¹Now Moses, with the elders of Israel, commanded the people, saying: “Keep all the commandments which I command you today. ²And it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the Lᴏʀᴅ your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones, and whitewash them with lime. ³You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land which the Lᴏʀᴅ your God is giving you, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ just as the Lᴏʀᴅ God of your fathers promised you. ⁴Therefore it shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that on Mount Ebal you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, and you shall whitewash them with lime. ⁵And there you shall build an altar to the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, an altar of stones; you shall not use an iron tool on them. ⁶You shall build with whole stones the altar of the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lᴏʀᴅ your God. ⁷You shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and rejoice before the Lᴏʀᴅ your God. ⁸And you shall write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law.” ⁹Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, “Take heed and listen, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the Lᴏʀᴅ your God. ¹⁰Therefore you shall obey the voice of the Lᴏʀᴅ your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.” ¹¹And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying, ¹²“These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; ¹³and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ¹⁴“And the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel: ¹⁵‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the Lᴏʀᴅ, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’ ¹⁶‘Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ¹⁷‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ¹⁸‘Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ¹⁹‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ²⁰‘Cursed is the one who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s bed.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ²¹‘Cursed is the one who lies with any kind of animal.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ²²‘Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ²³‘Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ²⁴‘Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ²⁵‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ²⁶‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

¹Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lᴏʀᴅ! ²Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! ³They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. ⁴You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. ⁵Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! ⁶Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. ⁷I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. ⁸I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! ⁹How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. ¹⁰With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! ¹¹Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! ¹²Blessed are You, O Lᴏʀᴅ! Teach me Your statutes! ¹³With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. ¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. ¹⁵I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. ¹⁶I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. ¹⁷Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. ¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. ¹⁹I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. ²⁰My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. ²¹You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. ²²Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. ²³Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. ²⁴Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. ²⁵My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. ²⁶I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. ²⁷Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. ²⁸My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. ²⁹Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. ³⁰I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. ³¹I cling to Your testimonies; O Lᴏʀᴅ, do not put me to shame! ³²I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart. ³³Teach me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. ³⁴Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. ³⁵Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. ³⁶Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. ³⁷Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. ³⁸Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. ³⁹Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. ⁴⁰Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness. ⁴¹Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lᴏʀᴅ— Your salvation according to Your word. ⁴²So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. ⁴³And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances. ⁴⁴So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. ⁴⁵And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. ⁴⁶I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. ⁴⁷And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. ⁴⁸My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes. ⁴⁹Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. ⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. ⁵¹The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. ⁵²I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And have comforted myself. ⁵³Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. ⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. ⁵⁵I remember Your name in the night, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And I keep Your law. ⁵⁶This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts. ⁵⁷You are my portion, O Lᴏʀᴅ; I have said that I would keep Your words. ⁵⁸I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. ⁵⁹I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. ⁶⁰I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. ⁶¹The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. ⁶²At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments. ⁶³I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. ⁶⁴The earth, O Lᴏʀᴅ, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes. ⁶⁵You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your word. ⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments. ⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. ⁶⁸You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. ⁶⁹The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. ⁷⁰Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. ⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. ⁷²The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver. ⁷³Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. ⁷⁴Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. ⁷⁵I know, O Lᴏʀᴅ, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. ⁷⁶Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant. ⁷⁷Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight. ⁷⁸Let the proud be ashamed, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts. ⁷⁹Let those who fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies. ⁸⁰Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed. ⁸¹My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. ⁸²My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?” ⁸³For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes. ⁸⁴How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? ⁸⁵The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law. ⁸⁶All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me! ⁸⁷They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts. ⁸⁸Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. ⁸⁹Forever, O Lᴏʀᴅ, Your word is settled in heaven. ⁹⁰Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. ⁹¹They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. ⁹²Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. ⁹³I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life. ⁹⁴I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. ⁹⁵The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. ⁹⁶I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. ⁹⁷Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. ⁹⁸You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. ⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. ¹⁰¹I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. ¹⁰²I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. ¹⁰³How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. ¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. ¹⁰⁶I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. ¹⁰⁷I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your word. ¹⁰⁸Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And teach me Your judgments. ¹⁰⁹My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. ¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. ¹¹¹Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. ¹¹²I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end. ¹¹³I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. ¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. ¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God! ¹¹⁶Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. ¹¹⁷Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes continually. ¹¹⁸You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, For their deceit is falsehood. ¹¹⁹You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. ¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments. ¹²¹I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. ¹²²Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me. ¹²³My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word. ¹²⁴Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. ¹²⁵I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. ¹²⁶It is time for You to act, O Lᴏʀᴅ, For they have regarded Your law as void. ¹²⁷Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold! ¹²⁸Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. ¹²⁹Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. ¹³⁰The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. ¹³¹I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. ¹³²Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. ¹³³Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. ¹³⁴Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. ¹³⁵Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. ¹³⁶Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law. ¹³⁷Righteous are You, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And upright are Your judgments. ¹³⁸Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful. ¹³⁹My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words. ¹⁴⁰Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it. ¹⁴¹I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. ¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. ¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights. ¹⁴⁴The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live. ¹⁴⁵I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lᴏʀᴅ! I will keep Your statutes. ¹⁴⁶I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. ¹⁴⁷I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. ¹⁴⁸My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. ¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lᴏʀᴅ, revive me according to Your justice. ¹⁵⁰They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law. ¹⁵¹You are near, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And all Your commandments are truth. ¹⁵²Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever. ¹⁵³Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law. ¹⁵⁴Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. ¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. ¹⁵⁶Great are Your tender mercies, O Lᴏʀᴅ; Revive me according to Your judgments. ¹⁵⁷Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. ¹⁵⁸I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word. ¹⁵⁹Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your lovingkindness. ¹⁶⁰The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. ¹⁶¹Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. ¹⁶²I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. ¹⁶³I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. ¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. ¹⁶⁵Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. ¹⁶⁶Lord, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. ¹⁶⁷My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. ¹⁶⁸I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You. ¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before You, O Lᴏʀᴅ; Give me understanding according to Your word. ¹⁷⁰Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. ¹⁷¹My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. ¹⁷²My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. ¹⁷³Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. ¹⁷⁴I long for Your salvation, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And Your law is my delight. ¹⁷⁵Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. ¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.

¹“Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lᴏʀᴅ. ²“Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. ³For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited. ⁴“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. ⁵For your Maker is your husband, The Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. ⁶For the Lᴏʀᴅ has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God. ⁷“For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. ⁸With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the Lᴏʀᴅ, your Redeemer. ⁹“For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. ¹⁰For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the Lᴏʀᴅ, who has mercy on you. ¹¹“O you afflicted one, Tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your foundations with sapphires. ¹²I will make your pinnacles of rubies, Your gates of crystal, And all your walls of precious stones. ¹³All your children shall be taught by the Lᴏʀᴅ, And great shall be the peace of your children. ¹⁴In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. ¹⁵Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. ¹⁶“Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy. ¹⁷No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lᴏʀᴅ, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lᴏʀᴅ.

¹Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” ⁷Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” ⁹When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. ¹³Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” ¹⁴When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, ¹⁵and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” ¹⁶Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. ¹⁷Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: ¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” ¹⁹But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, ²⁰saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” ²¹Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. ²²But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. ²³And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”