Luke 1:57-79

⁵⁷When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.

⁶⁰But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”

⁶¹They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”

⁶²So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.

⁶³Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

⁶⁴Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

⁶⁵All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.

⁶⁶And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

⁶⁷Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

because He has visited and redeemed His people.

⁶⁹He has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of His servant David,

⁷⁰as He spoke through His holy prophets,

those of ages past,

⁷¹salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us,

⁷²to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember His holy covenant,

⁷³the oath He swore to our father Abraham,

to grant us

⁷⁴deliverance from hostile hands,

that we may serve Him without fear,

⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before Him

all the days of our lives.

⁷⁶And you, child, will be called

a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord

to prepare the way for Him,

⁷⁷to give to His people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,

⁷⁹to shine on those who live in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet

into the path of peace.”