"Has not the Scripturesaidthat the Christcomesfrom the descendantsof David,and from Bethlehem,the villagewhereDavidwas?"
Salmathe fatherof Bethlehem[and] Harephthe fatherof Beth-gader.
The LORDhas swornto DavidA truthfrom which He will not turnback:"Of the fruitof your bodyI will setupon your throne.
I will establishyour seedforeverAnd buildup your throneto allgenerations."Selah.
Then a shootwill springfrom the stemof Jesse,And a branchfrom his rootswill bearfruit.
"Behold,[the] daysare coming,"declaresthe LORD,"When I will raiseup for Davida righteousBranch;And He will reignas kingand actwiselyAnd dojusticeand righteousnessin the land.
"But as for you, BethlehemEphrathah,[Too] littleto be among the clansof Judah,From you One will goforthfor Me to be rulerin Israel.His goingsforthare from longago,From the daysof eternity."
The recordof the genealogyof Jesusthe Messiah,the sonof David,the sonof Abraham:
They saidto him, "In Bethlehemof Judea;for thisis whathas been writtenby the prophet:
AND YOU, BETHLEHEM,LANDOF JUDAH,ARE BY NO MEANSLEASTAMONGTHE LEADERSOF JUDAH;FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTHA RULERWHOWILL SHEPHERDMY PEOPLEISRAEL.'"
for todayin the cityof Davidthere has been bornfor you a Savior,whois Christthe Lord.
Josephalsowentup from Galilee,from the cityof Nazareth,to Judea,to the cityof Davidwhichis calledBethlehem,becausehe was of the houseand familyof David,
"However,we knowwherethis manis from; but wheneverthe Christmay come,no oneknowswhereHe is from."
Now the LORDsaidto Samuel,"Howlongwill you grieveoverSaul,since I have rejectedhim from beingkingoverIsrael?Fillyour hornwith oiland go;I will sendyou to Jessethe Bethlehemite,for I have selecteda kingfor Myself among his sons."
Then oneof the youngmensaid,"Behold,I have seena sonof Jessethe Bethlehemitewho is a skillfulmusician,a mightymanof valor,a warrior,one prudentin speech,and a handsomeman;and the LORDis with him."
So Samueldidwhatthe LORDsaid,and cameto Bethlehem.And the eldersof the citycametremblingto meethim and said,"Do you comein peace?"
Saulsaidto him, "Whosesonare you, youngman?"And Davidanswered,"[I am] the sonof your servantJessethe Bethlehemite."
