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^(A) and to be a sign that will be opposed^[a]— ³⁵ and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts^[b] of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna’s Testimony

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