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{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 showed 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 showing unto Israel.
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