Luke 2:9-40

⁹And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear.

¹⁰And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:

¹¹For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.

¹²And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying:

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.

¹⁵And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.

¹⁶And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

¹⁷And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.

¹⁸And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

²¹And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.

²²And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:

²³As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:

²⁴And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons:

²⁵And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.

²⁶And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,

²⁸He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:

²⁹Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;

³⁰Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

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

³²A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

³³And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;

³⁵And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.

³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.

³⁷And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

³⁸Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.

³⁹And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him.