18The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: His mother Mary had been promised to Joseph in marriage. But before they were married, Mary realized that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph was an honorable man and did not want to disgrace her publicly. So he decided to break the marriage agreement with her secretly.

20Joseph had this in mind when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said to him, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus [He Saves], because he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this happened so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true: 23“The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him to do. He took Mary to be his wife. 25He did not have marital relations with her before she gave birth to a son. Joseph named the child Jesus.

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Matthew 1

1Book of the generation of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham. 2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Juda and his brethren; 3and Juda begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom, and Esrom begat Aram, 4and Aram begat Aminadab, and Aminadab begat Naasson, and Naasson begat Salmon, 5and Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse, 6and Jesse begat David the king. And David begat Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7and Solomon begat Roboam, and Roboam begat Abia, and Abia begat Asa, 8and Asa begat Josaphat, and Josaphat begat Joram, and Joram begat Ozias, 9and Ozias begat Joatham, and Joatham begat Achaz, and Achaz begat Ezekias, 10and Ezekias begat Manasses, and Manasses begat Amon, and Amon begat Josias, 11and Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away of Babylon. 12And after the carrying away of Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel, and Salathiel begat Zorobabel, 13and Zorobabel begat Abiud, and Abiud begat Eliakim, and Eliakim begat Azor, 14and Azor begat Sadoc, and Sadoc begat Achim, and Achim begat Eliud, 15and Eliud begat Eliazar, and Eliazar begat Matthan, and Matthan begat Jacob, 16and Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17All the generations, therefore, from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away of Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the carrying away of Babylon unto the Christ, fourteen generations.

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. 19But Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and unwilling to expose her publicly, purposed to have put her away secretly; 20but while he pondered on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of theHoly Spirit. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this came to pass that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord, through the prophet, saying, 23Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted, ‘God with us.’ 24But Joseph, having awoke up from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had enjoined him, and took to him his wife, 25and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.

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Matthew 1

Matthew 1