We pray the Benedictus – the song of Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist – every evening, at Vespers:

Blest are you, the God of Israel, you have come to your people and set them free. You have raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of your servant David.

Through your holy prophets, you promised of old to save us from the hands of all who hate us, to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember your holy covenant.

This was the oath you swore to Abraham and Sarah: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship you without fear, holy and righteous before you, all the days of our life.

And you child shall be called the prophet of the most high, for you will go befoe the Lord to prepare the way, to give God’s 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 the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.