Luke 1:39-80

39Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea),

40and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him.

42And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?

44For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

45And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”

46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies and exalts the Lord,

47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48For He has looked [with loving care] on the humble state of His maidservant; For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed and happy and favored by God!

49For He who is mighty has done great things for me; And holy is His name [to be worshiped in His purity, majesty, and glory].

50And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him.

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

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

53He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent the rich away empty-handed.

54He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

55Just as He promised to our fathers, To Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

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

57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.

58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.

59It happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child [as required by the Law], and they intended to name him Zacharias, after his father;

60but his mother answered, “No indeed; instead he will be called John.”

61And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by that name.”

62Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.

63And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.

64At once Zacharias’ mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking, praising and blessing and thanking God.

65Then fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.

66All who heard these things kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this little boy turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him [to bring about his birth].

67Now Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him, and he prophesied, saying,

68“Blessed (praised, glorified) be the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He has visited us and brought redemption to His people,

69And He has raised up a horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Savior] for us In the house of David His servant—

70Just as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times—

71Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;

72To show mercy [as He promised] to our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant [the promised blessing],

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 [being set apart] and righteousness [being upright] before Him all our days.

76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord (the Messiah) to prepare His ways;

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

78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawn and visit us,

79To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”

80The 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 [as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah].