11 and Amon begat Josiah; and Josiah kegat Jeconiah and his brethren, at the time of the removal 12 to Babylon. And after the removal to Babylon,

Jeconiah begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Ze13 rubbabel; and Zerubbabel begat Abiud ; and Abiud

begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; and 14 Azor begat Zadock; and Zadock begat Achim; 15 and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar;

and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat 16 Jacob; and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of

Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the removal to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the removal to Babylon unto the Christ, fourteen generations.

18

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was after this manner. His mother Mary being betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child 19 of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, be

ing just, and not willing to expose her openly, de20 sired to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary thy wife; for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy 21 Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou

V. 19. In some ancient copies: to make her an example

shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled 22 which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and 23 shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel; which is interpreted, God with us.

And Joseph, awaking from sleep, did as the angel 24 of the Lord had bidden him, and took to him his wife; and he knew her not till she had brought 25 forth a son; and he called his name Jesus.

II. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of 1 Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying: 2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to do him homage. When Herod the king heard it, he was 3 troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when 4 he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said to him, In 5 Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art 6 in no wise least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod having secretly 7

V. 23. Or which interpreted is

V. 25. In some ancient copies: her first-born son

called the wise men, inquired of them exactly the 8 time when the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said: Go and inquire strictly concerning the child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come and do him 9 homage. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over 10 where the young child was. When they saw the 11 star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And

when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and did homage to him; and opening their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold and frankin12 cense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country by another way.

13

And when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to de14 stroy him. And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod; that it

16

might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked

by the wise men, was exceeding wroth; and he sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned from the wise men. Then was ful- 17 filled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying: A voice was heard in Ramah, 18 weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of 19 the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying; Arise, and take the young child and his 20 mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought the young child's life. And he 21 arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard 22 that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee. And he came and dwelt 23 in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

III. IN those days came John the Immerser, 1 preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying: 2 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

V. 18. In some ancient copies: lamentation and weeping

3 For this is he that was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, saying: The voice of one crying

in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make 4 straight his paths. And he, John, had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and 6 all the region about the Jordan, and were immers7 ed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them: Brood of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the com8 ing wrath? Bring forth therefore fruit meet for 9 repentance; and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise 10 to Abraham. And now the axe is laid to the root

ур children

of the trees; therefore every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed immerse you in water unto repentance; but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear; he will immerse 12 you in the Holy Spirit and fire. Whose fan is in

his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor, and will gather his wheat into the garner; but the chaff he will burn up with fire unquenchable. 13 Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to 14 John, to be immersed by him. But John sought to hinder him, saying: I have need to be immersed by