1 And so, crying out, the entire crowd wept throughout that night.
2 And all the sons of Israel were murmuring against Moses and Aaron, saying:
3 If only we had died in Egypt, and, “If only we would perish in this vast wilderness,” and, “May the Lord not lead us into this land, lest we fall by the sword, and our wives, as well as our children, be led away as captives. Is it not better to return to Egypt?”
4 And they said to one another, “Let us appoint our leader, and so return to Egypt.”
5 And when Moses and Aaron heard this, they fell prone on the ground in the sight of the multitude of the sons of Israel.
6 Yet truly, Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who themselves had also viewed the land, tore their garments,
7 and they said to the entire multitude of the sons of Israel: “The land that we circled through is very good.
8 If the Lord will be gracious to us, he will lead us into it, and he will give us the land flowing with milk and honey.
9 Do not choose to be rebellious against the Lord. And do not fear the people of this land, for, like bread, so are we able to devour them. All protection has withdrawn from them. The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid.”
10 And when the entire multitude cried out, and they wanted to crush them with stones, the glory of the Lord appeared, over the roof of the covenant, to all the sons of Israel.
11 And the Lord said to Moses: “How long will this people disparage me? How long will they refuse to believe me, despite all the signs that I have wrought before them?
12 Therefore, I will strike them with a pestilence, and so I will consume them. But you I will make the ruler over a great nation, and one which is mightier than this one.”
13 And Moses said to the Lord: “But then the Egyptians, from whose midst you led out this people,
14 and the inhabitants of this land, who have heard that you, O Lord, are among this people, and that you are seen face to face, and that your cloud protects them, and that you go before them with a column of cloud by day, and a column of fire by night,
15 may hear that you have killed so great a multitude, as if they were one man, and they may say:
16 ‘He was not able to lead the people into the land about which he had sworn. Therefore, he slew them in the wilderness.’
17 Therefore, may the strength of the Lord be magnified, just as you swore, saying:
18 ‘The Lord is patient and full of mercy, taking away iniquity and wickedness, and forsaking no one who is harmless. He visits the sins of the fathers upon the sons, to the third and fourth generation.’
19 Forgive, I beg you, the sins of this people, according to the greatness of your mercy, just as you have been gracious to them in their journey from Egypt to this place.”
20 And the Lord said: “I have forgiven them according to your word.
21 Also, as I live, the entire world shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.
22 And yet, all the men who have seen my majesty, and the signs that I have wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, and who have tested me ten times already, and yet have not obeyed my voice,
23 these shall not see the land, about which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who detracted me gaze upon it.
24 My servant Caleb, who, being full of another spirit, has followed me, I will lead into this land, through which he has wandered, and his offspring shall possess it.
25 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys. Tomorrow, move the camp and return into the wilderness, by the way of the Red Sea.”
26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
27 How long will this very wicked multitude murmur against me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel.
28 Therefore, say to them: As I live, says the Lord, as you spoke in my hearing, so will I do to you.
29 In the wilderness, here shall your carcasses lie. All you who were numbered from twenty years and above, and who have murmured against me,
30 you shall not enter into the land, over which I lifted up my hand to cause you to live there, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
31 But your little ones, about whom you said that they would be a prey to the enemies, I will lead them in, so that they may see the land that has displeased you.
32 Your carcasses shall lie in the wilderness.
33 Your sons shall wander in the desert for forty years, and they shall bear your fornication, until the carcasses of their fathers are consumed in the desert.
34 According to the number of the forty days, during which you examined the land, one year shall be charged for each day. And so, for forty years you shall take back your iniquities, and you shall know my retribution.
35 For just as I have spoken, so shall I do, to this entire most wicked multitude, which has risen up together against me. In the wilderness, here shall it fade away and die.”
36 Therefore, all the men, whom Moses had sent to contemplate the land, and who, having returned, had caused the entire multitude to murmur against him, disparaging the land as if it were evil,
37 suffered death and were struck down in the sight of the Lord.
38 But only Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, out of all those who had journeyed to examine the land.
39 And Moses spoke all these words to all the sons of Israel, and the people mourned exceedingly.
40 And behold, rising up at first light, they climbed to the top of the mountain, and they said, “We are prepared to ascend to the place, about which the Lord has spoken, for we have sinned.”
41 And Moses said to them: “Why do you transgress the word of the Lord, merely because it will not result in prosperity for you?
42 Do not ascend, for the Lord is not with you, lest you be overthrown before your enemies.
43 The Amalekite and the Canaanite are before you, by whose sword you shall be ruined, for you were not willing to consent to the Lord, and so the Lord is not with you.”
