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 Και καθως απεδοκιμασαν το να εχωσιν επιγνωσιν του Θεου, παρεδωκεν αυτους ο Θεος εις αδοκιμον νουν, ωστε να πραττωσι τα μη πρεποντα,

²⁹ πληρεις οντες πασης αδικιας, πορνειας, πονηριας, πλεονεξιας, κακιας, γεμοντες φθονου, φονου, εριδος, δολου, κακοηθειας·

³⁰ ψιθυρισται, καταλαλοι, μισοθεοι, υβρισται, υπερηφανοι, αλαζονες, εφευρεται κακων, απειθεις εις τους γονεις,

³¹ ασυνετοι, παραβαται συνθηκων, ασπλαγχνοι, αδιαλλακτοι, ανελεημονες·

³² οιτινες ενω γνωριζουσι την δικαιοσυνην του Θεου, οτι οι πραττοντες τα τοιαυτα ειναι αξιοι θανατου, ουχι μονον πραττουσιν αυτα, αλλα και συνευδοκουσιν εις τους πραττοντας.

¹ Δια τουτο αναπολογητος εισαι, ω ανθρωπε, πας οστις κρινεις· διοτι εις ο, τι κρινεις τον αλλον, σεαυτον κατακρινεις· επειδη τα αυτα πραττεις συ ο κρινων.

² Εξευρομεν δε οτι η κρισις του Θεου ειναι κατα αληθειαν εναντιον των πραττοντων τα τοιαυτα.

³ Και νομιζεις τουτο, ω ανθρωπε, συ ο κρινων τους πραττοντας τα τοιαυτα και πραττων αυτα, οτι θελεις εκφυγει την κρισιν του Θεου;

⁴ Η καταφρονεις τον πλουτον της χρηστοτητος αυτου και της υπομονης και της μακροθυμιας, αγνοων οτι η χρηστοτης του Θεου σε φερει εις μετανοιαν;

⁵ δια δε την σκληροτητα σου και αμετανοητον καρδιαν θησαυριζεις εις σεαυτον οργην εν τη ημερα της οργης και της αποκαλυψεως της δικαιοκρισιας του Θεου,

⁶ οστις θελει αποδωσει εις εκαστον κατα τα εργα αυτου,

⁷ εις μεν τους ζητουντας δι' υπομονης εργου αγαθου, δοξαν και τιμην και αφθαρσιαν ζωην αιωνιον,

⁸ εις δε τους φιλονεικους και απειθουντας μεν εις την αληθειαν, πειθομενους δε εις την αδικιαν θελει εισθαι θυμος και οργη,

⁹ θλιψις και στενοχωρια επι πασαν ψυχην ανθρωπου του εργαζομενου το κακον, Ιουδαιου τε πρωτον και Ελληνος·

¹¹ Και μαλιστα, εξευροντες τον καιρον, οτι ειναι ηδη ωρα να εγερθωμεν εκ του υπνου· διοτι ειναι πλησιεστερα εις ημας η σωτηρια παρ' οτε επιστευσαμεν.

¹² Η νυξ προεχωρησεν, η δε ημερα επλησιασεν· ας απορριψωμεν λοιπον τα εργα του σκοτους και ας ενδυθωμεν τα οπλα του φωτος.

¹³ Ας περιπατησωμεν ευσχημονως ως εν ημερα, μη εις συμποσια και μεθας, μη εις κοιτας και ασελγειας, μη εις εριδα και φθονον·

¹⁴ αλλ' ενδυθητε τον Κυριον Ιησουν Χριστον, και μη φροντιζετε περι της σαρκος εις το να εκτελητε τας επιθυμιας αυτης.

¹ Τον δε ασθενουντα κατα την πιστιν προσδεχεσθε, ουχι εις φιλονεικιας διαλογισμων.

² Αλλος μεν πιστευει οτι δυναται να τρωγη παντα, ο δε ασθενων τρωγει λαχανα.

³ Ο τρωγων ας μη καταφρονη τον μη τρωγοντα, και ο μη τρωγων ας μη κρινη τον τρωγοντα· διοτι ο Θεος προσεδεχθη αυτον.

⁴ Συ τις εισαι οστις κρινεις ξενον δουλον; εις τον ιδιον αυτου κυριον ισταται η πιπτει· θελει ομως σταθη, διοτι ο Θεος ειναι δυνατος να στηση αυτον.

