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Zechariah Praises God

67 Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 “·Let us praise [L Blessed be] the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has ·come to help his people and has given them freedom [L visited and accomplished redemption for his people].
69 He has ·given us a powerful Savior [L raised up a horn of salvation for us; C referring to the horn of a powerful animal—a metaphor for strength; 1 Sam. 2:1, 10; Ps. 132:17; Ezek. 29:21]
    ·from the family [L in the house] of God’s servant David.
70 [L …just as] He said that he would do this
    through [L the mouth of] his holy prophets who lived long ago:
71 He promised he would save us from our enemies
    and from the ·power [L hand; C indicating controlling power or oppression] of all those who hate us.
72 He said he would give mercy to our ·ancestors [forefathers]
    and that he would remember his holy ·promise [covenant].
73 ·God promised [L The oath that he swore to] Abraham, our father [Gen. 22:16–18],
74     that he would ·save [rescue] us from the ·power [hand; v. 71] of our enemies
    so we could serve him without fear,
75 being holy and ·good [righteous] before God as long as we live.
76 “Now you, child, will be called ·a [or the] prophet of the Most High God.
    [L For] You will go before the Lord to prepare his ·way [or paths; Mal. 3:1].
77 You will ·make his people know that they will be saved [L give his people the knowledge of salvation]
    by having their sins forgiven [Jer. 31:34].
78 ·With [or Because of] the ·loving [tender] mercy of our God,
    ·a new day from heaven will dawn upon us [L the sunrise/dawn from heaven will visit us; C a metaphor for the Messiah; Mal. 4:2].
79 It will shine on those who ·live [dwell; sit] in darkness,
    in the shadow of death [Is. 9:2].
It will guide ·us [L our feet] into the path of peace [Is. 59:8].”

80 And so the child grew up and became strong ·in spirit [or in the Spirit]. John lived in the ·desert [wilderness] until the time when he ·came out to preach [appeared; was revealed] to Israel.

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Zechariah’s Song

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit(A) and prophesied:(B)

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(C)
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.(D)
69 He has raised up a horn[a](E) of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David(F)
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),(G)
71 salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors(H)
    and to remember his holy covenant,(I)
73     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:(J)
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him(K) without fear(L)
75     in holiness and righteousness(M) before him all our days.

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet(N) of the Most High;(O)
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,(P)
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,(Q)
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun(R) will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,(S)
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”(T)

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit[b];(U) and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king.
  2. Luke 1:80 Or in the Spirit