Luke 1:39-80

39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; 40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth. 41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: 42And she spoke with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45And blessed is she that believed: that there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.1 46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent away empty. 54He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

57Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbours and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60And his mother answered and said, Not so ; but he shall be called John. 61And they said to her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marvelled. 64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God. 65And fear came on all that dwelt around them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.2 66And all they that had heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began: 71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73The oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 74That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,3 78Through the tender mercy of our God; with which the dayspring from on high hath visited us,45 79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing to Israel.