The canticle The Benedictus is taken from Luke 1:68-79, a psalm-like prayer sung or recited by Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, when he regained his speech.
Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited us and prepared redemption for his people.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
just as he said long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets.
He raised up salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
in order to show mercy to our fathers by remembering his holy covenant,
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
to grant deliverance to us from the hand of our enemies,
so that we are able to serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
because you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,
because of God’s tender mercies,
which the Rising Sun from on high will visit us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Source: The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version (www.wartburgproject.org).
Text from Evangelical Heritage Version (www.wartburgproject.org). Anglican chant musical setting by Thomas Norris (1741-1790)
A Collection of Prayers 