Luke 2:21–40

21 And pat the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, qhe was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And rwhen the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem sto present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in tthe Law of the Lord, uEvery male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in tthe Law of the Lord, va pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was wrighteous and xdevout, ywaiting for zthe consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not asee death before he had seen bthe Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when cthe parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and dblessed God and said,

29  Lord, now you are letting your servant1 depart ein peace,

faccording to your word;

30  for gmy eyes have seen your hsalvation

31  ithat you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32  ja light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and kfor glory to lyour people Israel.

33 And mhis father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed nfor the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign othat is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.

36 And there was pa prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.2 She did not depart from the temple, qworshiping with rfasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were swaiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed everything according to tthe Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of uNazareth. 40 vAnd the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Read in Context

Ephesians 4:1–16

I therefore, ma prisoner for the Lord, urge you to nwalk in a manner worthy of othe calling to which you have been called, with all phumility and qgentleness, with rpatience, sbearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in tthe bond of peace. There is uone body and vone Spiritjust as you were called to the one whope that belongs to your call xone Lord, yone faith, zone baptism, aone God and Father of all, bwho is over all and through all and in all. But cgrace was given dto each one of us eaccording to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

fWhen he ascended on high ghe led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.1

(hIn saying, He ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into ithe lower regions, the earth?2 10 He who descended is the one who also jascended kfar above all the heavens, that he might lfill all things.) 11 And mhe gave the napostles, the prophets, the oevangelists, the pshepherds3 and teachers,4 12 qto equip the saints for the work of ministry, for rbuilding up sthe body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to tthe unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, uto mature manhood,5 to the measure of the stature of vthe fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, wtossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in xdeceitful schemes. 15 Rather, yspeaking the truth in love, we are to zgrow up in every way into him who is athe head, into Christ, 16 bfrom whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, cwhen each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

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Psalm 119:49–176

Zayin

49  Remember eyour word to your servant,

in which you have made me fhope.

50  This is gmy comfort in my affliction,

that your promise hgives me life.

51  iThe insolent utterly deride me,

but I do not jturn away from your law.

52  When I think of your rules from of old,

I take comfort, O Lord.

53  kHot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,

who forsake your law.

54  Your statutes have been my songs

in the house of my lsojourning.

55  I mremember your name in the night, O Lord,

and keep your law.

56  This blessing has fallen to me,

that nI have kept your precepts.

Heth

57  oThe Lord is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

58  I pentreat your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me qaccording to your promise.

59  When I rthink on my ways,

I turn my feet to your testimonies;

60  I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

61  Though sthe cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not tforget your law.

62  At umidnight I rise to praise you,

because of your vrighteous rules.

63  wI am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

64  xThe earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;

yteach me your statutes!

Teth

65  You have dealt well with your servant,

O Lord, zaccording to your word.

66  Teach me agood judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in your commandments.

67  bBefore I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

68  cYou are good and do good;

dteach me your statutes.

69  eThe insolent fsmear me with lies,

but with my whole heart I gkeep your precepts;

70  their heart is unfeeling hlike fat,

but I idelight in your law.

71  It is jgood for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

72  kThe law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

73  lYour hands have made and fashioned me;

mgive me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74  Those who fear you shall see me and nrejoice,

because I have ohoped in your word.

75  I know, O Lord, that your rules are prighteous,

and that in qfaithfulness you have afflicted me.

76  Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

77  Let your rmercy come to me, that I may live;

for your law is my sdelight.

78  Let tthe insolent be put to ushame,

because they have vwronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will wmeditate on your precepts.

79  Let those who fear you xturn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

80  May my heart be yblameless in your statutes,

zthat I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

81  My soul alongs for your salvation;

I bhope in your word.

82  My ceyes long for your promise;

I ask, dWhen will you comfort me?

83  For I have ebecome like a fwineskin in the smoke,

yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

84  gHow long must your servant endure?1

hWhen will you judge those who persecute me?

85  iThe insolent have jdug pitfalls for me;

they do not live according to your law.

86  All your commandments are ksure;

they persecute me lwith falsehood; mhelp me!

87  They have almost made an end of me on earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88  In your steadfast love ngive me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

89  Forever, O Lord, your oword

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90  Your pfaithfulness endures to all generations;

you have qestablished the earth, and it rstands fast.

91  By your sappointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92  If your law had not been my tdelight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93  I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have ugiven me life.

94  I am yours; save me,

vfor I have sought your precepts.

95  The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96  I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly wbroad.

Mem

97  Oh how xI love your law!

It is my ymeditation all the day.

98  Your commandment makes me zwiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

99  I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for ayour testimonies are my meditation.

100  I understand more than bthe aged,2

for I ckeep your precepts.

101  I dhold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

102  I do not turn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.

103  How esweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104  Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore fI hate every false way.

Nun

105  gYour word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

106  I have hsworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your irighteous rules.

107  I am severely jafflicted;

kgive me life, O Lord, according to your word!

108  Accept lmy freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and mteach me your rules.

109  I hold my life nin my hand continually,

but I do not oforget your law.

110  The wicked have laid pa snare for me,

but qI do not stray from your precepts.

111  Your testimonies are rmy heritage forever,

for they are sthe joy of my heart.

112  I tincline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, uto the end.3

Samekh

113  I hate vthe double-minded,

but I love wyour law.

114  You are my xhiding place and my yshield;

I zhope in your word.

115  aDepart from me, you evildoers,

that I may bkeep the commandments of my God.

