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In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The same was in the beginning with God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

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

And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

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

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

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

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

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

And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Now Elisabeth"s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

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

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.