Zacharias Prophesies of John’s Ministry

67 Now his father Zacharias pwas filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed qis the Lord God of Israel,

For rHe has visited and redeemed His people,

69 sAnd has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of His servant David,

70 tAs He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,

Who have been usince the world began,

71 That we should be saved from our enemies

And from the hand of all who hate us,

72 vTo perform the mercy promised to our fathers

And to remember His holy covenant,

73 wThe oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

74 To grant us that we,

Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

Might xserve Him without fear,

75 yIn holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

76 “And you, child, will be called the zprophet of the Highest;

For ayou will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

77 To give bknowledge of salvation to His people

By the remission of their sins,

78 Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the 1Dayspring from on high 2has visited us;

79 cTo give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To dguide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 So ethe child grew and became strong in spirit, and fwas in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.