The Canticle of Zechariah. 67Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

68^* “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.^k

69^* He has raised up a horn for our salvation

within the house of David his servant,^l

70even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old:

71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,^m

72to show mercy to our fathersⁿ

and to be mindful of his holy covenant^o

73and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father,^p

and to grant us that, 74rescued from the hand of enemies,

without fear we might worship him 75in holiness and righteousness

before him all our days.^q

76And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord^* to prepare his ways,^r

77to give his people knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

78because of the tender mercy of our God^s

by which the daybreak from on high^* will visit us^t

79to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.^u

19Early the next morning they worshiped before the LORD, and then returned to their home in Ramah. When they returned Elkanah had intercourse with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.

Hannah Bears a Son. 20She conceived and, at the end of her pregnancy, bore a son whom she named Samuel.^* “Because I asked the LORD for him.” 21The next time her husband Elkanah was going up with the rest of his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows, 22Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband, “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the LORD and leave him there forever.”^* 23Her husband Elkanah answered her: “Do what you think best; wait until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD fulfill his word!” And so she remained at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.^g

Hannah Presents Samuel to the Lord. 24Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah^* of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the house of the LORD in Shiloh. 25After they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the child to Eli. 26Then Hannah spoke up: “Excuse me, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here near you, praying to the LORD. 27I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. 28Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” Then they worshiped there before the LORD.

1^* For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,

for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still,

Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn

and her salvation like a burning torch.^a

2Nations shall behold your vindication,

and all kings your glory;

You shall be called by a new name

bestowed by the mouth of the LORD.^b

3You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,

a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4No more shall you be called “Forsaken,”

nor your land called “Desolate,”

But you shall be called “My Delight is in her,”

and your land “Espoused.”

For the LORD delights in you,

and your land shall be espoused.^c

5For as a young man marries a virgin,

your Builder shall marry you;

And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride

so shall your God rejoice in you.

6Upon your walls, Jerusalem,

I have stationed sentinels;

By day and by night,

they shall never be silent.

You who are to remind the LORD,

take no rest,

7And give him no rest,

until he re-establishes Jerusalem

And makes it the praise of the earth.

8^* The LORD has sworn by his right hand

and by his mighty arm:

No more will I give your grain

as food to your enemies;

Nor shall foreigners drink the wine,

for which you toiled.^d

9But those who harvest shall eat,

and praise the LORD;

Those who gather shall drink

in my holy courts.^e

10^* Pass through, pass through the gates,

prepare a way for the people;^f

Build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones,

raise up a standard over the nations.

11The LORD has proclaimed

to the ends of the earth:

Say to daughter Zion,

“See, your savior comes!

See, his reward is with him,

his recompense before him.”^g

12They shall be called “The Holy People,”

“The Redeemed of the LORD.”

And you shall be called “Cared For,”

“A City Not Forsaken.”^h

An Allegory on Christian Freedom.^* 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.^l 23The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a promise.^m 24Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.ⁿ 25Hagar represents Sinai,^* a mountain in Arabia; it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery along with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.^o 27For it is written:

“Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children;^p

break forth and shout, you who were not in labor;

for more numerous are the children of the deserted one

than of her who has a husband.”^*

28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.^q 29But just as then the child of the flesh persecuted the child of the spirit, it is the same now. 30But what does the scripture say?

“Drive out the slave woman and her son!

For the son of the slave woman shall not share the inheritance with the son”^r

of the freeborn. 31Therefore, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman.^s