51“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
         He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
         And has exalted those who were humble.

53“HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
         And sent away the rich empty-handed.

54“He has given help to Israel His servant,
         In remembrance of His mercy,

55As He spoke to our fathers,
         To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

      56And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

John Is Born

      57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

      59And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. 60But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” 61And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” 62And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. 64And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

Zacharias’s Prophecy

      67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
         For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

69And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
         In the house of David His servant—

70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—

71Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES,
         And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US;

72To show mercy toward our fathers,
         And to remember His holy covenant,

73The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
         Might serve Him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

76“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
         For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;

77To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
         By the forgiveness of their sins,

78Because of the tender mercy of our God,
         With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

79TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
         To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

      80And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

NASB ©1995