57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. |
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. |
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. |
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. |
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. |
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. |
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. |
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. |
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. |
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. |
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, |
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, |
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; |
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: |
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; |
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; |
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, |
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, |
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. |
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; |
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, |
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, |
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. |
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. |