The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Hee hath vpholden Israel his seruaunt to be mindefull of his mercie

(As hee hath spoken to our fathers, to wit, to Abraham, and his seede) for euer.

And Marie abode with her about three moneths: after, shee returned to her owne house.

Nowe Elisabets time was fulfilled, that shee should be deliuered, and shee brought foorth a sonne.

And her neighbours, and cousins heard tell howe the Lord had shewed his great mercie vpon her, and they reioyced with her.

And it was so that on the eight day they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias after the name of his father.

But his mother answered, and saide, Not so, but he shalbe called Iohn.

And they saide vnto her, There is none of thy kindred, that is named with this name.

Then they made signes to his father, howe he would haue him called.

So hee asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying, His name is Iohn, and they marueiled all.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake and praised God.

Then feare came on all them that dwelt neere vnto them, and all these woordes were noised abroade throughout all the hill countrey of Iudea.

And al they that heard them, laid them vp in their hearts, saying, What maner childe shall this be! and the hand of the Lord was with him.

Then his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and redeemed his people,

And hath raised vp the horne of saluation vnto vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid,

As he spake by ye mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying,

That he would sende vs deliuerance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate vs,

That he might shewe mercie towards our fathers, and remember his holy couenant,

And the othe which he sware to our father Abraham.

Which was, that he would graunt vnto vs, that we being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, should serue him without feare,

All the daies of our life, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him.

And thou, babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord, to prepare his waies,

And to giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes,

Through ye tender mercy of our God, wherby the day spring from an hie hath visited vs,

To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feete into the way of peace.

And the childe grewe, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the wildernesse, til the day came that he should shewe him selfe vnto Israel.

And it came to passe in those dayes, that there came a decree from Augustus Cesar, that all the world should be taxed.

(This first taxing was made when Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria.)

Therefore went all to be taxed, euery man to his owne Citie.

And Ioseph also went vp from Galile out of a citie called Nazareth, into Iudea, vnto the citie of Dauid, which is called Beth-leem (because he was of the house and linage of Dauid,)

To bee taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife, which was with childe.

And so it was, that while they were there, the daies were accomplished that shee shoulde be deliuered,

And she brought foorth her first begotten sonne, and wrapped him in swadling clothes, and laide him in a cratch, because there was no roome for them in the ynne.

And there were in the same countrey shepheards, abiding in the fielde, and keeping watch by night ouer their flocke.

And loe, the Angel of the Lord came vpon them, and the glorie of the Lord shone about them, and they were sore afraide.

Then the Angel saide vnto them, Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great ioy, that shalbe to all the people,

That is, that vnto you is borne this day in the citie of Dauid, a Sauiour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shalbe a signe to you, Yee shall finde the babe swadled, and laid in a cratch.

And straightway there was with the Angel a multitude of heauenly souldiers, praising God, and saying,

Glory be to God in the high heauens, and peace in earth, and towards men good will.

And it came to passe whe the Angels were gone away from them into heauen, that the shepheards sayde one to another, Let vs goe then vnto Beth-leem, and see this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs.

So they came with haste, and founde both Marie and Ioseph, and the babe laid in the cratch.

And when they had seene it, they published abroade the thing, that was tolde them of that childe.

And all that heard it, wondred at ye things which were tolde them of the shepheards.

But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondred them in her heart.

And the shepheardes returned glorifiyng and praising God, for all that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them.

And when the eight daies were accomplished, that they shoulde circumcise the childe, his name was then called Iesus, which was named of the Angell, before he was conceiued in the wombe.

And when the daies of her purification after the Lawe of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Hierusalem, to present him to the Lord,

(As it is written in the Lawe of the Lord, Euery man childe that first openeth ye wombe, shalbe called holy to the Lord)

And to giue an oblation, as it is commanded in the Lawe of the Lord, a paire of turtle doues, or two yong pigeons.

And behold, there was a man in Hierusalem, whose name was Simeon: this man was iust, and feared God, and waited for the consolation of Israel, and the holy Ghost was vpon him.

And it was declared to him from God by the holy Ghost, that he shoulde not see death, before he had seene that Anointed of the Lord.

