Luke 2:25-35

Contemporary English Version

²⁵At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for him to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him ²⁶and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.

²⁷When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. ²⁸Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,

²⁹“Lord, I am your servant,
    and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept
    your promise to me.
³⁰With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
    to save your people,
³¹and foreign nations
    will also see this.
³²^(A) Your mighty power is a light
    for all nations,
and it will bring honor
    to your people Israel.”

³³Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. ³⁴Then he blessed them and told Mary, “This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, ³⁵and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking.”

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