49. because the Powerful One has done great things for me.His name is holy.
50. God will always give mercyto those who worship him.
51. God’s arm is strong.He scatters the people who are proudand think great things about themselves.
52. God brings down rulers from their thrones,and he raises up the humble.
53. God fills the hungry with good things,but he sends the rich away with nothing.
54. God has helped his people Israel who serve him.He gave them his mercy.
55. God has done what he promised to our ancestors,to Abraham and to his children forever.”
56. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57. When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy.
58. Her neighbors and relatives heard how good the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced.
59. When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father’s name.
60. But his mother said, “No! He will be named John.”
61. The people said to Elizabeth, “But no one in your family has this name!”
62. Then they made signs to his father, “What would you like to name him?”
63. Zechariah asked for something to write on. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised.
64. Then Zechariah could talk again. He began to praise God.
65. And all their neighbors became alarmed. In all the mountains of Judea people continued talking about all these things.
66. The people who heard about these things wondered about them. They thought, “What will this child be?” They said this because the Lord was with him.
67. Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He told the people what would happen:
68. “Let us thank the Lord, the God of Israel.God has come to help his people and has given them freedom.
69. God has given us a powerful Saviorfrom the family of God’s servant David.