51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
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52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
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53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
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54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
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55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers." |
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. |
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. |
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. |
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, |
60 but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John." |
61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name." |
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. |
63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John." |
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. |
65 The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. |
66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him. |
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
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68 "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come and has redeemed his people.
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69 He has raised up a horn4 1:69 Horn here symbolizes strength. of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
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70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
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71 salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us--
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72 to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
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73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
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74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
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75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
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76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
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77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
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78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
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79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace." |
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel. |
