MARY’S VISIT TO ELIZABETH

39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.h 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!B 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

MARY’S PRAISE

46 And Mary said:

My soul magnifies the Lord,i

47 and my spirit rejoicesj in God my Savior,k

48 because he has looked with favor

on the humble condition of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations

will call me blessed,l

49 because the Mighty Onem

has done great things for me,n

and his nameo is holy.

50 His mercy is from generation to generationp

on those who fear him.

51 He has done a mighty deed with his arm;q

he has scattered the proud

because of the thoughts of their hearts;r

52 he has toppled the mighty from their thrones

and exalted the lowly.s

53 He has satisfied the hungry with good thingst

and sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering his mercy

55 to Abraham and his descendantsD forever,u

just as he spoke to our ancestors.