79

80

To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the
shadow of death;

To guide our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

ited earth.

21 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all 'the world Gr. the inhab2 should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment 3 made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own 4 city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the 5 house and family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with 6 child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

watches

8 And there were shepherds in the same country
abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night Or, night-
9 over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood
by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
10 about them: and they were sore afraid. And the
angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be
I to all the people: for there is born to you this day in
the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Or, Anointed
12 And this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,

14

15

Lord

And on earth peace among men in whom he is 4 Many ancient

well pleased.

authorities read peace, good pleasure among

теп.

Gr men of

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and good pleasure. see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord Or, saying 16 hath made known unto us. And they came with

haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the
babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, 17
they made known concerning the saying which was
spoken to them about this child. And all that heard 18
it wondered at the things which were spoken unto
them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these 19
'sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the 20
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all the things that they had heard and seen, even as
it was spoken unto them.

And when eight days were fulfilled for circum- 21 cising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

And when the days of their purification according 22
to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him
up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is 23
written in the law of the Lord, Every male that open-
eth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and 24
to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in
the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two
young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in 25
Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man
was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation
of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And 26
it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit,
that he should not see death, before he had seen the
Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the 27
temple: and when the parents brought in the child
Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the
custom of the law, then he received him into his 28
arms, and blessed God, and said,

Now lettest thou thy servant depart, O Lord, 29
According to thy word, in peace;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

30

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all 31
peoples;

A light for 'revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of thy people Israel.

32

And his father and his mother were marvelling at 33
the things which were spoken concerning him; and 34
Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother,
Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising up

in many days.

of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken 35 against; yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be 36 revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was 1of a great age, having lived with a husband seven Gr. advanced 37 years from her virginity, and she had been a widow even for fourscore and four years), which departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and sup38 plications night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption 39 of Jerusalem. And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

40

41

full of wisdom.

And the child grew, and waxed strong, 'filled with 2 Gr. becoming wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the 42 feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years 43 old, they went up after the custom of the feast; and

when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and 44 his parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaint45 ance: and when they found him not, they returned 46 to Jerusalem, seeking for him. And it came to pass,

after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and Or, teachers 47 asking them questions: and all that heard him were 48 amazed at his understanding and his answers.

And

Or, about my business

Father's

when they saw him, they were astonished: and his mother said unto him, 'Son, why hast thou thus Gr. Child. dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee 49 sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be in my 50 Father's house? And they understood not the say51 ing which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these 'sayings in her heart.

52

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and 'stature, and in favour with God and men.

in the

things of my

Father

Or, things

Or, age

$ Or, grace

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius 1 3 Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high- 2 priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the region round about 3 Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins; as it is written in the book of the 4 words of Isaiah the prophet,

The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

Make ye ready the way of the Lord,

Make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled,

And every mountain and hill shall be brought

low;

And the crooked shall become straight,

And the rough ways smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

5

6

ance

He said therefore to the multitudes that went out 7 · to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring 8 Or your repent forth therefore fruits worthy of 'repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And even 9 now is the axe also laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the mul- 10 titudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? And he answered and said unto them, He that hath 11 two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise. And there 12 came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Master, what must we do? And he said 13 unto them, Extort no more than that which is ap* Gr. soldiers on pointed you. And 'soldiers also asked him, saying, 14 And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Or, accuse any Do violence to no man, neither "exact anything wrongfully; and be content with your wages.

• See marginal

note on Matt. v. 46.

3 Or, Teacher

service.

one

And as the people were in expectation, and all men 15 reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether

16 haply he were the Christ; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose

shoes I am not 'worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you 1 Gr sufficient. 17 with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in Or, in his hand, throughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and

18

to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

With many other exhortations therefore preached he 193good tidings unto the people; but Herod the tetrarch, Or, the gospel being reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20 added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

21

Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and 22 praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

23

was

And Jesus himself, when he began to teach, about thirty years of age, being the son (as was sup24 posed) of Joseph the son of Heli, the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, 25 the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of

Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of 26 Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the 27 son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubba28 bel, the son of 'Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of 29 Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of 30 Levi, the son of Symeon, the son of Judas, the son of 31 Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the 32 son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of "Salmon, the 33 son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son 'Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son 34 Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of 35 Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of

of

4 Gr. Salathiel

6

Some ancient Sala.

authorities write

Many ancient the son of of one writes Admin for Ammin

authorities insert

Admin and

adab.