Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

1Pay attention, you islands, and listen closely, you far away peoples. The Lord has called me from the womb; from the womb of my mother, he has been mindful of my name. 2And he has appointed my mouth as a sharp sword. In the shadow of his hand, he has protected me. And he has appointed me as an elect arrow. In his quiver, he has hidden me. 3And he has said to me: “You are my servant, Israel. For in you, I will glory.” 4And I said: “I have labored toward emptiness. I have consumed my strength without purpose and in vain. Therefore, my judgment is with the Lord, and my work is with my God.” 5And now, says the Lord, who formed me from the womb as his servant, so that I may bring back Jacob to him, for Israel will not be gathered together, but I have been glorified in the eyes of the Lord and my God has become my strength, 6and so he has said: “It is a small thing that you should be my servant so as to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and so as to convert the dregs of Israel. Behold, I have offered you as a light for the Gentiles, so that you may be my salvation, even to the furthest regions of the earth.”

1Unto the end. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you have known me.

2You have known my sitting down and my rising up again.

3You have understood my thoughts from afar. My path and my fate, you have investigated.

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13For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother.

14I will confess to you, for you have been magnified terribly. Your works are miraculous, as my soul knows exceedingly well.

15My bone, which you have made in secret, has not been hidden from you, and my substance is in accord with the lower parts of the earth.

22And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.’ 23From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel. 24John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.’ 26Noble brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to you the Word of this salvation has been sent.

57Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son. 58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her. 59And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah. 60And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.” 61And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” 62Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called. 63And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God. 65And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: “What do you think this boy will be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

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80And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel.