New Revised Standard NRS
New International Version NIV
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
57
When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
58
Her neighbors 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 Zechariah after his father.
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 said, "No; he is to be called John."
60
but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name."
61
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him.
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 wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed.
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 freed, and he began to speak, praising God.
64
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.
65
All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
66 All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
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 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
67
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
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 mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David,
69
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
70
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
71
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,
72
to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us
73
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
74
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
75
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
76
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
77
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
78
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
79
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
80
And the child grew and became strong in spirit ; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.