Study Desk

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant,

"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins,

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, [fn] who was with child.

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, [fn] His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

And Joseph and His mother [fn] marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother [fn] did not know it;

And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously."

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.