22
1And when the days for their purificationaccording to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "2EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLEDHOLY TO THE LORD "),
24
and to offer a sacrificeaccording to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "3A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVESORTWOYOUNGPIGEONS."
25
And there was a man in Jerusalemwhosename was Simeon; and thisman was 4righteous and devout, 5looking for the consolation of Israel; and the HolySpirit was upon him.
26
And 6it had beenrevealed to him by the HolySpirit that he would not 7seedeathbefore he had seen the Lord'sChrist.
27
And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parentsbrought in the childJesus, 8to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
28
then he took Him into his arms, and blessedGod, and said,
29
"NowLord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, 9According to Your word;
31
Which You have prepared in the presence of allpeoples,
32
11A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your peopleIsrael."
33
And His father and 12mother were amazed at the things which were being saidabout Him.
34
And Simeonblessed them and said to Mary13His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for 14the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed -
35
and a sword will pierceeven your ownsoul -to the end that thoughts from manyhearts may be revealed."
36
And there was a 15prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of 16the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years17and had lived with her husbandsevenyearsafter her marriage,
37
and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four*. She neverleft the temple, servingnight and day with 18fastings and prayers.
38
At that verymoment she came up and began givingthanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to allthose who were 19looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Return to Nazareth
39When they had performedeverythingaccording to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to 20their owncity of Nazareth.