51. He has shown strength with His arm;He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52. He has pulled down the mighty from their thronesand exalted those of low degree.
53. He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich He has sent away empty.
54. He has helped His servant Israel,in remembrance of His mercy,
55. as He spoke to our fathers,to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56. Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her own house.
57. Now Elizabeth’s time had come to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.
58. Her neighbors and cousins heard how the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they were calling him Zechariah, after the name of his father.
60. But his mother answered, “Not so! He shall be called John.”
61. They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62. They made signs to his father, asking what he would have him called.
63. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all were amazed.
64. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke and praised God.
65. Fear came on all who lived around them. And all these facts were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66. All those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will he be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.