Luke 1:5-13

New International Version

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵In 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. ⁶Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.^(C) ⁷But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁸Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,^(D) ⁹he was chosen by lot,^(E) according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.^(F) ¹⁰And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.^(G)

¹¹Then an angel^(H) of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.^(I) ¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.^(J) ¹³But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,^(K) Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.^(L)

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Luke 1:65-80

New International Version

⁶⁵All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea^(A) people were talking about all these things. ⁶⁶Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.^(B)

Zechariah’s Song

⁶⁷His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit^(C) and prophesied:^(D)

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

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