Matthew 1:18-25

English Standard Version

The Birth of Jesus Christ

¹⁸Now 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. ¹⁹And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling ^(D)to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But 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. ²¹She 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). ²⁴When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And ^(M)he called his name Jesus.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

Psalm 2

English Standard Version

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

2 ^(A)Why do ^(B)the nations rage^[a]
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his ^(C)Anointed, saying,
³“Let us ^(D)burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

⁴He who ^(E)sits in the heavens ^(F)laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵Then he will speak to them in his ^(G)wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶“As for me, I have ^(H)set my King
    on ^(I)Zion, my ^(J)holy hill.”

⁷I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, ^(K)“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and ^(L)the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You shall ^(M)break^[b] them with ^(N)a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like ^(O)a potter's vessel.”

¹⁰Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
¹¹^(P)Serve the Lord with ^(Q)fear,
    and ^(R)rejoice with ^(S)trembling.
¹²^(T)Kiss ^(U)the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his ^(V)wrath is quickly kindled.
^(W)Blessed are all who take refuge in him.