Luke 2:22–39

²²And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”^c), ²⁴and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”^d

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.^e And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, ²⁸Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:

²⁹“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,

You now dismiss Your servant in peace.

³⁰For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

³¹which You have prepared in the sight of all people,

³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to Your people Israel.”

³³The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary:

“Behold, this Child is appointed to cause

the rise and fall of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed —

and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

³⁶There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, ³⁷and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four.^f She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

³⁸Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.