37 For
a with God nothing will be impossible.”
‡
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste,
a to a city of Judah,
‡
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was
a filled with the Holy Spirit.
‡
42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,
a “Blessed
are you among women, and blessed
is the fruit of your womb!
‡
43 But why
is this
granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 a Blessed
is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
‡
The Song of Mary
46 And Mary said:
a “My soul
1 magnifies the Lord,
‡
47 And my spirit has
a rejoiced in
b God my Savior.
‡
48 For
a He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth
b all generations will call me blessed.
‡
49 For He who is mighty
a has done great things for me,
And
b holy
is His name.
‡
50 And
a His mercy
is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
‡
51 a He has shown strength with His arm;
b He has scattered
the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
‡
52 a He has put down the mighty from
their thrones,
And exalted
the lowly.
‡
53 He has
a filled
the hungry with good things,
And
the rich He has sent away empty.
‡
54 He has helped His
a servant Israel,
b In remembrance of
His mercy,
‡
55 a As He spoke to our
b fathers,
To Abraham and to his
c seed forever.”
‡
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.
58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they
a rejoiced with her.
‡
Circumcision of John the Baptist
59 So it was,
a on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
‡
60 His mother answered and said,
a “No; he shall be called John.”
‡
61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue
loosed, and he spoke, praising God.
65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.