And Simeonblessedthem and saidto MaryHis mother,"Behold,this[Child] is appointedfor the falland riseof manyin Israel,and for a signto be opposed--
He blessedhim and said,"Blessedbe Abramof GodMostHigh,Possessorof heavenand earth;
Then Josephbroughthis fatherJacoband presentedhim to Pharaoh;and JacobblessedPharaoh.
And Mosesexaminedallthe workand behold,they had doneit; justas the LORDhad commanded,thisthey had done.So Mosesblessedthem.
Behold,I and the childrenwhomthe LORDhas givenme are for signsand wondersin Israelfrom the LORDof hosts,who dwellson MountZion.
Whoeveris wise,let him understandthesethings;[Whoever] is discerning,let him knowthem. For the waysof the LORDare right,And the righteouswill walkin them, But transgressorswill stumblein them.
"The Sonof Mancameeatingand drinking,and they say,'Behold,a gluttonousmanand a drunkard,a friendof tax collectorsand sinners!'Yetwisdomis vindicatedby her deeds."
While He was stillspeakingto the crowds,behold,His motherand brotherswere standingoutside,seekingto speakto Him.
"And he who fallson thisstonewill be broken to pieces;but on whomeverit falls,it will scatter him like dust."
and said,"Sir,we rememberthat when He was stillalivethat deceiversaid,AfterthreedaysI [am to] rise again.'
and a swordwill pierceevenyour ownsoul--to the endthat thoughtsfrom manyheartsmay be revealed."
"For everyonewho doesevilhatesthe Light,and does not cometo the Lightfor fearthat his deedswill be exposed.
For thisreasonthereforethe Jewswere seekingall the moreto killHim, becauseHe not onlywas breakingthe Sabbath,but alsowas callingGodHis ownFather,makingHimselfequalwith God.
But when the Jewssawthe crowds,they were filledwith jealousyand [began] contradictingthe things spokenby Paul,and were blaspheming.
When they did not findthem, they [began] draggingJasonand somebrethrenbeforethe city authorities,shouting,"These menwho have upsetthe worldhave comeherealso;
"For we have foundthismana real pestand a fellow who stirsup dissensionamong allthe Jewsthroughoutthe world,and a ringleaderof the sectof the Nazarenes.
"But we desireto hearfrom you whatyour viewsare; for concerningthissect,it is knownto us that it is spoken againsteverywhere."
THE KINGSOF THE EARTHTOOK THEIR STAND,AND THE RULERSWERE GATHEREDTOGETHERAGAINSTTHE LORDAND AGAINSTHIS CHRIST.'
The wordof Godkept on spreading;and the numberof the disciplescontinued to increasegreatlyin Jerusalem,and a greatmanyof the priestswere becoming obedientto the faith.
Why?Because[they did] not [pursue it] by faith,but as though[it were] by works.They stumbled overthe stumblingstone,
but we preachChristcrucified,to Jewsa stumbling blockand to Gentilesfoolishness,
For thisMelchizedek,kingof Salem,priestof the Most HighGod,who metAbrahamas he was returningfrom the slaughterof the kingsand blessedhim,
But withoutanydisputethe lesseris blessedby the greater.
Ifyou are reviledfor the nameof Christ,you are blessed,becausethe Spiritof gloryand of Godrestson you.
Then Eliwould blessElkanahand his wifeand say,"May the LORDgiveyou childrenfrom thiswomanin placeof the oneshe dedicatedto the LORD."And they wentto their own home.
