Book of Common Prayer

¹¹ God's loving kindness has come. It is through that blessing that all men are saved.

¹² It teaches us to say no to the things that are not true of God, and to the things of this world. It teaches us to use good sense, to do what is right, and to please God while we live in this world.

¹³ All this is while we wait and hope to see the one who brings blessing. We are waiting for our great God to come in Jesus Christ. He is the One who will save us. He is wonderful!

¹⁴ Christ gave himself for us so that he might make us free from all that is wrong. He gave himself to make us into clean people who belong to him and want to do good.

¹⁵ Talk about these things. Tell people they must do them. And use all your power to stop people if they are doing wrong. Do not let anyone despise you.

3 Tell the people again to obey their rulers and governments, and to do what they tell them to do. Tell them to be ready to do any honest work.

² They must not say wrong things about anyone. They must not quarrel. They must be kind and polite to everyone.

³ There was a time when we ourselves did not have understanding. We did not obey God. We were fooled by people. We did many wrong things we wanted to do. We did what we pleased. We lived our days in planning to do wrong things and wanting what other people had. People hated us, and we hated each other.

⁴ God who saves us showed how kind and good he is.

⁵ We were not saved by any good things we did ourselves, but he saved us because he is so kind. He washed us clean. We were born again as a new person. The Holy Spirit has made us new.

⁶ God is rich. And he gave the Holy Spirit to us because of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

⁷ He did this so that we can be put right with God, by his kindness. He did this so that we can become his children. So now we can look forward to everlasting life.

⁸ These are true words. And I want you to tell the people these things. Then those who have believed God will try to do good things. These things are right and help people.

³⁹ At that time, Mary got ready and went as quickly as she could to the hill country. She went to a town in Judah.

⁴⁰ She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her moved. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She said in a loud voice, `God has made you happy and blessed you more than all other women. He has blessed your baby.

⁴³ Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ Listen! When I heard your greeting, the baby inside me moved because he was glad.

⁴⁵ She who has believed what was told her is blessed. What the Lord said to her will come true.'

⁴⁶ Mary said, `My heart is praising the Lord.

⁴⁷ And my spirit is happy because God has saved me.

⁴⁸ He has remembered his servant even though she is not a great person. From now on all people of all times will say God has blessed me.

⁴⁸ He has remembered his servant even though she is not a great person. From now on all people of all times will say God has blessed me.

⁴⁹ He who has all power has done a big work for me. His name is holy.

⁵⁰ `He is kind to people of all times who respect him.

⁵¹ He has shown how strong he is with his arm. He has taken away people who were proud in their hearts.

⁵² He has moved big rulers from power, and those that were not great he has made great.

⁵³ He has given hungry people good things to eat, and sent away the rich people with nothing.

⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel.

⁵⁵ He has remembered to be kind just as he said to our fathers of long ago. He promised to be kind to Abraham and his children's children for ever.'

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Then she went home.