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43 the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the 44 mother of my Lord should come unto me? for, lo, as soon as the voice of thy greeting sounded in mine ears, the babe 45 leaped in my womb for joy. And happy is she who believed that there would be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

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Then Mary said, "My soul magnifieth the Lord; and 47 my spirit rejoiceth greatly in God my Saviour. For he 48 hath regarded the humble state of his servant : for, behold, 49 henceforth all generations will pronounce me happy. For

he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is 50 his name; and his mercy is on those who fear him, to all 51 generations. He showeth strength with his arm: he scat

tereth those who are proud in the imagination of their 52 hearts. He putteth down the mighty from their thrones ; 53 and exalteth those of humble state. He filleth the hungry 54 with good things; and the rich he sendeth away empty. He

helpeth his servant Israel, that (as he promised unto our 55 fathers) he might remember his mercy to Abraham, and to 56 his seed, for ever." And Mary abode with Elisabeth about three months, and returned to her own house.

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Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be de58 livered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours

and her kindred heard that the Lord had shown great mercy 59 toward her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and would have called him Zachariah, after the 60 name of his father. But his mother spake, and said, "Not 61 so; but he shall be called John." And they said unto her,

"There is none among thy kindred that is called by this 62 name." Then they made signs to his father, how he would 63 have him called. And he beckoned for a writing-tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." And all won64 dered. And forthwith his mouth was opened, and his tongue 65 loosed, and he spake, and blessed God. And fear came

on all who dwelt round about them: and all these things

were reported throughout all the mountainous country of Judea. 66 And all those that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be ?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.

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And bis father Zachariah was filled with the holy spirit, 68 and prophesied, saying," Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for be bath regarded, and wrought redemption for 69 bis people; and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us, 70 in the house of bis servant David; (as he spake by the mouth

of his boly prophets, that have been from ancient times :) 71 even salvation from our enemies, and from the band of ail that 72 bate us; to perform the work of mercy promised to our fa73 thers, and to remember bis boly covenant; according to the 74 oath which be sware to our father Abraham, that he would

grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the bands of 75 our enemies, should serve him without fear, by boliness and righteousness before him, all our days.

76 “And thou, child, shalt be called a prophet of the Most

High: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to pre77 pare bis ways; to give knowledge of salvation to his people, 78 by remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our 79 God, by which the day-spring bath visited us, to shine from high upon* those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

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And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his public appearance to Israel.

CH. II. Now it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the earth should be 2 enrolled. (This was the first enrolment of Cyrenius, after8 ward governor of Syria.) And all went to be enrolled, A every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the

* from on high hath visited us, to enlighten, N..

5 bouse and family of David,) to be enrolled with Mary bis 6 espoused wife, who was great with child. And it came to pass

that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that 7 she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and swathed him, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

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Now there were in the same country shepherds abiding in 9 the field, and keeping night-watches over their flock. And, bebold, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they feared greatly. 10 And the angel said unto them," Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the 11 people for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a 12 saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign

unto you; ye will find a swathed babe lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 14 heavenly bost, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace, good-will toward

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men."

And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to 16 pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

And they went with baste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe

17 lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, 18 what had been told them concerning this child.

they declared And all that beard it wondered at those things which were told them by the 19 shepherds. But Mary kept all these things in memory, con20 sidering them in her beurt. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had beard and seen, as it had been told them.

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And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS; the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

And when the days of their purification were accomplished,

according to the law of Moses, his parents brought him to 23 Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (as it is written in

the law of the Lord: "Every male, who first openeth the 24 womb, shall be called holy to the Lord;") and to offer a sacrifice, according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.

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And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and religious, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the holy spirit was upon him. 26. And it was revealed to him by the holy spirit, that he should 27 not see death before he had seen the Lord's Anointed. And

be came by the spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the 28 custom of the law, Simeon took him up in his arms, and 29 blessed God, and said, "O sovereign Lord, now lettest thou 30 thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine 31 eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before 32 the face of all people; a light to be revealed to the gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."

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And his father and mother wondered at those things which 34 were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them; and said to

Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel; and for a sign which will be 35 spoken against; (yea a sword will pierce through thine own soul also;) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed."

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: (she was far advanced in years, and had lived with an husband seven years from her 37 virginity: and she was now a widow of about eighty-four

years, who departed not from the temple, but served God with 38 fastings and prayers night and day :) she also came upon them at the same time, and gave thanks to the Lord, and spake of the child to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

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And when they had performed all things according to the law

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of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

And the child grew and was strengthened [in spirit,] being

filled with wisdom: and the favour of God was upon him.

Now bis parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast 42 of the passover. And when be was twelve And when be was twelve years old, after they had gone up [to Jerusalem] according to the custom of 43 the feast, and had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and Joseph and bis mo44 ther knew it not: but having supposed him to have been in the

company, they went a day's journey: and they sought bim 45 among their kindred and acquaintance: and when they found 46 bim not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it

came to pass that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both bearing them 47 and asking them questions. And all that beard him were 48 astonished at his understanding and answers. And when his

parents saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, "Child, why hast thou done thus unto us? behold, 49 thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." And be said

unto them, "How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that 50 I must needs be in my Father's bouse?" But they understood 51 not the thing which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazaretb, and was subject to them: and his mother kept all these things in ber heart.

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

CH. III. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias 2 tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being highpriests, the word of God came to John, the son of Za3 chariah, in the desert. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance,

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