The Life of Jesus

He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.

The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy

(As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they 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 Zacharias, after the name of his father.

And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

And 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. And they marvelled all.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God.

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.

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.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

Blessedbethe Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,

And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David

(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),

Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;

The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,

To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

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;