43. Why has this good thing happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
44. When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.
45. You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen.”
46. Then Mary said,“My soul praises the Lord;
47. my heart rejoices in God my Savior,
48. because he has shown his concern for his humble servant girl.From now on, all people will say that I am blessed,
49. because the Powerful One has done great things for me.His name is holy.
50. God will show his mercy forever and everto those who worship and serve him.
51. He has done mighty deeds by his power.He has scattered the people who are proudand think great things about themselves.
52. He has brought down rulers from their thronesand raised up the humble.
53. He has filled the hungry with good thingsand sent the rich away with nothing.
54. He has helped his servant, the people of Israel,remembering to show them mercy
55. as he promised to our ancestors,to Abraham and to his children forever.”
56. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57. When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy.
58. Her neighbors and relatives heard how good the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59. When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father’s name,
60. but his mother said, “No! He will be named John.”