Give ear, ye islands, and hearken, ye people from afar. The Lord hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother he hath been mindful of my name.2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword: in the shadow of his hand he hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow: in his quiver he hath hidden me.3 And he said to me: Thou art my servant Israel, for in thee will I glory.5 And now saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be his servant, that I may bring back Jacob unto him, and Israel will not be gathered together: and I am glorified in the eyes of the Lord, and my God is made my strength.6 And he said: It is a small thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to convert the dregs of Israel. Behold, I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayst be my salvation even to the farthest part of the earth.7 Thus saith the Lord the redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to the soul that is despised, to the nation that is abhorred, to the servant of rulers: Kings shall see, and princes shall rise up, and adore for the Lord’s sake, because he is faithful, and for the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee.
Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.58 And her neighbours and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name Zachary.60 And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.61 And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.63 And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.64 And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.†65 And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.66 And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.67 And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
(non occ.) Zacharias is by interpretation “remembering God,” but John signifies “pointing to.” Now “memory” relates to something absent, “pointing to,” to something present. But John was not about to set forth the memory of God as absent, but with his finger to point him out as present, saying, Behold the Lamb of God.
Now Zacharias being filled with the Holy Spirit utters two prophecies, the first relating to Christ, the second to John. And this is plainly proved by those words in which he speaks of the Saviour as present and already going about in the world, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited, &c.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)