New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
57 When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.
57
When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone 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 eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted 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 Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”
60
but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.”
61
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him.
62
Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.”
63
He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.
64
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills.
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 about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.
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 gave this prophecy:
67
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.
68
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,
69
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
70 just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.
70
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.
71
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—
72
to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.
73
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God 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 for as long as we live.
75
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
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 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
77
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to 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, and to guide us to 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 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
80
And the child grew and became strong in spirit ; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
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Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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.