The Amplified Bible

Amplified Bible. Luke 1:64-80 [64]And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing and praising and thanking God. [65]And awe and reverential fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. [66]And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Whatever will this little boy be then? For the hand of the Lord was [so evidently] with him [protecting and aiding him]. [67]Now Zachariah his father was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, [68]Blessed (praised and extolled and thanked) be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and brought deliverance and redemption to His people! [69]And He has raised up a Horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Helper, the Author of salvation] for us in the house of David His servant– [70]This is as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times [in the memory of man]– [71]That we should have deliverance and be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who detest and pursue us with hatred; [72]To make true and show the mercy and compassion and kindness [promised] to our forefathers and to remember and carry out His holy covenant [to bless, which is all the more sacred because it is made by God Himself], [73]That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham: [74]To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly [75]In holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness [in accordance with the everlasting principles of right] within His presence all the days of our lives. [76]And you, little one, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go on before the face of the Lord to make ready His ways, [Isa. 40:3; Mal. 4:5.] [77]To bring and give the knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness and remission of their sins. [78]Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us] [Mal. 4:2.] [79]To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace. [Isa. 9:2.] [80]And the little boy grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the deserts (wilderness) until the day of his appearing to Israel [the commencement of his public ministry].