Book of Common Prayer

⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard of it, have not ceased praying for you, and asking that you be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, ¹⁰ so that you may walk worthy of the Lord in all things that please him, being fruitful in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ strengthened with all might through his glorious power to have all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, ¹² and giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of saints in light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through his blood; that is to say, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, and the first begotten of all creatures. ¹⁶ For by him were all things created: things that are in heaven and things that are in earth, things visible and things invisible, whether they be majesty, or lordship, or rule, or power. All things are created by him and in him, ¹⁷ and he is before all things, and in him all things have their being.

¹⁸ And he is the head of the body; that is to say, of the congregation. He is the beginning and first begotten of the dead, so that in all things he may have the pre-eminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and by him to reconcile all things to himself, and to set at peace by him, through the blood of his cross, both things in heaven and things in earth.

²² And when the time of their purification according to the law of Moses came, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the law of the Lord: every man-child that first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), ²⁴ and to offer (as it is said in the law of the Lord) a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And the same man was just, and feared God, and longed for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was in him. ²⁶ And a revelation had been given him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ And he came by inspiration into the temple. And when the father and mother brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸ then he took him up in his arms and said, ²⁹ Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your promise. ³⁰ For my eyes have seen the saviour sent from you, ³¹ whom you have prepared before the face of all people – ³² a light to give sight to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.

³³ And his father and mother marvelled at those things that were spoken of him. ³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, Behold, this child shall be the fall and the resurrection of many in Israel, and a sign that shall be spoken against. ³⁵ And moreover, the sword will pierce your soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

³⁶ And there was a prophetess, one Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, ³⁷ and been a widow for about eighty-four years. She never went out of the temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ And she came forth also that same hour, and praised the Lord, and spoke of him to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

³⁹ And as soon as they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own town, Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was with him.