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.

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

THE BIRTH AND NAMING OF JOHN

57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy,v and they rejoiced with her.

59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day,w they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”x

61 Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his fathery to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was openedz and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about himaa took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

ZECHARIAH’S PROPHECY

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spiritab and prophesied:ac

68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,ad

because he has visited

and provided redemption for his people.ae

69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for usaf

in the house of his servant David,a

70 just as he spoke by the mouth

of his holy prophets in ancient times;b

71 salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of those who hate us.

72 He has dealt mercifully with our ancestorsc

and remembered his holy covenantd—

73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham.e

He has given us the privilege,

74 since we have been rescued

from the hand of our enemies,

to serve him without fear

75 in holiness and righteousness

in his presence all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called

a prophet of the Most High,f

for you will go before the Lord

to prepare his ways,g

77 to give his people knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins.h

78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,

the dawn from on highi will visit us

79 to shine on those who live in darkness

and the shadow of death,j

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 The child grew up and became strong in spirit,k and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.