Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water.

Leah said, "How happy I am, for women will call me happy!" So she named him Asher.

And every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any of the tribes of the Israelites must become the wife of a man from any family in her father's tribe, so that every Israelite may retain the inheritance of his fathers.

So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, read more. Holon, Debir, Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each -- a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes.

The most rewarded of women should be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite! She should be the most rewarded of women who live in tents.

The Lord's messenger appeared and said to him, "The Lord is with you, courageous warrior!"

No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one other than you! There is no rock like our God!

Amaziah asked the prophet: "But what should I do about the hundred talents of silver I paid the Israelite troops?" The prophet replied, "The Lord is capable of giving you more than that."

My enemies' taunts cut into me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

May his fame endure! May his dynasty last as long as the sun remains in the sky! May they use his name when they formulate their blessings! May all nations consider him to be favored by God!

The Lord made a reliable promise to David; he will not go back on his word. He said, "I will place one of your descendants on your throne.

For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.

At that time the city of Jerusalem will be called the Lord's throne. All nations will gather there in Jerusalem to honor the Lord's name. They will no longer follow the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts.

How long will you vacillate, you who were once like an unfaithful daughter? For I, the Lord, promise to bring about something new on the earth, something as unique as a woman protecting a man!'"

Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again and strengthened me. He said to me, "Don't be afraid, you who are valued. Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!" When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, "Sir, you may speak now, for you have given me strength."

He will not respect the gods of his fathers -- not even the god loved by women. He will not respect any god; he will elevate himself above them all.

As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah -- from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.

They cried out, "Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before the time?"

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him.

And pointing toward his disciples he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

"Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of God!"

When his family heard this they went out to restrain him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

When his family heard this they went out to restrain him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

Then Jesus' mother and his brothers came. Standing outside, they sent word to him, to summon him.

Then Jesus' mother and his brothers came. Standing outside, they sent word to him, to summon him. A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you."

A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you." He answered them and said, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"

He answered them and said, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!

And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, "This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!"

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well."

After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said,

The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!"

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

"And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age -- although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month!

So Mary said, "Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

So Mary said, "Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah,

And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled."

And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said, "My soul exalts the Lord,

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed,

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed,

But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.

Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Now Jesus' mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not get near him because of the crowd. So he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." read more. But he replied to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd spoke out to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!"

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd spoke out to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!" But he replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!"

But he replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!"

Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory -- the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

This is the one about whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.'

His mother told the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it."

After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

(For not even his own brothers believed in him.)

Jesus said,] "For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may gain their sight, and the ones who see may become blind."

Now standing beside Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

Now standing beside Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, "Woman, look, here is your son!" read more. He then said to his disciple, "Look, here is your mother!" From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.

All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh,

(as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed -- the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do. Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, "so will your descendants be." read more. Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.

to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.

Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job's endurance and you have seen the Lord's purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.