ISV(i)
35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God.
36 And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month.
37 Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God’s promises.”
38 Then Mary said, “Truly I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you have said happen to me.” Then the angel left her.
39Mary Visits ElizabethLater on, Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country.
40 She went into Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and she loudly exclaimed, “How blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in your womb!
43 Why should this happen to me, to have the mother of my Lord visit me?
44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!”
46Mary’s Song of PraiseThen Mary said, “My soul praises the greatness of the Lord!
47 My spirit exults in God, my Savior,
48 because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed,
49 because the Almighty has done great things for me. His name is holy.
50 His mercy lasts from generation to generation for those who fear him.
51 He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart.
52 He pulled powerful rulers from their thrones and lifted up humble people.
53 He filled hungry people with good things and sent rich people away with nothing.
54 He helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors— to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.
57The Birth of John the BaptistWhen the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said, “Absolutely not! He must be named John.”
61 Their friends told her, “None of your relatives has that name.”
62 So they motioned to the baby’s father to see what he wanted to name him. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And everyone was amazed.
64 Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. 66 Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, “What will this child become?” because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him.
67The Prophecy of ZechariahThen his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! He has taken care of his people and has set them free.
69 He has raised up a mighty Savior for us from the family of his servant David,
70 just as he promised long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets
71 that he would save us from our enemies and from the grip of all who hate us.
72 He has shown mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. He granted us
74 deliverance from our enemies’ grip so that we could serve him without fear
75 and be holy and righteous before him all of our days.
76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way
77 and to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, his light from on high has visited us,
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death’s shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel.
38 Then Mary said, “Truly I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you have said happen to me.” Then the angel left her.
39
46
56 Now Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.
57
59 On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said, “Absolutely not! He must be named John.”
61 Their friends told her, “None of your relatives has that name.”
62 So they motioned to the baby’s father to see what he wanted to name him. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And everyone was amazed.
64 Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. 66 Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, “What will this child become?” because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him.
67
80 Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel.