Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to 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 how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced with her.
58
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 When the baby was a week old, they came to circumcise him, 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! His name is to be John."
60
but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, "But you don't have any relative with that name!"
61
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, asking him what name he would like the boy to have.
62
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing pad and wrote, "His name is John." How surprised they all were!
63
He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
64 At that moment Zechariah was able to speak again, and he started praising God.
64
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 The neighbors were all filled with fear, and the news about these things spread through all the 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 Everyone who heard of it thought about it and asked, "What is this child going to be?" For it was plain that the Lord's power was upon 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 John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message:
67
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 "Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.
68
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has provided for us a mighty Savior, a descendant of his servant David.
69
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70 He promised through his holy prophets long ago
70
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 that he would save us from our enemies, from the power of all those who hate us.
71
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 He said he would show mercy to our ancestors and remember his sacred covenant.
72
to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
73 With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham he promised to rescue us from our enemies and allow us to serve him without fear,
73
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
75 so that we might be holy and righteous before him all the days of our life.
75
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 "You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his road for him,
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 tell his people that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.
77
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us
78
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death, to guide our steps into the path 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 developed in body and spirit. He lived in the desert until the day when he appeared publicly to the people of Israel.
80
And the child grew and became strong in spirit ; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
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.