3:13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
3:14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
3:15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
3:16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and Io, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.
3:17. And Io a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
25. The Preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1~11)
3:1. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
3:2. and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3:3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
3:4. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
3:5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
3:6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
3:7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
3:8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
3:9. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
3:10. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
3:11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
24. The Escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13~15)
2:13. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
2:14. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
2:15. and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
23. Visitors from the East (Matthew 2:1~12)
2:1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2:2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
2:3. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
2:4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
2:5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
2:6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
2:7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
2:8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
2:9. When they had heard the king, they departed; and Io, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
2:10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
2:11. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
2:12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
22. The Birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18~25)
1:18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
1:19. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
1:20. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
1:21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
1:22. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
1:23. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
1:24. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
1:25. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
21. The Word of Life (John 1:1~5)
1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:2. The same was in the beginning with God.
1:3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
1:4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1:5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
20. In Praise of Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1~24)
8:1. Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
8:2. She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
8:3. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
8:4. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
8:5. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
8:6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
8:7. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8:8. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
8:9. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
8:10. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
8:11. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
8:12. I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
8:13. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
8:14. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
8:15. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
8:16. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
8:17. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
8:18. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
8:19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
8:20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
8:21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
8:22. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
8:23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
8:24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
19. In Praise of the Creator (Psalms 104:1~4, 10~16)
104:1. Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
104:2. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
104:3. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
104:4. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
104:10. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
104:11. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench heir thirst.
104:12. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
104:13. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
104:14. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
104:15. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
104:16. The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted.
18. The Love of God (Psalms 103:1~22)
103:1. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
103:2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
103:3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
103:4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
103:6. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
103:7. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
103:8. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
103:9. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
103:10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
103:11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
103:12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
103:13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
103:14. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
103:15. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
103:16. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.
103:17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
103:18. To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
103:19. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
103:20. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
103:21. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
103:22. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
17. Praise and Thanksgiving (Psalms 65:1~13)
65:1. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
65:2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
65:3. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
65:4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
65:5. By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
65:6. Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
65:7. Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
65:8. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
65:9. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
65:10. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
65:11. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
65:12. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
65:13. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.