Lucas 1

Zechariah praised God and predicted what his son would do.

67 After Zechariah’s son was born, Zechariah was completely directed by the Holy Spirit {the Holy Spirit completely directed Zechariah} as he spoke these words that came from God:

68 "Praise the Lord, the God whom we(inc) people of Israel worship,

because he has come to set us, his people, free from our enemies.

69 He is sending us someone who will powerfully [MTY] save us,

someone who is descended from [MTY] King David,

who served God well.

70 Long ago God caused his prophets to say that he would do that.

71 He will rescue us from our enemies,

and he will save us from the power of all those who hate us.

72 He will do this because he has not forgotten what he promised our ancestors;

he made an agreement that he would act mercifully to us, their descendants.

73 That is what he strongly promised our ancestor Abraham that he would do.

74 God told him that we would be rescued {he would rescue us} from the power of our enemies,

that he would enable us to serve him without being afraid,

75 that he would cause us to be completely dedicated to him,

and enable us to live righteously all of our lives."

76 Then Zechariah said this to his little son:

"My child, you will be called {people will say that you are} a prophet

whom God [MTY/EUP] has sent;

you will begin your work before ◄the Lord/Messiah► comes;

you will prepare people so that they will be ready for him.

(OR, you will begin your work before the Messiah comes).

77 You will tell God’s people how he will forgive them and save them from being punished for their sins.

78 Our God will do that because he is very kind to us.

Just like a new day begins when the sun rises [MET],

God will do that new thing for us when the Messiah comes to us from heaven.

79 People who do not know God [MET] are like those who sit in the darkness.

They are afraid [MTY] that they will soon die.

But when the Messiah tells us God’s message,

it will be like causing such people to see a bright light.

He will guide us [SYN] so that we will be living peacefully."