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When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
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(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"),
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and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
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Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
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It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.
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Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law,
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Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
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"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;
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for my eyes have seen your salvation,
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which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
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a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
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And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
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Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed
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so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
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There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
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then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day.
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At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
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The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
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Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.
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And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.
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When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
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Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.
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When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
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After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
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And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
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When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."
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He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
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But they did not understand what he said to them.
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Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
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And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.