⁹ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have gone far enough, princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression^(A) and do what is just and right.^(B) Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. ¹⁰ You are to use accurate scales,^(C) an accurate ephah^[a](D) and an accurate bath.^[b]

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you,^(A) and the power of the Most High^(B) will overshadow you. So the holy one^(C) to be born will be called^[a] the Son of God.^{(D) 36} Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child^(E) in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”^(F)

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,^{(G) 40} where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.^{(H) 42} In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women,^(I) and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord^(J) should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”