50. His mercy extends to those who fear him,from generation to generation.
51. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52. He has brought down rulers from their thronesbut has lifted up the humble.
53. He has filled the hungry with good thingsbut has sent the rich away empty.
54. He has helped his servant Israel,remembering to be merciful
55. to Abraham and his descendants for ever,just as he promised our ancestors.’
56. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57. When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
58. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,
60. but his mother spoke up and said, ‘No! He is to be called John.’
61. They said to her, ‘There is no one among your relatives who has that name.’
62. Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
63. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’
64. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
65. All the neighbours were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
66. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.
67. His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68. ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69. He has raised up a horn of salvation for usin the house of his servant David