13 The Lord spoke to Moses: ² “Consecrate every firstborn male^(A) to me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is mine.”

³ Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day when you came out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, for the Lord brought you out of here by the strength of his hand. Nothing leavened may be eaten.^(B)

¹¹ “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and gives it to you, ¹² you are to present to the Lord every firstborn male of the womb. All firstborn offspring of the livestock you own that are males will be the Lord’s. ¹³ You must redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a flock animal, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn among your sons.^(A)

¹⁴ “In the future, when your son^(B) asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘By the strength of his hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. ¹⁵ When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of humans and the firstborn of livestock. That is why I sacrifice to the Lord all the firstborn of the womb that are males, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’

Psalm 111

Praise for the Lord’s Works

The Christian Life

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,^(A) put on compassion, kindness,^(B) humility,^(C) gentleness,^(D) and patience,^{(E) 13} bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.^{(F) 14} Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called^(G) in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,^[a] singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name^(H) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

²² And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished,^(A) they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated^[a] to the Lord^[b](B)) ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons^[c](C)).

Simeon’s Prophetic Praise

²⁵ There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout,^(D) looking forward to Israel’s consolation,^(E) and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit^(F) that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.^{(G) 27} Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸ Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

³³ His father and mother^[e] were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel^(K) and to be a sign that will be opposed^[f]— ³⁵ and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts^[g] of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna’s Testimony

³⁶ There was also a prophetess,^(L) Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.^(M) She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,^{[h](N) 37} and was a widow for eighty-four years.^[i] She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.^{(O) 38} At that very moment,^[j] she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.^[k](P)

The Family’s Return to Nazareth

³⁹ When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.^{(Q) 40} The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.^(R)