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 Y como á ellos no les pareció tener á Dios en su noticia, Dios los entregó á una mente depravada, para hacer lo que no conviene,

²⁹ Estando atestados de toda iniquidad, de fornicación, de malicia, de avaricia, de maldad; llenos de envidia, de homicidios, de contiendas, de engaños, de malignidades;

³⁰ Murmuradores, detractores, aborrecedores de Dios, injuriosos, soberbios, altivos, inventores de males, desobedientes á los padres,

³¹ Necios, desleales, sin afecto natural, implacables, sin misericordia:

³² Que habiendo entendido el juicio de Dios que los que hacen tales cosas son dignos de muerte, no sólo las hacen, más aún consienten á los que las hacen.

¹ POR lo cual eres inexcusable, oh hombre, cuaquiera que juzgas: porque en lo que juzgas á otro, te condenas á ti mismo; porque lo mismo haces, tú que juzgas.

² Mas sabemos que el juicio de Dios es según verdad contra los que hacen tales cosas.

³ ¿Y piensas esto, oh hombre, que juzgas á los que hacen tales cosas, y haces las mismas, que tú escaparás del juicio de Dios.?

⁴ ¿O menosprecias las riquezas de su benignidad, y fhfifhfi ignorando que su benignidad te guía á arrepentimiento?

⁵ Mas por tu dureza, y por tu corazón no arrepentido, atesoras para ti mismo ira para el día de la ira y de la manifestación del justo juicio de Dios;

⁶ El cual pagará á cada uno conforme á sus obras:

⁷ A los que perseverando en bien hacer, buscan gloria y honra e inmortalidad, la vida eterna.

⁸ Mas á los que son contenciosos, y no obedecen á la verdad, antes obedecen á la injusticia, enojo é ira;

⁹ Tribulación y angustia sobre toda persona humana que obra lo malo, el Judío primeramente, y también el Griego.

¹¹ Y esto, conociendo el tiempo, que es ya hora de levantarnos del sueño; porque ahora nos está más cerca nuestra salud que cuando creímos.

¹² La noche ha pasado, y ha llegado el día: echemos, pues, las obras de las tinieblas, y vistámonos las armas de luz,

¹³ Andemos como de día, honestamente: no en glotonerías y borracheras, no en lechos y disoluciones, no en pedencias y envidia:

¹⁴ Mas vestíos del Señor Jesucristo, y no hagáis caso de la carne en sus deseos.

¹ RECIBID al flaco en la fe, pero no para contiendas de disputas.

² Porque uno cree que se ha de comer de todas cosas: otro que es débil, come legumbres.

³ El que come, no menosprecie al que no come: y el que no come, no juzgue al que come; porque Dios le ha levantado.

⁴ ¿Tú quién eres que juzgas al siervo ajeno? para su señor está en pie, ó cae: mas se afirmará; que poderoso es el Señor para afirmarle.

²⁷ Oísteis que fué dicho: No adulterarás:

²⁸ Mas yo os digo, que cualquiera que mira á una mujer para codiciarla, ya adulteró con ella en su corazón.

²⁹ Por tanto, si tu ojo derecho te fuere ocasión de caer, sácalo, y échalo de ti: que mejor te es que se pierda uno de tus miembros, que no que todo tu cuerpo sea echado al infierno.

³⁰ Y si tu mano derecha te fuere ocasión de caer, córtala, y échala de ti: que mejor te es que se pierda uno de tus miembros, que no que todo tu cuerpo sea echado al infierno.

³¹ También fué dicho: Cualquiera que repudiare á su mujer, déle carta de divorcio:

³² Mas yo os digo, que el que repudiare á su mujer, fuera de causa de fornicación, hace que ella adultere; y el que se casare con la repudiada, comete adulterio.

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 MIRAD que no hagáis vuestra justicia delante de los hombres, para ser vistos de ellos: de otra manera no tendréis merced de vuestro Padre que está en los cielos.

² Cuando pues haces limosna, no hagas tocar trompeta delante de ti, como hacen los hipócritas en las sinagogas y en las plazas, para ser estimados de los hombres: de cierto os digo, que ya tienen su recompensa.

³ Mas cuando tú haces limosna, no sepa tu izquierda lo que hace tu derecha;

⁴ Para que sea tu limosna en secreto: y tu Padre que ve en secreto, él te recompensará en público.

