(A)The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation
And [a]increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice (B)when they divide the spoil.
For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of (C)Midian.
For every warrior’s [b]sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
(D)Will be used for burning and fuel [c]of fire.

(E)For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a (F)Son is given;
And (G)the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
(H)Wonderful, Counselor, (I)Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, (J)Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
(K)There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The (L)zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 9:3 So with Qr., Tg.; Kt., Vg. not increased joy; LXX Most of the people You brought down in Your joy
  2. Isaiah 9:5 boot
  3. Isaiah 9:5 for the fire

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

Christ Born of Mary(A)

18 Now the (B)birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child (C)of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being [a]a just man, and not wanting (D)to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, (E)for that which is [b]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 (F)And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name [c]Jesus, (G)for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 (H)“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and [d]did not know her till she had brought forth (I)her[e] firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 1:19 an upright
  2. Matthew 1:20 Lit. begotten
  3. Matthew 1:21 Lit. Savior
  4. Matthew 1:25 Kept her a virgin
  5. Matthew 1:25 NU a Son

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