[a] (A)The people (B)who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of (C)deep darkness,
    on them has light shone.
(D)You have multiplied the nation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with (E)joy at the harvest,
    as they (F)are glad (G)when they divide the spoil.
(H)For the yoke of his burden,
    (I)and the staff for his shoulder,
    the rod of his oppressor,
    you have broken as (J)on the day of Midian.
(K)For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
    and every garment rolled in blood
    will be burned as fuel for the fire.
(L)For to us a child is born,
    to us (M)a son is given;
(N)and the government shall be (O)upon[b] his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called[c]
Wonderful (P)Counselor, (Q)Mighty God,
    (R)Everlasting (S)Father, Prince of (T)Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
    (U)there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
(V)with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
(W)The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 9:2 Ch 9:1 in Hebrew
  2. Isaiah 9:6 Or is upon
  3. Isaiah 9:6 Or is called

The people walking in darkness(A)
    have seen a great light;(B)
on those living in the land of deep darkness(C)
    a light has dawned.(D)
You have enlarged the nation(E)
    and increased their joy;(F)
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.(G)
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,(H)
    you have shattered(I)
the yoke(J) that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,(K)
    the rod of their oppressor.(L)
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,(M)
    will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,(N)
    to us a son is given,(O)
    and the government(P) will be on his shoulders.(Q)
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor,(R) Mighty God,(S)
    Everlasting(T) Father,(U) Prince of Peace.(V)
Of the greatness of his government(W) and peace(X)
    there will be no end.(Y)
He will reign(Z) on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice(AA) and righteousness(AB)
    from that time on and forever.(AC)
The zeal(AD) of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Read full chapter

The Birth of Jesus Christ

18 Now the birth of (A)Jesus Christ[a] took place in this way. (B)When his mother Mary had been betrothed[b] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child (C)from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling (D)to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, (E)an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and (F)you shall call his name Jesus, (G)for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 (H)All this took place (I)to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 (J)“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name (K)Immanuel”

(which means, God (L)with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And (M)he called his name Jesus.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 1:18 Some manuscripts of the Christ
  2. Matthew 1:18 That is, legally pledged to be married

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.(A) 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce(B) her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel(C) of the Lord appeared to him in a dream(D) and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c](E) because he will save his people from their sins.”(F)

22 All this took place to fulfill(G) what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d](H) (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel(I) of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.(J)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
  2. Matthew 1:19 Or was a righteous man and
  3. Matthew 1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.
  4. Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14