But when he had consideredthis,behold,an angelof the Lordappearedto him in a dream,saying,"Joseph,sonof David,do not be afraidto takeMaryas your wife;for the Child whohas been conceivedin her is of the HolySpirit.
The angelansweredand saidto him, "I amGabriel,who standsin the presenceof God,and I have been sentto speakto you and to bringyou thisgood news.
Nowthe birthof JesusChristwas as follows:when His motherMaryhad been betrothedto Joseph,beforethey came togethershe was foundto be with childby the HolySpirit.
But when Heroddied,behold,an angelof the Lordappearedin a dreamto Josephin Egypt,and said,
"It will comeabout afterthisThat I will pourout My Spiriton allmankind;And your sonsand daughterswill prophesy,Your oldmenwill dreamdreams,Your youngmenwill seevisions.
Josephalsowentup from Galilee,from the cityof Nazareth,to Judea,to the cityof Davidwhichis calledBethlehem,becausehe was of the houseand familyof David,
The angelsaidto the women,"Do not be afraid;for I knowthat you are lookingfor Jesuswho has been crucified.
"The steadfastof mindYou will keepin perfectpeace,Becausehe trustsin You.
Then the angelof the LORDappearedto the womanand saidto her, "Beholdnow,you are barrenand have borneno[children], but you shall conceiveand givebirthto a son.
"Then the angelof Godsaidto me in the dream,'Jacob,'and I said,'HereI am.'
But when he heardthat Archelauswas reigningover Judeain placeof his fatherHerod,he was afraidto gothere.Thenafter being warned[by God] in a dream,he leftfor the regionsof Galilee,
Let me hearYour lovingkindnessin the morning;For I trustin You; Teachme the wayin whichI should walk;For to You I liftup my soul.
I am Your servant;giveme understanding,That I may knowYour testimonies.
When my anxiousthoughtsmultiplywithinme, Your consolationsdelightmy soul.
Nowwhen they had gone,behold,an angelof the Lordappearedto Josephin a dreamand said,"Getup! Takethe Childand His motherand fleeto Egypt,and remainthereuntilI tellyou; for Herodis goingto searchfor the Childto destroyHim."
thenI would rejectthe descendantsof Jacoband DavidMy servant,not takingfrom his descendantsrulersoverthe descendantsof Abraham,Isaacand Jacob.But I will restoretheir fortunesand will havemercyon them.'"
Your earswill heara wordbehindyou, "Thisis the way,walkin it," wheneveryou turnto the rightor to the left.
The thoughtsof the righteousare just,[But] the counselsof the wickedare deceitful.
Then Elijahsaidto her, "Do not fear;go,doas you have said,but makeme a littlebreadcakefrom it firstand bring[it] out to me, and afterwardyou may make[one] for yourself and for your son.
Then Gedaliahthe sonof Ahikam,the sonof Shaphan,sworeto them and to their men,saying,"Do not be afraidof servingthe Chaldeans;stayin the landand servethe kingof Babylon,that it may gowellwith you.
"Howlongwill you gohereand there,O faithlessdaughter?For the LORDhas createda newthingin the earth--A womanwill encompassa man."
"Listento Me, you who knowrighteousness,A peoplein whose heartis My law;Do not fearthe reproachof man,Norbe dismayedat their revilings.
He said,"HearnowMy words:Ifthere is a prophetamong you, I, the LORD,shall makeMyself knownto him in a vision.I shall speakwith him in a dream.
He said,"I am God,the Godof your father;do not be afraidto godownto Egypt,for I will makeyou a greatnationthere.
When it was reportedto the houseof David,saying,"The Arameanshave campedin Ephraim,"his heartand the heartsof his peopleshookas the treesof the forestshakewith the wind.
Then he said,"Listennow,O houseof David!Is it tooslighta thingfor you to trythe patienceof men,that you will trythe patienceof my Godas well?
In Gibeonthe LORDappearedto Solomonin a dreamat night;and Godsaid,"Askwhat[you wish] me to giveyou."
And having been warned[by God] in a dreamnot to returnto Herod,the magi leftfor their own countryby anotherway.
While he was sittingon the judgment seat,his wifesenthim [a message], saying,"Have nothingto do with that righteous Man;for last nightI sufferedgreatlyin a dreambecauseof Him."
But duringthe nightan angelof the Lordopenedthe gatesof the prison,and takingthem out he said,
"Let us rejoiceand be gladand givethe gloryto Him, for the marriageof the Lambhas comeand His bridehas madeherselfready."
