3 “See, I am going to send my messenger,^(A) and he will clear the way before me.^(B) Then the Lord you seek^(C) will suddenly come to his temple,^(D) the Messenger of the covenant you delight in—see, he is coming,” says the Lord of Armies. ² But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears?^(E) For he will be like a refiner’s fire^(F) and like launderer’s bleach.^{[a](G) 3} He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.^(H) Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. ⁴ And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old^(I) and years gone by.

Gabriel Predicts John’s Birth

⁵ In the days of King Herod^(A) of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division^(B) named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ Both were righteous in God’s sight,^(C) living without blame^(D) according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.^(E)

¹¹ An angel of the Lord^(A) appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.^{(B) 12} When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.^{(C) 13} But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,^(D) Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.^(E) Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.^{(F) 14} There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer.^(G) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit^(H) while still in his mother’s womb.^{(I) 16} He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.^{(J) 17} And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children,^(K) and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”^(L)