Old/New Testament
57 Elizabeth’s time came to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And when it was the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and were calling him by the name Zacharias, after his father. 60 However his mother spoke and said, Not so, but he shall be called John. 61 And they said to her, There is no one in your family called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for writing tablets and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they all marvelled. 64 And Zacharias’ mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue also, and he spoke, lauding God.
65 And awe came on all those who dwelt near to them. And also these stories were spread abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea, 66 and everyone who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child will this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. 69 And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 just as he promised by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began: 71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us, 72 to fulfil the mercy promised to our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, 73 and to perform the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, 74 to give us, so that we, delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear all the days of our life, 75 in such holiness and righteousness as are accepted before him.
76 And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest. For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 and to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us, 79 to give light to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was out in the wilderness till the day came when he was to show himself to the Israelites.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.