耶穌正傳——第二章
SECTION II BETH
第二部分
Birth and Infancy of John, the Harbinger, and of Jesus
耶穌的先驅約翰誕生，他的幼年。耶穌誕生，他的幼年。
CHAPTER 2
第二章
Zacharias and Elizabeth. Prophetic messages of Gabriel to Zacharias, Elizabeth and Mary. Birth of John. Prophecy of Zacharias.
撒迦利亞和以利沙伯。加百列向撒迦利亞、伊利莎白、馬利亞說預言。約翰誕生。撒迦利亞說預言。
NEAR Hebron in the hills of Judah, Zacharias and Elizabeth abode.
1、撒迦利亞和伊利莎白住在猶太山地，靠近希伯崙。
2) They were devout and just, and every day they read the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms which told of one to come, strong to redeem;and they were waiting for the king.
2、他們虔誠、正直，每天閱讀律法書、先知書、詩篇。這些聖書預言將來必有一位大能的救贖者降臨。他們一直等候著這位王的降臨。
3) Now, Zacharias was a priest, and in his turn he led the temple service in Jerusalem.
3、撒迦利亞是一名祭司，按班次在耶路撒冷的聖殿供職。
4) It came to pass as Zacharias stood before the Lord and burned the incense in the Holy Place, that Gabriel came and stood before his face.
4、正逢撒迦利亞立在主前，在聖所焚香時，加百列忽然向他顯現。
5) And Zacharias was afraid;he thought that some great evil was about to come upon the Jews.
5、撒迦利亞驚慌害怕，心想必有大災難要臨到猶太人頭上。
6) But Gabriel said, O man of God, fear not;I bring to you and all the world, a message of good will, and peace on earth.
6、加百列說，屬神的人啊，不要害怕，我給你乃至全天下帶來喜悅和平安的信息。
7) Behold, the Prince of Peace, the king you seek, will quickly come.
7、看哪，平安之君，你所尋求的王，快要來臨。
8) Your wife will bear to you a son, a holy son, of whom the prophet wrote,
8、你妻子將給你生一個兒子，一位聖潔之子。先知曾論到他說，
9) Behold, I send Elijah unto you again before the coming of the Lord;and he will level down the hills and fill the valleys up, and pave the way for him who shall redeem.
9、看哪，在主降臨以先，我將差遣以利亞到你們那裡去。他要剷平高山，填滿溝壑，為救贖主鋪平道路。
10) From the beginning of the age your son has borne the name of John, the mercy of the Lord;his name is John.
10、從世代之初，你兒子就已承受約翰之名，意即主的憐憫。所以，給他取名叫約翰吧。
11) He will be honored in the sight of God, and he will drink no wine, and from his birth he will be filled with Holy Breath.
11、在神的眼中，他將獲得尊榮。他不飲酒，生來就被聖靈充滿了。
12) And Gabriel stood before Elizabeth as she was in the silence of her home, and told her all the words that he had said to Zacharias in Jerusalem.
12、當以利沙伯在家中靜心時，加百列向她顯現，將他在耶路撒冷報給撒迦利亞的信息複述了一遍。
13) When he had done the service of his course, the priest went home, and with Elizabeth rejoiced.
13、職事完成以後，撒迦利亞回到家中，與以利沙伯一同歡樂。
14) Five months passed by and Gabriel came to Mary in her home in Nazareth and said,
14、五個月以後，加百列來到拿撒勒，向馬利亞顯現，對她說，
15) Hail Mary, hail! Once blessed in the name of God;twice blessed in the name of Holy Breath;thrice blessed in the name of Christ;for you are worthy, and will bear a son who shall be called Immanuel.
15、萬福馬利亞，萬福！我奉神的名祝福你，奉聖靈的名祝福你，奉基督的名祝福你，因為你是配得的。你將生一個兒子，人要稱他為以馬內利。
16) His name is Jesus, for he saves his people from their sins.
16、他的名是耶穌，因為他要救自己的百姓出離罪惡。
17) When Joseph's daily task was done he came, and Mary told him all the words that Gabriel spoke to her, and they rejoiced;for they believed that he, the man of God, had spoken words of truth.
17、約瑟完工後來見馬利亞，馬利亞將加百列的話告訴他，二人就一同歡樂，因為他們相信神人所說的話是真的。
18) And Mary went with haste to tell Elizabeth about the promises of Gabriel;together they rejoiced.
18、馬利亞急忙起身，去見以利沙伯，將加百列的預言告訴她，二人就一同歡樂。
19) And in the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth did Mary tarry ninety days;then she returned to Nazareth.
19、馬利亞在撒迦利亞和以利沙伯的家中住了三個月，然後回到了拿撒勒。
20) To Zacharias and Elizabeth a son was born, and Zacharias said,
20、撒迦利亞和以利沙伯的兒子降生了，撒迦利亞說，
21) Most blessed be the name of God, for he has opened up the fount of blessings for his people, Israel.
21、神的名是應當稱頌的，因為他為他的民以色列開了祝福的源泉。
22) His promises are verified;for he has brought to pass the words which holy prophets spoke in olden times.
22、他的應許得到了證實，因為他讓聖先知在古時所說的預言都得到了應驗。
23) And Zacharias looked upon infant John, and said,
23、撒迦利亞注視著約翰，說，
24) You will be called the prophet of the Holy One;and you will go before his face, and will prepare his way.
24、你將被稱為聖者的先知，因為你要走在他的面前，預備他的道路，
25) And you will give a knowledge of salvation unto Israel;and you will preach the gospel of repentance and the blotting out of sins.
25、讓以色列人認識救恩，傳揚悔改赦罪的福音。
26) Behold, for soon the Day Star from on high will visit us, to light the way for those who sit within the darkness of the shadow-land, and guide our feet unto the ways of peace.
26、看哪，高天的晨星要臨到我們，照亮那坐在黑暗中死蔭裡的人，把我們的腳引到平安的路上。