Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. * He has visited his people and redeemed them.

He has raised up for us a mighty saviour * in the house of David his servant,

as he promised by the lips of holy men, * those who were his prophets from of old:

to save us from enemy hands, * from the grip of all who hate us,

to show mercy to our fathers, * and to remember his holy covenant,

the oath he swore to our father Abraham * that he would grant us

that rid of fear and rescued from the enemy, * we might offer him our service,

in holiness and justice before him * all the days of our life.

And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins,

through the tender compassion of our God * as the dawn from on high breaks upon us,

to shine on those sitting in in darkness and the shadow of death, * to guide our feet into the way of peace.