⁵ Y cuando oras, no seas como los hipócritas; porque ellos aman el orar en las sinagogas, y en los cantones de las calles en pie, para ser vistos de los hombres: de cierto os digo, que ya tienen su pago.

⁶ Mas tú, cuando oras, éntrate en tu cámara, y cerrada tu puerta, ora á tu Padre que está en secreto; y tu Padre que ve en secreto, te recompensará en público.

⁷ Y orando, no seáis prolijos, como los Gentiles; que piensan que por su parlería serán oídos.

⁸ No os hagáis, pues, semejantes á ellos; porque vuestro Padre sabe de qué cosas tenéis necesidad, antes que vosotros le pidáis.

⁹ Vosotros pues, oraréis así: Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos, santificado sea tu nombre.

¹⁰ Venga tu reino. Sea hecha tu voluntad, como en el cielo, así también en la tierra.

¹¹ Danos hoy nuestro pan cotidiano.

¹² Y perdónanos nuestras deudas, como también nosotros perdonamos á nuestros deudores.

¹³ Y no nos metas en tentación, mas líbranos del mal: porque tuyo es el reino, y el poder, y la gloria, por todos los siglos. Amén.

¹⁴ Porque si perdonareis á los hombres sus ofensas, os perdonará también á vosotros vuestro Padre celestial.

¹⁵ Mas si no perdonareis á los hombres sus ofensas, tampoco vuestro Padre os perdonará vuestras ofensas.

¹⁶ Y cuando ayunáis, no seáis como los hipócritas, austeros; porque ellos demudan sus rostros para parecer á los hombres que ayunan: de cierto os digo, que ya tienen su pago.

¹⁷ Mas tú, cuando ayunas, unge tu cabeza y lava tu rostro;

¹⁸ Para no parecer á los hombres que ayunas, sino á tu Padre que está en secreto: y tu Padre que ve en secreto, te recompensará en público.

¹⁹ No os hagáis tesoros en la tierra, donde la polilla y el orín corrompe, y donde ladronas minan y hurtan;

²⁰ Mas haceos tesoros en el cielo, donde ni polilla ni orín corrompe, y donde ladrones no minan ni hurtan:

²¹ Porque donde estuviere vuestro tesoro, allí estará vuestro corazón.

²² La lámpara del cuerpo es el ojo: así que, si tu ojo fuere sincero, todo tu cuerpo será luminoso:

²³ Mas si tu ojo fuere malo, todo tu cuerpo será tenebroso. Así que, si la lumbre que en ti hay son tinieblas, ¿cuántas serán las mismas tinieblas?

²⁴ Ninguno puede servir á dos señores; porque ó aborrecerá al uno y amará al otro, ó se llegará al uno y menospreciará al otro: no podéis servir á Dios y á Mammón.

²⁵ Por tanto os digo: No os congojéis por vuestra vida, qué habéis de comer, ó que habéis de beber; ni por vuestro cuerpo, qué habéis de vestir: ¿no es la vida más que el alimento, y el cuerpo que el vestido?

²⁶ Mirad las aves del cielo, que no siembran, ni siegan, ni allegan en alfolíes; y vuestro Padre celestial las alimenta. ¿No sois vosotros mucho mejores que ellas?.

²⁷ Mas ¿quién de vosotros podrá, congojándose, añadir á su estatura un codo?

²⁸ Y por el vestido ¿por qué os congojáis? Reparad los lirios del campo, cómo crecen; no trabajan ni hilan;

²⁹ Mas os digo, que ni aun Salomón con toda su gloria fué vestido así como uno de ellos.

³⁰ Y si la hierba del campo que hoy es, y mañana es echada en el horno, Dios la viste así, ¿no hará mucho más á vosotros, hombres de poca fe?

³¹ No os congojéis pues, diciendo: ¿Qué comeremos, ó qué beberemos, ó con qué nos cubriremos?

³² Porque los Gentiles buscan todas estas cosas: que vuestro Padre celestial sabe que de todas estas cosas habéis menester.

³³ Mas buscad primeramente el reino de Dios y su justicia, y todas estas cosas os serán añadidas.

³⁴ Así que, no os congojéis por el día de mañana; que el día de mañana traerá su fatiga: basta al día su afán.