And he came by the motion of the spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought in the babe Iesus, to do for him after the custome of the Lawe,

Then hee tooke him in his armes, and praised God, and sayd,

Lord, nowe lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace, according to thy woorde,

For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

A light to be reueiled to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Ioseph and his mother marueiled at those things, which were spoken touching him.

And Simeon blessed them, and saide vnto Mary his mother, Beholde, this childe is appointed for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel, and for a signe which shalbe spoken against,

(Yea and a sworde shall pearce through thy soule) that the thoughts of many heartes may be opened.

And there was a Prophetesse, one Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, which was of a great age, after she had liued with an husband seuen yeeres from her virginitie:

And she was widowe about foure score and foure yeeres, and went not out of the Temple, but serued God with fastings and prayers, night and day.

She then coming at the same instant vpon them, confessed likewise the Lord, and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Hierusalem.

And when they had performed all thinges according to the lawe of the Lord, they returned into Galile to their owne citie Nazareth.

And the childe grewe, and waxed strong in Spirit, and was filled with wisedome, and the grace of God was with him.

Nowe his parents went to Hierusalem euery yeere, at the feast of the Passeouer.

And when hee was twelue yeere olde, and they were come vp to Hierusalem, after the custome of the feast,

And had finished the dayes thereof, as they returned, the childe Iesus remained in Hierusalem, and Ioseph knew not, nor his mother,

But they supposing, that he had bene in the company, went a dayes iourney, and sought him among their kinsfolke, and acquaintance.

And when they found him not, they turned backe to Hierusalem, and sought him.

And it came to passe three dayes after, that they found him in the Temple, sitting in the mids of the doctours, both hearing them, and asking them questions:

And all that heard him, were astonied at his vnderstanding and answeres.

So when they sawe him, they were amased, and his mother said vnto him, Sonne, why hast thou thus dealt with vs? beholde, thy father and I haue sought thee with very heauie hearts.

Then said he vnto them, Howe is it that ye sought me? knewe ye not that I must goe about my Fathers busines?

But they vnderstoode not the word that he spake to them.

Then hee went downe with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subiect to them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

And Iesus increased in wisedome, and stature, and in fauour with God and men.

Nowe in the fifteenth yeere of the reigne of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being gouernour of Iudea, and Herod being Tetrarch of Galile, and his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea, and of the countrey of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abilene,

(When Annas and Caiaphas were the hie Priestes) the worde of God came vnto Iohn, the sonne of Zacharias in the wildernes.

And hee came into all the coastes about Iordan, preaching the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sinnes,

As it is written in the booke of the sayings of Esaias the Prophet, which saith, The voyce of him that crieth in the wildernes is, Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his paths straight.

Euery valley shalbe filled, and euery mountaine and hill shall be brought lowe, and crooked things shalbe made straight, and the rough wayes shalbe made smoothe.

And all flesh shall see the saluation of God.

Then said he to the people that were come out to be baptized of him, O generations of vipers, who hath forewarned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring foorth therefore fruites worthy amendment of life, and beginne not to say with your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: for I say vnto you, that God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham.

Nowe also is the axe layed vnto the roote of the trees: therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite, shalbe hewen downe, and cast into the fire.

Then the people asked him, saying, What shall we doe then?

And he answered, and said vnto them, He that hath two coates, let him part with him that hath none: and hee that hath meate, let him doe likewise.

Then came there Publicanes also to bee baptized, and saide vnto him, Master, what shall we doe?

And hee saide vnto them, Require no more then that which is appointed vnto you.

The souldiers likewise demaunded of him, saying, And what shall we doe? And he saide vnto them, Doe violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages.

As the people waited, and all men mused in their heartes of Iohn, if he were not that Christ,

Iohn answered, and saide to them all, In deede I baptize you with water, but one stronger then I, commeth, whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to vnloose: hee will baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire.

Whose fanne is in his hande, and hee will make cleane his floore, and will gather the wheate into his garner, but the chaffe will hee burne vp with fire that neuer shalbe quenched.

Thus then exhorting with many other things, he preached vnto the people.

But when Herod the Tetrarch was rebuked of him, for Herodias his brother Philips wife, and for all the euils which Herod had done,

He added yet this aboue all, that he shut vp Iohn in prison.

Nowe it came to passe, as all the people were baptized, and that Iesus was baptized and did pray, that the heauen was opened: