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

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.

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

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

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

But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

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

One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

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

he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

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

And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

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

Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

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

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

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.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

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

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

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.

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.