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39 And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.

41 And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

42 And she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43 And why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45 And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

46 And Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

48 For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His name.

50 And His mercy is on them that fear Him, from generation to generation.

51 He hath shown strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.

54 He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.”

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

58 And her neighbors and her kindred heard how the Lord had shown 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 But 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 tablet and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And they marveled all.

64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke and praised God.

65 And fear came on all who dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.

66 And all those who 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 a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.

70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who 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 swore 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 until the day of his appearing unto Israel.

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