¹ And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

² Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

³ And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Jehovah brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

⁴ This day ye go forth in the month Abib.

⁵ And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

⁶ Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Jehovah.

⁷ Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders.

⁸ And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying, It is because of that which Jehovah did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.

⁹ And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of Jehovah may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath Jehovah brought thee out of Egypt.

¹⁰ Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

¹¹ And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

¹² that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah's.

¹³ And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.

¹⁴ And it shall be, when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

¹⁵ and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.

¹⁶ And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand Jehovah brought us forth out of Egypt.

¹⁷ And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

¹⁸ but God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.

¹⁹ And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

²⁰ And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

²¹ And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:

²² the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people.

¹ Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

⁵ to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.

⁶ 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.

⁸ And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

⁹ And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

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

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

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,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

¹⁵ 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 see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

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

¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

¹⁸ And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.

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

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

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

²² And 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 that openeth 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 And behold, there was a man in 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.

²⁶ And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,

²⁸ then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

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

³⁰ For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

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

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

³³ And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him;

³⁴ and Simeon blessed them, and said unto 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 yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.

³⁶ And 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 even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.

³⁸ 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 of Jerusalem.

³⁹ 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 And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴¹ And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.

⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast;

⁴³ and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not;

⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:

⁴⁵ and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.

⁴⁶ And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:

⁴⁷ and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

⁴⁸ And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing.

⁴⁹ And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house?

⁵⁰ And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

⁵¹ 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 favor with God and men.