Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *you have come to your people and set them free.

You have raised up for us a mighty savior, *born of the house of your servant David.

Through your holy prophets you promised of old, that you would save us from our enemies, *from the hands of all who hate us.

To show mercy to our forebears *and to remember your holy covenant.

This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham, *to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

Free to worship you without fear, *holy and righteous before you, all the days of our life.

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

To give God’s people knowledge of salvation *by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

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