57 Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; 58 and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her; and they 59 rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him 60 Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered 61 and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto 62 her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And 63 they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. 64 And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and 65 his tongue _loosed_, and he spake, blessing God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised 66 abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed _be_ the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people [_see Ps. 72:18; 111:9_], 69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David [_see 1 Sam. 2:10; Ps. 18:3_] 70 (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began), 71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us [_see Ps. 106:10_]; 72 To shew mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father [_see Gen. 17:7; Lev. 26:42; Ps. 105:8; Mic. 7:20_], 74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways [_see Mal. 3:1_]; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins, 78 Because of the [1]tender mercy of our God, [2]Whereby the dayspring from on high [3]shall visit us [_see Mal. 4:2_], 79 To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace [_see Isa. 8:22; 9:2_]. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.[a] [Footnote 1: Or, _heart of mercy_.] [Footnote 2: Or, _Wherein_.] [Footnote 3: Many ancient authorities read _hath visited us_.]