116  Uphold me caccording to your promise, that I may live,

and let me not be dput to shame in my ehope!

117  fHold me up, that I may be safe

and have regard for your statutes continually!

118  You gspurn all who hgo astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

119  All the wicked of the earth you discard like idross,

therefore jI love your testimonies.

120  My flesh ktrembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121  I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122  Give your servant la pledge of good;

let not mthe insolent oppress me.

123  My neyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124  Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and oteach me your statutes.

125  I am your pservant; qgive me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

126  It is time for the Lord to act,

for your law has been broken.

127  Therefore I rlove your commandments

above gold, above fine gold.

128  Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every sfalse way.

Pe

129  Your testimonies are twonderful;

therefore my soul ukeeps them.

130  The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts vunderstanding to the simple.

131  I wopen my mouth and xpant,

because I ylong for your commandments.

132  zTurn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

133  aKeep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity bget dominion over me.

134  cRedeem me from man’s oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

135  dMake your face shine upon your servant,

and eteach me your statutes.

136  My eyes fshed streams of tears,

because people gdo not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137  hRighteous are you, O Lord,

and right are your rules.

138  You have appointed your testimonies in irighteousness

and in all jfaithfulness.

139  My kzeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

140  Your promise is well ltried,

and your servant mloves it.

141  I am small and despised,

yet I do not nforget your precepts.

142  Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is otrue.

143  Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my pdelight.

144  Your testimonies are righteous forever;

qgive me understanding that I may rlive.

Qoph

145  With my swhole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!

I will tkeep your statutes.

146  I call to you; save me,

that I may observe your testimonies.

147  I rise before udawn and cry for help;

I vhope in your words.

148  My eyes are awake before wthe watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

149  Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Lord, xaccording to your justice ygive me life.

150  They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

151  But zyou are near, O Lord,

and all your commandments are atrue.

152  Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have bfounded them forever.

Resh

153  Look on my caffliction and deliver me,

for dI do not forget your law.

154  ePlead my cause and redeem me;

fgive me life according to your promise!

155  gSalvation is far from the wicked,

hfor they do not seek your statutes.

156  iGreat is your mercy, O Lord;

fgive me life according to your rules.

157  jMany are my persecutors and my adversaries,

but I do not kswerve from your testimonies.

158  I look at lthe faithless with mdisgust,

because they do not keep your commands.

159  Consider how I nlove your precepts!

fGive me life according to your steadfast love.

160  oThe sum of your word is ptruth,

and every one of your qrighteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161  rPrinces persecute me swithout cause,

but my heart tstands in awe of your words.

162  I trejoice at your word

like one who ufinds great spoil.

163  I hate and abhor falsehood,

but I love vyour law.

164  Seven times a day I praise you

for your qrighteous rules.

165  Great wpeace have those who love your law;

xnothing can make them stumble.

166  I yhope for your salvation, O Lord,

and I do your commandments.

167  My soul keeps your testimonies;

I vlove them exceedingly.

168  I keep your precepts and testimonies,

zfor all my ways are before you.

Taw

169  Let my acry come before you, O Lord;

bgive me understanding caccording to your word!

170  Let my plea come before you;

ddeliver me according to your word.

171  My lips will epour forth praise,

for you fteach me your statutes.

172  My tongue will sing of your word,

for gall your commandments are right.

173  Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have hchosen your precepts.

174  I ilong for your salvation, O Lord,

and your law is my jdelight.

175  Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

176  I have kgone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,

for I do not lforget your commandments.

Read in Context

1 Kings 11

Now wKing Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, xYou shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and yhis heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, zas was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after aAshtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after bMilcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for cChemosh the abomination of Moab, and for dMolech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because ehis heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, fwho had appeared to him twice 10 and ghad commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. 11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, hI will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However, iI will not tear away all the kingdom, but jI will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem kthat I have chosen.

14 And the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. He was of the royal house in Edom. 15 For lwhen David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army went up to bury the slain, he struck down every male in Edom 16 (for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom). 17 But Hadad fled to Egypt, together with certain Edomites of his father’s servants, Hadad still being a little child. 18 They set out from Midian and came to mParan and took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house and assigned him an allowance of food and gave him land. 19 And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 20 And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house. And Genubath was in Pharaoh’s house among the sons of Pharaoh. 21 But when Hadad heard in Egypt nthat David slept with his fathers and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to my own country. 22 But Pharaoh said to him, What have you lacked with me that you are now seeking to go to your own country? And he said to him, Only let me depart.

23 God also raised up as an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master oHadadezer king of Zobah. 24 And he gathered men about him and became leader of a marauding band, pafter the killing by David. And they went to Damascus and lived there and made him king in Damascus. 25 He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon, doing harm as Hadad did. And he loathed Israel and reigned over Syria.

26 qJeroboam the son of Nebat, ran Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also slifted up his hand against the king. 27 And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king. tSolomon built the Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of David his father. 28 The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. 29 And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet uAhijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country. 30 Then Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, vand tore it into twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, wI am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes 32 (but xhe shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, ythe city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 because they have1 forsaken me zand worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. 34 Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. 35 aBut I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. 36 Yet to his son xI will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have ba lamp before me in Jerusalem, ythe city where I have chosen to put my name. 37 And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, cI will be with you and dwill build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 39 And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever. 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to eShishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

41 fNow the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? 42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 And Solomon gslept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And hRehoboam his son reigned in his place.

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2 View All Leviticus 19:27