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1:59
On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
1:60
But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
1:61
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
1:62
So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
1:63
Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
1:64
Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
1:65
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
1:66
And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
1:67
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
1:68
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
1:69
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
1:70
as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
1:71
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
1:72
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
1:73
the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
1:74
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
1:75
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
1:76
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
1:77
to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
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because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
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to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
1:80
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.