²⁷ Ηκουσατε οτι ερρεθη εις τους αρχαιους, μη μοιχευσης.

²⁸ Εγω ομως σας λεγω οτι πας ο βλεπων γυναικα δια να επιθυμηση αυτην ηδη εμοιχευσεν αυτην εν τη καρδια αυτου.

²⁹ Εαν ο οφθαλμος σου ο δεξιος σε σκανδαλιζη, εκβαλε αυτον και ριψον απο σου· διοτι σε συμφερει να χαθη εν των μελων σου και να μη ριφθη ολον το σωμα σου εις την γεενναν.

³⁰ Και εαν η δεξια σου χειρ σε σκανδαλιζη, εκκοψον αυτην και ριψον απο σου· διοτι σε συμφερει να χαθη εν των μελων σου, και να μη ριφθη ολον το σωμα σου εις την γεενναν.

³¹ Ερρεθη προς τουτοις οτι οστις χωρισθη την γυναικα αυτου, ας δωση εις αυτην διαζυγιον.

³² Εγω ομως σας λεγω οτι οστις χωρισθη την γυναικα αυτου παρεκτος λογου πορνειας, καμνει αυτην να μοιχευηται, και οστις λαβη γυναικα κεχωρισμενην, γινεται μοιχος.

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 Προσεχετε να μη καμνητε την ελεημοσυνην σας εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων δια να βλεπησθε υπ' αυτων· ει δε μη, δεν εχετε μισθον πλησιον του Πατρος σας του εν τοις ουρανοις.

² Οταν λοιπον καμνης ελεημοσυνην, μη σαλπισης εμπροσθεν σου, καθως καμνουσιν οι υποκριται εν ταις συναγωγαις και εν ταις οδοις, δια να δοξασθωσιν υπο των ανθρωπων· αληθως σας λεγω, εχουσιν ηδη τον μισθον αυτων.

³ Οταν δε συ καμνης ελεημοσυνην, ας μη γνωριση η αριστερα σου τι καμνει η δεξια σου,

⁴ δια να ηναι η ελεημοσυνη σου εν τω κρυπτω, και ο Πατηρ σου ο βλεπων εν τω κρυπτω αυτος θελει σοι ανταποδωσει εν τω φανερω.

⁵ Και οταν προσευχησαι, μη εσο ως οι υποκριται, διοτι αγαπωσι να προσευχωνται ισταμενοι εν ταις συναγωγαις και εν ταις γωνιαις των πλατειων, δια να φανωσιν εις τους ανθρωπους· αληθως σας λεγω οτι εχουσιν ηδη τον μισθον αυτων.

⁶ Συ ομως, οταν προσευχησαι, εισελθε εις το ταμειον σου, και κλεισας την θυραν σου προσευχηθητι εις τον Πατερα σου τον εν τω κρυπτω, και ο Πατηρ σου ο βλεπων εν τω κρυπτω θελει σοι ανταποδωσει εν τω φανερω.

⁷ Οταν δε προσευχησθε, μη βαττολογησητε ως οι εθνικοι· διοτι νομιζουσιν οτι με την πολυλογιαν αυτων θελουσιν εισακουσθη.

⁸ Μη ομοιωθητε λοιπον με αυτους· διοτι εξευρει ο Πατηρ σας τινων εχετε χρειαν, πριν σεις ζητησητε παρ' αυτου.

⁹ Ουτω λοιπον προσευχεσθε σεις· Πατερ ημων ο εν τοις ουρανοις· αγιασθητω το ονομα σου·

¹⁰ ελθετω η βασιλεια σου· γενηθητω το θελημα σου, ως εν ουρανω, και επι της γης·

¹¹ τον αρτον ημων τον επιουσιον δος εις ημας σημερον·

¹² και συγχωρησον εις ημας τας αμαρτιας ημων, καθως και ημεις συγχωρουμεν εις τους αμαρτανοντας εις ημας·

¹³ και μη φερης ημας εις πειρασμον, αλλα ελευθερωσον ημας απο του πονηρου. Διοτι σου ειναι η βασιλεια και η δυναμις και η δοξα εις τους αιωνας· αμην.

¹⁴ Διοτι εαν συγχωρησητε εις τους ανθρωπους τα πταισματα αυτων, θελει συγχωρησει και εις εσας ο Πατηρ σας ο ουρανιος·

¹⁵ εαν ομως δεν συγχωρησητε εις τους ανθρωπους τα πταισματα αυτων, ουδε ο Πατηρ σας θελει συγχωρησει τα πταισματα σας.