44 But they, having been darkened, ascended to the top of the mountain. But the ark of the testament of the Lord, and Moses, did not withdraw from the camp.
45 And the Amalekites descended, along with those Canaanites who were living in the mountains. And so, striking and cutting them down, they pursued them all the way to Hormah.
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11 A partridge has hatched eggs that she did not lay; a man has gathered riches, but without judgment. In the midst of his days, he will leave it all behind, and he will be foolish concerning his very end.”
12 A high and glorious throne is the place of our sanctification from the beginning.
13 O Lord, Hope of Israel: all who forsake you will be confounded. Those who withdraw from you will be written into the earth. For they have abandoned the Lord, the Source of living waters.
14 Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed. Save me, and I will be saved. For you are my praise.
15 Behold, they themselves are saying to me: ‘Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come.’
16 But I am not troubled; I am following you as my shepherd. And I have not desired the day of man, as you know. That which has gone forth from my lips has been right in your sight.
17 May you not be a dread to me. You are my hope in the day of affliction.
18 May those who persecute me be confounded, but may I not be confounded. May they be fearful, and may I not be fearful. Lead over them the day of affliction, and crush them with a double destruction.”
19 Thus says the Lord to me: “Go, and stand at the gate of the sons of the people, through which the kings of Judah enter and depart, and at all the gates of Jerusalem.
20 And you shall say to them: Listen to the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah, and all of Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter through these gates.”
21 Thus says the Lord: “Guard your souls, and do not choose to carry heavy things on the day of the Sabbath, nor should you carry these things through the gates of Jerusalem.
22 And do not be willing to cast burdens out of your houses on the day of the Sabbath, nor should you do any work. Sanctify the day of the Sabbath, just as I instructed your fathers.
23 But they did not listen, nor did they incline their ear. Instead, they hardened their neck, lest they listen to me and receive discipline.
24 And this shall be: If you listen to me, says the Lord, so that you do not carry in burdens through the gates of this city on the day of the Sabbath, and if you sanctify the day of the Sabbath, so that you do not do work in it,
25 then there will enter through the gates of this city: kings and princes, sitting on the throne of David, and riding on chariots and horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And this city will be inhabited forever.
26 And they will arrive from the cities of Judah and from all around Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plains, and from the mountainous regions, and from the south, carrying holocausts, and victims, and sacrifices, and frankincense. And they will carry an oblation into the house of the Lord.
27 But if you will not listen to me, to sanctify the day of the Sabbath, and not to carry burdens, and not to bring these things through the gates of Jerusalem on the day of the Sabbath, then I will kindle a fire at its gates, and it will devour the houses of Jerusalem, and it will not be extinguished.”
16 For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God.
17 For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me.
18 For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me.
19 For I will declare my inequity: and I will think for my sin.
20 But my enemies live, and are stronger that I: and they hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
21 They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness.
22 Forsake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me.
23 Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and God-fearing, awaiting the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was with him.
26 And he had received an answer from the Holy Spirit: that he would not see his own death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27 And he went with the Spirit to the temple. And when the child Jesus was brought in by his parents, in order to act on his behalf according to the custom of the law,
28 he also took him up, into his arms, and he blessed God and said:
29 Now you may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lord, according to your word.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples:
32 the light of revelation to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 And his father and mother were wondering over these things, which were spoken about him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and he said to his mother Mary: “Behold, this one has been set for the ruin and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and as a sign which will be contradicted.
35 And a sword will pass through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in years, and she had lived with her husband for seven years from her virginity.
37 And then she was a widow, even to her eighty-fourth year. And without departing from the temple, she was a servant to fasting and prayer, night and day.
38 And entering at the same hour, she confessed to the Lord. And she spoke about him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel.
39 And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city, Nazareth.
40 Now the child grew, and he was strengthened with the fullness of wisdom. And the grace of God was in him.
41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the time of the solemnity of Passover.
42 And when he had become twelve years old, they ascended to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast day.
43 And having completed the days, when they returned, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents did not realize this.
44 But, supposing that he was in the company, they went a day’s journey, seeking him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it happened that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and questioning them.
47 But all who listened to him were astonished over his prudence and his responses.
48 And upon seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: “Son, why have you acted this way toward us? Behold, your father and I were seeking you in sorrow.”
49 And he said to them: “How is it that you were seeking me? For did you not know that it is necessary for me to be in these things which are of my Father?”
50 And they did not understand the word that he spoke to them.
51 And he descended with them and went to Nazareth. And he was subordinate to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.
52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and in age, and in grace, with God and men.
