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.
66. And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Whatever will this little boy be then? For the hand of the Lord was [so evidently] with him [protecting and aiding him].
67. Now Zachariah his father was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68. Blessed (praised and extolled and thanked) be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and brought deliverance and redemption to His people!
69. And He has raised up a Horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Helper, the Author of salvation] for us in the house of David His servant–
70. This is as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times [in the memory of man]–
71. That we should have deliverance and be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who detest and pursue us with hatred;
72. To make true and show the mercy and compassion and kindness [promised] to our forefathers and to remember and carry out His holy covenant [to bless, which is all the more sacred because it is made by God Himself],
73. That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:
74. To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly
75. In holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness [in accordance with the everlasting principles of right] within His presence all the days of our lives.
76. And you, little one, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the face of the Lord to make ready His ways, [Isa. 40:3; Mal. 4:5.]
77. To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins.
78. Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us] [Mal. 4:2.]