canticle of zechariah

Ant. Blessed be the Lord our God.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *born of the house of his servant David.

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

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: +to set us free from the hands of our enemies, *free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight *all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophetof 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.

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

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

Ant. Blessed be the Lord our God.