Luke 1:62-80

Good News Translation

⁶²Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have.

⁶³Zechariah asked for a writing pad and wrote, “His name is John.” How surprised they all were! ⁶⁴At that moment Zechariah was able to speak again, and he started praising God. ⁶⁵The neighbors were all filled with fear, and the news about these things spread through all the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶Everyone who heard of it thought about it and asked, “What is this child going to be?” For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon him.

Zechariah's Prophecy

⁶⁷John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message:

⁶⁸“Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
    He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.
⁶⁹He has provided for us a mighty Savior,
    a descendant of his servant David.
⁷⁰He promised through his holy prophets long ago
⁷¹    that he would save us from our enemies,
    from the power of all those who hate us.
⁷²He said he would show mercy to our ancestors
    and remember his sacred covenant.
^73-74With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham
    he promised to rescue us from our enemies
    and allow us to serve him without fear,
⁷⁵so that we might be holy and righteous before him
    all the days of our life.

⁷⁶^(A)“You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go ahead of the Lord
    to prepare his road for him,
⁷⁷to tell his people that they will be saved
    by having their sins forgiven.
⁷⁸Our God is merciful and tender.
He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us
⁷⁹    ^(B)and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death,
    to guide our steps into the path of peace.”