الكلام باطلا كالامم. فانهم يظنون انه بكثرة كلامهم يستجاب لهم.

⁸ فلا تتشبهوا بهم. لان اباكم يعلم ما تحتاجون اليه قبل ان تسألوه

⁹ فصلّوا انتم هكذا. ابانا الذي في السموات. ليتقدس اسمك.

¹⁰ ليأت ملكوتك. لتكن مشيئتك كما في السماء كذلك على الارض.

¹¹ خبزنا كفافنا اعطنا اليوم.

¹² واغفر لنا ذنوبنا كما نغفر نحن ايضا للمذنبين الينا.

¹³ ولا تدخلنا في تجربة. لكن نجنا من الشرير. لان لك الملك والقوة والمجد الى الابد. آمين.

¹⁴ فانه ان غفرتم للناس زلاتهم يغفر لكم ايضا ابوكم السماوي.

¹⁵ وان لم تغفروا للناس زلاتهم لا يغفر لكم ابوكم ايضا زلاتكم

¹⁶ ومتى صمتم فلا تكونوا عابسين كالمرائين. فانهم يغيرون وجوههم لكي يظهروا للناس صائمين. الحق اقول لكم انهم قد استوفوا اجرهم.

¹⁷ واما انت فمتى صمت فادهن راسك واغسل وجهك.

¹⁸ لكي لا تظهر للناس صائما بل لابيك الذي في الخفاء. فابوك الذي يرى في الخفاء يجازيك علانية

¹⁹ لا تكنزوا لكم كنوزا على الارض حيث يفسد السوس والصدأ وحيث ينقب السارقون ويسرقون.

²⁰ بل اكنزوا لكم كنوزا في السماء حيث لا يفسد سوس ولا صدأ وحيث لا ينقب سارقون ولا يسرقون.

²¹ لانه حيث يكون كنزك هناك يكون قلبك ايضا.

²² سراج الجسد هو العين. فان كانت عينك بسيطة فجسدك كله يكون نيرا.

²³ وان كانت عينك شريرة فجسدك كله يكون مظلما. فان كان النور الذي فيك ظلاما فالظلام كم يكون

²⁴ لا يقدر احد ان يخدم سيدين. لانه اما ان يبغض الواحد ويحب الآخر او يلازم الواحد ويحتقر الآخر. لا تقدرون ان تخدموا الله والمال.

²⁵ لذلك اقول لكم لا تهتموا لحياتكم بما تاكلون وبما تشربون. ولا لاجسادكم بما تلبسون. أليست الحياة افضل من الطعام والجسد افضل من اللباس.

²⁶ انظروا الى طيور السماء. انها لا تزرع ولا تحصد ولا تجمع الى مخازن. وابوكم السماوي يقوتها. ألستم انتم بالحري افضل منها.

²⁷ ومن منكم اذا اهتم يقدر ان يزيد على قامته ذراعا واحدة.

²⁸ ولماذا تهتمون باللباس. تأملوا زنابق الحقل كيف تنمو. لا تتعب ولا تغزل.

²⁹ ولكن اقول لكم انه ولا سليمان في كل مجده كان يلبس كواحدة منها.

³⁰ فان كان عشب الحقل الذي يوجد اليوم ويطرح غدا في التنور يلبسه الله هكذا أفليس بالحري جدا يلبسكم انتم يا قليلي الايمان.

³¹ فلا تهتموا قائلين ماذا نأكل او ماذا نشرب او ماذا نلبس.

³² فان هذه كلها تطلبها الامم. لان اباكم السماوي يعلم انكم تحتاجون الى هذه كلها.

³³ لكن اطلبوا اولا ملكوت الله وبره وهذه كلها تزاد لكم.

³⁴ فلا تهتموا للغد. لان الغد يهتم بما لنفسه. يكفي اليوم شره