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In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, |
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to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. |
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And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" |
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But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. |
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And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. |
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And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. |
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He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, |
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and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." |
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And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" |
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And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God. |
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And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. |
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For nothing will be impossible with God." |
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And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. |
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In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, |
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and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. |
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And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, |
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and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! |
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And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
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For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. |
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And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." |
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And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, |
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and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, |
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for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; |
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for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. |
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And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. |
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He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; |
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he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; |
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he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. |
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He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, |
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as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." |
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And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. |