And Jesse, of David the king. David (by Uriah's widow), was the father of Solomon;

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife home, for what is begotten in her is by the Holy Spirit; and she will bear a son, and you are to call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

"Where is the new-born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him."

So when he had gathered together all the chief priests and rabbis of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born.

"And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah, Thou are not least among the princes of Judah, For out of thee shall come a ruler Who shall shepherd my people, Israel."

The Magi listened to the king, and went on their way, and lo! the star which they had seen in the east led them until it came and stood over the place where the young child was.

But because they were forbidden by God in a dream to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

When they were gone an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying; "Rise! Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and there remain until I bring you word; for Herod intends to make a search for the child, in order to put him to death."

As soon as Herod saw that he had been mocked by the Magi, he was furious. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and all the neighborhood who were two years old or under, in accordance with the date which he had ascertained from the Magi.

Then were fulfilled the words spoken through Jeremiah, the prophet, saying,

A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and lamentation??achel weeping for her children, Inconsolable, because they were no more!

saying, "Rise! Take the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the life of the child are dead."

This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'?? tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham.

But he tried to prevent him. "It is I," he said, "who need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?"

So the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, bid these stones to become bread."

and said to him. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, "He will give his angels charge over thee; Upon their hands they will bear thee up, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

The people who were dwelling in darkness Have seen a great light; And on those who were dwelling in the land of the shadows of death Light has dawned.

And as he was walking by the see of Galilee, he saw two brothers??imon who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother??asting their net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

And his fame spread throughout all Syria. They brought all the sick to him, those who were suffering from various diseases and troubles??emoniacs, epileptics, paralytics??nd he healed them.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for the righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name's sake.

"Rejoice and exult in it, because your reward was great in the heavens; for so did they persecute the prophets before you.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt lose its savor, in what way shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing but to be thrown out and trodden under foot of men.

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hid;

"nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

"So let your light shine before men that they may see good you do, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

"Do not suppose that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I am come not to destroy, but to fulfil.

"For I assure you that unless your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not find entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

"If therefore when you are offering your gift upon the altar, and there remember that your brother has a grievance against you,

"leave there your gift before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother, first of all; then come and offer your gift.

"Come to terms with your opponent quickly, while you are yet with him on the way [to the court], to prevent your opponent from handing you over to the judge, and the judge to the jailer, and so you be thrown into prison.

And if your eye, your right eye, entices you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs, than to have your whole body go down into the pit.

And if your right hand entices you into sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs, than to have your whole body go down into the pit.

"Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You must not forswear yourselves, but must perform your vows to the Lord.

"Nor must you swear by your head, since you cannot make one hair white or black.

"But let your word be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the Evil One.

"and if any one wants to go to law with you and takes away your coat, let him take your cloak also.

"You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy."

"But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.

"So you will become sons of your heavenly Father; for he makes his sun to rise upon sinners as well as saints, and sends rain upon the unjust and the just.

"Even the tax-gatherers do that, do they not? And if you show courtesy to your brother only, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do that, do they not?

"You then must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

"Be careful not to do your good deeds in the sight of men, in order to be observed by them. If you do, you have no reward with your heavenly Father.

"But when you give alms, do not let your right hand know what your left is doing,

"so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

"But you, when you pray, go into your own room and shut your door; pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"So pray in this way. "Our Father who art in heaven, May thy name be hallowed,

Give us today our bread for the day before us;

And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors;

"For if you forgive men their offenses against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you also;

"but if you do not forgive men your offenses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your offenses.

"When you fast, do not look downcast like the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In solemn truth I tell you, they already have received their reward.

"Store up for yourselves no treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

"but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

"For wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

"The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is sound, your whole body will be well lighted;

"but if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be darkened. If then the very light within you is darkness, how dense is that darkness!

"No slave can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will pay heed to the one and despise the other. You cannot be the slaves both of God and of gold.

"For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, inquiring what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor yet for your body, inquiring what you shall wear. Is not your life more than its food, and your body than its clothing?

"Behold! the birds in the sky! They neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them; and are not you worth more than they?

"Then do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'"

"For all these are things that the Gentiles are eagerly seeking; for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of them all.

"Do not then be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own anxieties. Enough for each day are its own troubles."

"And why do you look at the mote in your brother's eye, and fail to notice the beam which is in your own eye?

"Or how will you say to your brother, 'Permit me to remove the mote from your eye,' when, behold, the beam is in your own eye?

"Hypocrite! First cast out the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to cast the mote out of your brother's eye.

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine; lest in turn they trample them under their feet, and then turn and attack you.

"or if his son asks for a fish, will offer him a snake?

"If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?

"Enter by the narrow gate; for broad is the gate and wide the road that leads to destruction, and many are they who go in by it;

"but the gate is narrow and the road is steep, which leads to life, and they are few who find it.

"Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but within they are ravening wolves.

"By their fruits you will know them. Are grapes gathered of thorns, or figs of thistles?

"Many in that day will say to me, "'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name done many mighty works?'

Now when Jesus had finished his discourse, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,

At evening-time they brought to him many demoniacs. He cast out the demons with a word, and healed all who were ill,

that the word spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, He took upon himself our weaknesses, and bore the burden of our diseases.

"Foxes have their holes," answered Jesus, "and wild birds their roosting-places, but the Son of man has not where to lay his head."

But he was asleep. And they came and woke him, saying. "Lord save us! We are drowning!"

"Why are you afraid?" he said, "you men of little faith!" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there came a great calm.

But the men were amazed, saying, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

When he arrived on the other side, in the country of the Gadarenes, he was met by two demoniacs who were coming out of the tombs. They were so violently fierce that no one dared pass along that road.

"You Son of God," they shouted, "what have you to do with us? Are you come to torment us before the time?"

and the demons began entreating him. "If you are driving us out," they said, "send us into the herd of swine."

And here they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Courage, son, your sins are forgiven."

"Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?

"But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins"??e then says to the paralytic, "Rise, take up your bed, and go to your home."

But all the crowd were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

When the Pharisees saw it, they kept saying to his disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gatherers and sinners?"