Chaos Without a King, Hope Dawning

1. In those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a certain Levite living on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took for himself a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah. 2. His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there for four months. 3. Her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of donkeys. She brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4. His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, kept him there; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank, and stayed there. 5. On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.” 6. So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together. Then the young lady’s father said to the man, “Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.” 7. The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he stayed there again. 8. He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines”; and they both ate. 9. When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night. Behold, the day is ending. Stay here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.” 10. But the man wouldn’t stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and toward Jebus (also called Jerusalem). With him were a couple of saddled donkeys. His concubine also was with him. 11. When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, “Please come and let us enter into this city of the Jebusites, and stay in it.” 12. His master said to him, “We won’t enter into the city of a foreigner that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.” 13. He said to his servant, “Come and let us draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.” 14. So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15. They went over there, to go in to stay in Gibeah. He went in, and sat down in the street of the city; for there was no one who took them into his house to stay. 16. Behold, an old man came from his work out of the field at evening. Now the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he lived in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites. 17. He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?” 18. He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem Judah. I am going to Yahweh’s house; and there is no one who has taken me into his house. 19. Yet there is both straw and feed for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. There is no lack of anything.” 20. The old man said, “Peace be to you; how ever let me supply all your needs. Just don’t sleep in the street.” 21. So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank. 22. As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain wicked fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we can have sex with him!” 23. The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, “No, my brothers, please don’t act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, don’t do this folly. 24. Behold, here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. I will bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them what seems good to you; but to this man don’t do any such folly.” 25. But the men wouldn’t listen to him: so the man laid hold of his concubine, and brought her out to them; and they had sex with her, and abused her all night until the morning. When the day began to dawn, they let her go. 26. Then the woman came in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, until it was light. 27. Her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and behold, the woman his concubine had fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28. He said to her, “Get up, and let us be going!” but no one answered. Then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and went to his place. 29. When he had come into his house, he took a knife, and cut up his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel. 30. It was so, that all who saw it said, “Such a deed has not been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day! Consider it, take counsel, and speak.” 1. Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah. 2. The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword. 3. (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?” 4. The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, “I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. 5. The men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house by night. They intended to kill me, and they raped my concubine, and she is dead. 6. I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel. 7. Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.” 8. All the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, neither will any of us turn to his house. 9. But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot; 10. and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have worked in Israel.” 11. So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. 12. The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What wickedness is this that has happened among you? 13. Now therefore deliver up the men, the wicked fellows, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.” But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers the children of Israel. 14. The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15. The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men. 16. Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. 17. The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were counted four hundred thousand men who drew sword. All these were men of war. 18. The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” Yahweh said, “Judah first.” 19. The children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. 20. The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah. 21. The children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day destroyed twenty-two thousand of the Israelite men down to the ground. 22. The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day. 23. The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” Yahweh said, “Go up against him.” 24. The children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25. Benjamin went out against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men. All these drew the sword. 26. Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Yahweh, and fasted that day until evening; then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. 27. The children of Israel asked Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28. and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?” Yahweh said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.” 29. Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah. 30. The children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 31. The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32. The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the children of Israel said, “Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.” 33. All the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. Then the ambushers of Israel broke out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba. 34. Ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came over against Gibeah, and the battle was severe; but they didn’t know that disaster was close to them. 35. Yahweh struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men. All these drew the sword. 36. So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck; for the men of Israel yielded to Benjamin, because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah. 37. The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; then the ambushers spread out, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. 38. Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city. 39. The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, “Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.” 40. But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole city went up in smoke to the sky. 41. The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that disaster had come on them. 42. Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the middle of it. 43. They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and trod them down at their resting place, as far as near Gibeah toward the sunrise. 44. Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor. 45. They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and they gleaned five thousand men of them in the highways, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck two thousand men of them. 46. So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword. All these were men of valor. 47. But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months. 48. The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the livestock, and all that they found. Moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire. 1. Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us will give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.” 2. The people came to Bethel, and sat there until evening before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept severely. 3. They said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that there should be one tribe lacking in Israel today?” 4. On the next day, the people rose early, and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5. The children of Israel said, “Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up in the assembly to Yahweh?” For they had made a great oath concerning him who didn’t come up to Yahweh to Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.” 6. The children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “There is one tribe cut off from Israel today. 7. How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since we have sworn by Yahweh that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?” 8. They said, “What one is there of the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up to Yahweh to Mizpah?” Behold, no one came from Jabesh Gilead to the camp to the assembly. 9. For when the people were counted, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead there. 10. The congregation sent twelve thousand of the most valiant men there, and commanded them, saying, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones. 11. This is the thing that you shall do: you shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has lain with a man.” 12. They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins, who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. 13. The whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin who were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them. 14. Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead. There still weren’t enough for them. 15. The people grieved for Benjamin, because Yahweh had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. 16. Then the elders of the congregation said, “How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?” 17. They said, “There must be an inheritance for those who are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel. 18. However we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, ‘Cursed is he who gives a wife to Benjamin.’” 19. They said, “Behold, there is a feast of Yahweh from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.” 20. They commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in wait in the vineyards, 21. and see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards, and each man catch his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22. It shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, that we will say to them, ‘Grant them graciously to us, because we didn’t take for each man his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, otherwise you would now be guilty.’” 23. The children of Benjamin did so, and took wives for themselves, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off. They went and returned to their inheritance, built the cities, and lived in them. 24. The children of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they each went out from there to his own inheritance. 25. In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.

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. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2. for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. 3. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4. Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” 5. The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6. The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. 7. If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8. Jesus answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” 9. He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10. for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’ 11. and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12. Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” 13. When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time. 14. Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15. He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16. He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17. The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 18. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19. and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20. He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21. He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22. All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 23. He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’” 24. He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25. But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26. Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.” 28. They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. 29. They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. 30. But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way. 31. He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He was teaching them on the Sabbath day, 32. and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. 33. In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34. saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!” 35. Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in the middle of them, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36. Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37. News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region. 38. He rose up from the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him for her. 39. He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. 40. When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41. Demons also came out of many, crying out, and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. 42. When it was day, he departed and went into an uninhabited place, and the multitudes looked for him, and came to him, and held on to him, so that he wouldn’t go away from them. 43. But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent.” 44. He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

1. I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? 2. My help comes from Yahweh, who made heaven and earth. 3. He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. 4. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5. Yahweh is your keeper. Yahweh is your shade on your right hand. 6. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7. Yahweh will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul. 8. Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.