67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, 73 the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, 77 to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit;g and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.