67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.
69For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,
71that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant—
73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants
74that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,may serve him without fear,
75in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.
76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
78Because of our God’s tender mercy, the dawn will break upon us from on high
79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel.
1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. 2This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3Everyone went to his own town to be registered. 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: 11Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”
15When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. 17When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, 18and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. 19But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. 20So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.