The Life of Jesus

to a virgin engaged to a man named Yosef, of the house of David; the virgin's name was Miryam.

Approaching her, the angel said, "Shalom, favored lady! ADONAI is with you!"

She was deeply troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favor with God.

Look! You will become pregnant, you will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua.

He will be great, he will be called Son of Ha`Elyon. ADONAI, God, will give him the throne of his forefather David;

and he will rule the House of Ya`akov forever -- there will be no end to his Kingdom."

"How can this be," asked Miryam of the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered her, "The Ruach HaKodesh will come over you, the power of Ha`Elyon will cover you. Therefore the holy child born to you will be called the Son of God.

"You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant!

For with God, nothing is impossible."

Miryam said, "I am the servant of ADONAI; may it happen to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y'hudah

where Z'kharyah lived, entered his house and greeted Elisheva.

When Elisheva heard Miryam's greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh

and spoke up in a loud voice, "How blessed are you among women! And how blessed is the child in your womb!

"But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!

Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise ADONAI has made to you will be fulfilled."

Then Miryam said, "My soul magnifies ADONAI;

and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,

who has taken notice of his servant-girl in her humble position.b For -- imagine it! -- from now on, all generations will call me blessed!

"The Mighty One has done great things for me! Indeed, his name is holy;

and in every generation he has mercy on those who fear him.c

"He has performed mighty deeds with his arm, routed the secretly proud,