Luke 1:67–79

Zechariah Praises God

⁶⁷Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸“Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel,

because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom.

⁶⁹He has given us a powerful Savior

from the family of God’s servant David.

⁷⁰He said that he would do this

through his holy prophets who lived long ago:

⁷¹He promised he would save us from our enemies

and from the power of all those who hate us.

⁷²He said he would give mercy to our ancestors

and that he would remember his holy promise.

⁷³God promised Abraham, our father,

⁷⁴that he would save us from the power of our enemies

so we could serve him without fear,

⁷⁵being holy and good before God as long as we live.

⁷⁶“Now you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.

You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

⁷⁷You will make his people know that they will be saved

by having their sins forgiven.

⁷⁸With the loving mercy of our God,

a new day from heaven will dawn upon us.

⁷⁹It will shine on those who live in darkness,

in the shadow of death.

It will guide us into the path of peace.”