45. And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord.
46. And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord,
47. And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48. For He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations [of all ages] will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied!
49. For He Who is almighty has done great things for me–and holy is His name [to be venerated in His purity, majesty and glory]!
50. And His mercy (His compassion and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted) is on those who fear Him with godly reverence, from generation to generation and age to age. [Ps. 103:17.]
51. He has shown strength and made might with His arm; He has scattered the proud and haughty in and by the imagination and purpose and designs of their hearts.
52. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree.
53. He has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed [without a gift].
54. He has laid hold on His servant Israel [to help him, to espouse his cause], in remembrance of His mercy,
55. Even as He promised to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. [Gen. 17:7; 18:18; 22:17; I Sam. 2:1-10; Mic. 7:20.]
56. And Mary remained with her [Elizabeth] for about three months and [then] returned to her [own] home.
57. Now the time that Elizabeth should be delivered came, and she gave birth to a son.
58. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy on her, and they rejoiced with her.
59. And it occurred that on the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were intending to call him Zachariah after his father, [Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3.]
60. But his mother answered, Not so! But he shall be called John.
61. And they said to her, None of your relatives is called by that name.
62. And they inquired with signs to his father [as to] what he wanted to have him called.
63. Then Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished.
64. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing and praising and thanking God.
65. And awe and reverential fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.