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.
39
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,
40
and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
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And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
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Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
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But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
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For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
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Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."
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And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,
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And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
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For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
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For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
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And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
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He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
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He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
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He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.
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He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
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As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."
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And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
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Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.
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When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
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So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
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His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."
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But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
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So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called.
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And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." So they all marveled.
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Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.
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Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.
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And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.
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Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
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"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,