Benedictus

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel:¹ for he has visited and redeemed his people;

And has raised up a mighty salvation for us: in the house of his servant David;

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets: which have been since the world began;

That we should be saved from our enemies: and from the hand of all that hate us.

To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers: and to remember his holy Covenant;

To perform the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham: that he would give us;

That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies: might serve him without fear;

In holiness and righteousness before him: all the days of our life.

And you, Child, shall be called the Prophet of the Highest: for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people: for the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby the day-spring from on high has visited us;

To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: and to guide our feet into the way of peace.