See,
I am sending my messenger to prepare the
way before me, and the Lord whom you
seek will suddenly come to his temple.
The messenger of the covenant in whom
you delight—indeed, he is coming, says
the Lord of hosts. 2 But
who can endure the day of his coming,
and who can stand when he appears?
For
he is like a refiner's fire and like
fullers' soap; 3 he
will sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver, and he will purify the
descendants of Levi and refine them like
gold and silver, until they present
offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then
the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will
be pleasing to the Lord as in the days
of old and as in former years.
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14 Since,
therefore, the children share flesh and
blood, he himself likewise shared the
same things, so that through death he
might destroy the one who has the power
of death, that is, the devil, 15 and
free those who all their lives were held
in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For
it is clear that he did not come to help
angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore
he had to become like his brothers and
sisters in every respect, so that he
might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in the service of God, to make a
sacrifice of atonement for the sins of
the people. 18 Because
he himself was tested by what he
suffered, he is able to help those who
are being tested.
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22 When
the time came for their purification
according to the law of Moses, they
brought him up to Jerusalem to present
him to the Lord 23 (as
it is written in the law of the Lord,
"Every firstborn male shall be
designated as holy to the Lord"), 24 and
they offered a sacrifice according to
what is stated in the law of the Lord,
"a pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons."
25 Now
there was a man in Jerusalem whose name
was Simeon; this man was righteous and
devout, looking forward to the
consolation of Israel, and the Holy
Spirit rested on him. 26 It
had been revealed to him by the Holy
Spirit that he would not see death
before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Guided
by the Spirit, Simeon came into the
temple; and when the parents brought in
the child Jesus, to do for him what was
customary under the law, 28 Simeon
took him in his arms and praised God,
saying, 29 "Master,
now you are dismissing your servant in
peace, according to your word; 30 for
my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which
you have prepared in the presence of all
peoples, 32 a light
for revelation to the Gentiles and for
glory to your people Israel." 33 And
the child's father and mother were
amazed at what was being said about him.
34 Then Simeon
blessed them and said to his mother
Mary, "This child is destined for
the falling and the rising of many in
Israel, and to be a sign that will be
opposed 35 so that
the inner thoughts of many will be
revealed—and a sword will pierce your
own soul too." 36 There
was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of
Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was
of a great age, having lived with her
husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then
as a widow to the age of eighty-four.
She never left the temple but worshiped
there with fasting and prayer night and
day. 38 At that
moment she came, and began to praise God
and to speak about the child to all who
were looking for the redemption of
Jerusalem. 39 When
they had finished everything required by
the law of the Lord, they returned to
Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The
child grew and became strong, filled
with wisdom; and the favor of God was
upon him.
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