Plagues, Promises, and a Savior's Birth

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, “This is what Yahweh says, ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2. If you refuse to let them go, behold, I will plague all your borders with frogs: 3. and the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into your house, and into your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the house of your servants, and on your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs: 4. and the frogs shall come up both on you, and on your people, and on all your servants.’” 5. Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’” 6. Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 7. The magicians did the same thing with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. 8. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat Yahweh, that he take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to Yahweh.” 9. Moses said to Pharaoh, “I give you the honor of setting the time that I should pray for you, and for your servants, and for your people, that the frogs be destroyed from you and your houses, and remain in the river only.” 10. He said, “Tomorrow.” He said, “Be it according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like Yahweh our God. 11. The frogs shall depart from you, and from your houses, and from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.” 12. Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to Yahweh concerning the frogs which he had brought on Pharaoh. 13. Yahweh did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields. 14. They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15. But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart, and didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken. 16. Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’” 17. They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were lice on man, and on animal; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18. The magicians tried with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn’t. There were lice on man, and on animal. 19. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is God’s finger:” and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken. 20. Yahweh said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; behold, he comes out to the water; and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh says, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21. Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. 22. I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I am Yahweh on the earth. 23. I will put a division between my people and your people: by tomorrow shall this sign be.”’” 24. Yahweh did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses: and in all the land of Egypt the land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies. 25. Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land!” 26. Moses said, “It isn’t appropriate to do so; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to Yahweh our God. Behold, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and won’t they stone us? 27. We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Yahweh our God, as he shall command us.” 28. Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away. Pray for me.” 29. Moses said, “Behold, I go out from you, and I will pray to Yahweh that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only don’t let Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to Yahweh.” 30. Moses went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh. 31. Yahweh did according to the word of Moses, and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. There remained not one. 32. Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he didn’t let the people go. 1. Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2. For if you refuse to let them go, and hold them still, 3. behold, Yahweh’s hand is on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks with a very grievous pestilence. 4. Yahweh will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt; and nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.”’” 5. Yahweh appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow Yahweh shall do this thing in the land.” 6. Yahweh did that thing on the next day; and all the livestock of Egypt died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. 7. Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the livestock of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he didn’t let the people go. 8. Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, “Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. 9. It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking out with boils on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10. They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became a boil breaking out with boils on man and on animal. 11. The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians. 12. Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken to Moses. 13. Yahweh said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14. For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15. For now I would have stretched out my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth; 16. but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth; 17. as you still exalt yourself against my people, that you won’t let them go. 18. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as has not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now. 19. Now therefore command that all of your livestock and all that you have in the field be brought into shelter. Every man and animal that is found in the field, and isn’t brought home, the hail shall come down on them, and they shall die.”’” 20. Those who feared Yahweh’s word among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and their livestock flee into the houses. 21. Whoever didn’t respect Yahweh’s word left his servants and his livestock in the field. 22. Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man, and on animal, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” 23. Moses stretched out his rod toward the heavens, and Yahweh sent thunder, hail, and lightning flashed down to the earth. Yahweh rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24. So there was very severe hail, and lightning mixed with the hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25. The hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and animal; and the hail struck every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field. 26. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail. 27. Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. Yahweh is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28. Pray to Yahweh; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” 29. Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to Yahweh. The thunders shall cease, and there will not be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is Yahweh’s. 30. But as for you and your servants, I know that you don’t yet fear Yahweh God.” 31. The flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom. 32. But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they had not grown up. 33. Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands to Yahweh; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. 34. When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders had ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35. The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go, just as Yahweh had spoken through Moses. 1. Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs among them, 2. and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am Yahweh.” 3. Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and said to him, “This is what Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. 4. Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, 5. and they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one won’t be able to see the earth. They shall eat the residue of that which has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field. 6. Your houses shall be filled, and the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have seen, since the day that they were on the earth to this day.’” He turned, and went out from Pharaoh. 7. Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh, their God. Don’t you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?” 8. Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve Yahweh your God; but who are those who will go?” 9. Moses said, “We will go with our young and with our old; with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast to Yahweh.” 10. He said to them, “Yahweh be with you if I will let you go with your little ones! See, evil is clearly before your faces. 11. Not so! Go now you who are men, and serve Yahweh; for that is what you desire!” They were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence. 12. Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left.” 13. Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh brought an east wind on the land all that day, and all night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14. The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt. They were very grievous. Before them there were no such locusts as they, nor will there ever be again. 15. For they covered the surface of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened, and they ate every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. There remained nothing green, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, “I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you. 17. Now therefore please forgive my sin again, and pray to Yahweh your God, that he may also take away from me this death.” 18. He went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to Yahweh. 19. Yahweh turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea. There remained not one locust in all the borders of Egypt. 20. But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go. 21. Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.” 22. Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23. They didn’t see one another, and nobody rose from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24. Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve Yahweh. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you.” 25. Moses said, “You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God. 26. Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don’t know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there.” 27. But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go. 28. Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!” 29. Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more.” 1. Yahweh said to Moses, “Yet one plague more will I bring on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether. 2. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.” 3. Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people. 4. Moses said, “This is what Yahweh says: ‘About midnight I will go out into the middle of Egypt, 5. and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of livestock. 6. There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor shall be any more. 7. But against any of the children of Israel a dog won’t even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal; that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel. 8. All these servants of yours will come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, “Get out, with all the people who follow you”; and after that I will go out.’” He went out from Pharaoh in hot anger. 9. Yahweh said to Moses, “Pharaoh won’t listen to you, that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10. Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the children of Israel go out of his land.

1. Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2. even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3. it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4. that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed. 5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6. They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. 7. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. 8. Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division, 9. according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10. The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12. Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13. But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14. You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. 15. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. 17. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.” 18. Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19. The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20. Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” 21. The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. 22. When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. 23. When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. 24. After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, 25. “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.” 26. Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27. to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28. Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!” 29. But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30. The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31. Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’ 32. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, 33. and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” 34. Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” 35. The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. 36. Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37. For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” 38. Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her. 39. Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40. and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42. She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43. Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44. For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” 46. Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord. 47. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48. for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 49. For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. 50. His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him. 51. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52. He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly. 53. He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty. 54. He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy, 55. As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.” 56. Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house. 57. Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son. 58. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. 59. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60. His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.” 61. They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62. They made signs to his father, what he would have him called. 63. He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled. 64. His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65. Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66. All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him. 67. His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; 69. and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70. (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), 71. salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72. to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, 73. the oath which he swore to Abraham, our father, 74. to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, 75. In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77. to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, 78. because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us, 79. to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80. The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel. 1. Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3. All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5. to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. 6. While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8. There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11. For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12. This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13. Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, 14. “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” 15. When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16. They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17. When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18. All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them. 21. When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22. When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23. (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24. and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25. Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27. He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, 28. then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29. “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; 30. for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31. which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; 32. a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33. Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him, 34. and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36. There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37. and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38. Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. 39. 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. The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 41. His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 42. When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, 43. and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44. but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45. When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48. When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” 49. He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50. They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. 1. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2. in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3. He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. 4. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. 5. Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. 6. All flesh will see God’s salvation.’” 7. He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8. Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones! 9. Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.” 10. The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?” 11. He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.” 12. Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?” 13. He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.” 14. Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.” 15. As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, 16. John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, 17. whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18. Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, 19. but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20. added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison. 21. Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened, 22. and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.” 23. Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24. the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25. the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26. the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27. the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28. the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29. the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30. the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31. the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32. the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33. the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34. the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35. the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36. the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37. the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38. the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

1. Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips. 2. Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity. 3. You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey. 4. As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. 5. My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped. 6. I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech. 7. Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies. 8. Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings, 9. from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me. 10. They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly. 11. They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth. 12. He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. 13. Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword; 14. from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. 15. As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.