| 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 1tender mercy of our God, |
| 2Whereby the dayspring from on high 3shall 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
1 Or, heart of mercy.
2 Or, Wherein.
3 Many ancient authorities read hath visited us.
a Dwell on this summary statement as to John's retired life in the wild regions of Judea, whence he will come forth thirty years later.
§ 9. THE ANNUNCIATION TO JOSEPH OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Nazareth
Matt. 1:18-25
18 Now the 1birth 2of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the 3Holy Ghost. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is 4conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,