²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”^[a](A)

³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

¹⁹ He said, “Do not fear, greatly beloved; you are safe. Be strong and courageous!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”^(A)

¹² The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.”^(A)

⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

²¹ while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen before in a vision, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.^{(A) 22} He came^[a] and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come out to give you wisdom and understanding. ²³ At the beginning of your supplications a word went out, and I have come to declare it, for you are greatly beloved. So consider the word and understand the vision:^(B)

¹⁰ for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.”^(A)

True Blessedness

²⁷ While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!”^{(A) 28} But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”^(B)

⁴² and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.^(A)