¹⁵ Then he blessed^(A) Joseph and said,

⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful^(A) to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son^(B) to sit on his throne this very day.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea^(A) there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;^(B) his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.^{(C) 7} But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁷ By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,^(A) in holy fear built an ark^(B) to save his family.^(C) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.^(D)