Part 2

001:024 and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.

001:025 "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."

001:026 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

001:027 to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.

001:028 So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."

001:029 She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.

001:030 But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

001:031 You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.

001:032 He will be great and He will be called `Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;

001:033 and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end."

001:034 "How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"

001:035 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called `the Son of God.'

001:036 And see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

001:037 For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."

001:038 "I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.

001:039 Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.

001:040 Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;

001:041 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

001:042 and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!

001:043 But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

001:044 For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.

001:045 And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."

001:046 Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,

001:047 And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour;

001:048 Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,

001:049 Because the mighty One has done great things for me-- Holy is His name!--

001:050 And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.

001:051 He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.