¹⁶ Και οταν νηστευητε, μη γινεσθε ως οι υποκριται σκυθρωποι· διοτι αφανιζουσι τα προσωπα αυτων, δια να φανωσιν εις τους ανθρωπους οτι νηστευουσιν· αληθως σας λεγω, οτι εχουσιν ηδη τον μισθον αυτων.

¹⁷ Συ ομως οταν νηστευης, αλειψον την κεφαλην σου και νιψον το προσωπον σου,

¹⁸ δια να μη φανης εις τους ανθρωπους οτι νηστευεις, αλλ' εις τον Πατερα σου τον εν τω κρυπτω, και ο Πατηρ σου ο βλεπων εν τω κρυπτω θελει σοι ανταποδωσει εν τω φανερω.

¹⁹ Μη θησαυριζετε εις εαυτους θησαυρους επι της γης, οπου σκωληξ και σκωρια αφανιζει και οπου κλεπται διατρυπουσι και κλεπτουσιν.

²⁰ Αλλα θησαυριζετε εις εαυτους θησαυρους εν ουρανω, οπου ουτε σκωληξ ουτε σκωρια αφανιζει και οπου κλεπται δεν διατρυπουσιν ουδε κλεπτουσιν·

²¹ επειδη οπου ειναι ο θησαυρος σας, εκει θελει εισθαι και η καρδια σας.

²² Ο λυχνος του σωματος ειναι ο οφθαλμος· εαν λοιπον ο οφθαλμος σου ηναι καθαρος, ολον το σωμα σου θελει εισθαι φωτεινον·

²³ εαν ομως ο οφθαλμος σου ηναι πονηρος, ολον το σωμα σου θελει εισθαι σκοτεινον. Εαν λοιπον το φως το εν σοι ηναι σκοτος, το σκοτος ποσον;

²⁴ Ουδεις δυναται δυο κυριους να δουλευη· διοτι η τον ενα θελει μισησει και τον αλλον θελει αγαπησει, η εις τον ενα θελει προσκολληθη και τον αλλον θελει καταφρονησει. Δεν δυνασθε να δουλευητε Θεον και μαμμωνα.

²⁵ Δια τουτο σας λεγω, μη μεριμνατε περι της ζωης σας τι να φαγητε και τι να πιητε, μηδε περι του σωματος σας τι να ενδυθητε· δεν ειναι η ζωη τιμιωτερον της τροφης και το σωμα του ενδυματος;

²⁶ Εμβλεψατε εις τα πετεινα του ουρανου, οτι δεν σπειρουσιν ουδε θεριζουσιν ουδε συναγουσιν εις αποθηκας, και ο Πατηρ σας ο ουρανιος τρεφει αυτα· σεις δεν εισθε πολυ ανωτεροι αυτων;

²⁷ Αλλα τις απο σας μεριμνων δυναται να προσθεση μιαν πηχην εις το αναστημα αυτου;

²⁸ Και περι ενδυματος τι μεριμνατε; Παρατηρησατε τα κρινα του αγρου πως αυξανουσι· δεν κοπιαζουσιν ουδε κλωθουσι.

²⁹ Σας λεγω ομως οτι ουδε ο Σολομων εν παση τη δοξη αυτου ενεδυθη ως εν τουτων.

³⁰ Αλλ' εαν τον χορτον του αγρου, οστις σημερον υπαρχει και αυριον ριπτεται εις κλιβανον, ο Θεος ενδυη ουτω, δεν θελει ενδυσει πολλω μαλλον εσας, ολιγοπιστοι;

³¹ Μη μεριμνησητε λοιπον λεγοντες, Τι να φαγωμεν η τι να πιωμεν η τι να ενδυθωμεν;

³² Διοτι παντα ταυτα ζητουσιν οι εθνικοι· επειδη εξευρει ο Πατηρ σας ο ουρανιος οτι εχετε χρειαν παντων τουτων.

³³ Αλλα ζητειτε πρωτον την βασιλειαν του Θεου και την δικαιοσυνην αυτου, και ταυτα παντα θελουσι σας προστεθη.

³⁴ Μη μεριμνησητε λοιπον περι της αυριον· διοτι η αυριον θελει μεριμνησει τα εαυτης· αρκετον ειναι εις την ημεραν το κακον αυτης.