I have relied on you all my life; you have protected me since the day I was born. I will always praise you.

When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there---

you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.

Listen to me, distant nations, you people who live far away! Before I was born, the LORD chose me and appointed me to be his servant.

He made my words as sharp as a sword. With his own hand he protected me. He made me like an arrow, sharp and ready for use.

You have taught me ever since I was young, and I still tell of your wonderful acts.

Well then, the Lord himself will give you a sign: a young woman who is pregnant will have a son and will name him 'Immanuel.'

By the time he is old enough to make his own decisions, people will be drinking milk and eating honey.

A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace."

After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, "Herod will be looking for the child in order to kill him. So get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave."

where he stayed until Herod died. This was done to make come true what the Lord had said through the prophet, "I called my Son out of Egypt."

With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. He stood in front of the woman, in order to eat her child as soon as it was born.

Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne.