Zechariah’s Praise and Prediction

1:67 Then206 his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,207

1:68 “Blessed208 be the Lord God of Israel,

because he has come to help209 and has redeemed210 his people.

1:69 For211 he has raised up212 a horn of salvation213 for us in the house of his servant David,214

1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,215

1:71 that we should be saved216 from our enemies,217

and from the hand of all who hate us.

1:72 He has done this218 to show mercy219 to our ancestors,220

and to remember his holy covenant221—

1:73 the oath222 that he swore to our ancestor223 Abraham.

This oath grants224

1:74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our225 enemies,

may serve him without fear,226

1:75 in holiness and righteousness227 before him for as long as we live.228

1:76 And you, child,229 will be called the prophet230 of the Most High.231

For you will go before232 the Lord to prepare his ways,233

1:77 to give his people knowledge of salvation234 through the forgiveness235 of their sins.

1:78 Because of236 our God’s tender mercy237

the dawn238 will break239 upon us from on high

1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,240

to guide our feet into the way241 of peace.”

1:80 And the child kept growing242 and becoming strong243 in spirit, and he was in the wilderness244 until the day he was revealed245 to Israel.