Luke 1:36 994 994 Luke 1:76
of God . 36 Even Eliz a beth your rel a tive is go ing to have a child in her old age , and she who was said to be un able to con ceive is in her sixth month . 37 For no word from God will ever fail .”
38 “ I am the Lord ’ s ser vant ,” Mary answered . “ May your word to me be ful filled .” Then the an gel left her .
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill coun try of Ju dea , 40 where she en tered Zech a ri ah ’ s home and greeted Elizabeth . 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary ’ s greet ing , the baby leaped in her womb , and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spir it . 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed : “ Blessed are you among wom en , and blessed is the child you will bear ! 43 But why am I so fa vored , that the moth er of my Lord should come to me ? 44 As soon as the sound of your greet ing reached my ears , the baby in my womb leaped for joy . 45 Blessed is she who has be lieved that the Lord would ful fill his prom is es to her !”
Mary ’ s Song 46 And Mary said :
“ My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior , 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant . From now on all generations will call me blessed , 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name .
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him , from generation to generation . 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm ; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts .
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble . 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty .
54 He has helped his servant Israel , remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever , just as he promised our ancestors .”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then re turned home .
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 When it was time for Eliz a beth to have her baby , she gave birth to a son . 58 Her neigh bors and rel a tives heard that the Lord had shown her great mer cy , and they shared her joy .
59 On the eighth day they came to circum cise the child , and they were go ing to name him af ter his fa ther Zech a ri ah , 60 but his moth er spoke up and said , “ No ! He is to be called John .”
61 They said to her , “ There is no one among your rel a tives who has that name .”
62 Then they made signs to his fa ther , to find out what he would like to name the child . 63 He asked for a writ ing tablet , and to ev ery one ’ s as ton ish ment he wrote , “ His name is John .” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free , and he be gan to speak , prais ing God . 65 All the neigh bors were filled with awe , and through out the hill coun try of Judea people were talking about all these things . 66 Ev ery one who heard this wondered about it , ask ing , “ What then is this child go ing to be ?” For the Lord ’ s hand was with him .
Zechariah ’ s Song
67 His fa ther Zech a ri ah was filled with the Holy Spir it and proph e sied :
68 “ Praise be to the Lord , the God of Israel , because he has come to his people and redeemed them . 69 He has raised up a horn a of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70 ( as he said through his holy prophets of long ago ), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us —
72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant , 73 the oath he swore to our father
Abraham : 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies , and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days .
76 And you , my child , will be called a prophet of the Most High ; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him , a 69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king .