Luke 2:27-39

27Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him the custom required by the Law,

28Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and praised and thanked God, and said,

29“Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace, According to Your word;

30For my eyes have seen Your Salvation,

31Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was previously unknown], And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”

33And His [legal] father and His mother were amazed at what was said about Him.

34Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Listen carefully: this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is to be opposed—

35and a sword [of deep sorrow] will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,

37and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the [area of the] temple, but was serving and worshiping night and day with fastings and prayers.

38She, too, came up at that very moment and began praising and giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all who were looking for the redemption and deliverance of Jerusalem.

39And when they had done everything [in connection with Jesus’ birth] according to the Law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.