answered, As the
Lord my God liveth, whatever I
bring forth, whether it be male or
female, I will devote it to the Lord
my God and it shall minister to
him in holy things, during its
whole life.

3 And behold there appeared
two angels, saying unto her,
Behold Joachim thy husband is
coming with his shepherds.

4 For an angel of the Lord
hath also come down to him, and
said, The Lord God hath heard
thy prayer, make haste and go
hence, for behold Anna thy wife
shall conceive.

5 And Joachim went down and
called his shepherds, saying, Bring
me hither ten she-lambs without
spot or blemish, and they shall
be for the Lord my God.

6 And bring me twelve calves
without blemish, and the twelve
calves shall be for the priests and
the elders.

7 Bring me also a hundred
goats, and the hundred goats shall
be for the whole people.

8 And Joachim went down with
the shepherds, and Anna stood
by the gate and saw Joachim
coming with the shepherds.

9 And she ran, and hanging
about his neck, said, Now I know
that the Lord hath greatly blessed
me:

10 For behold, I who was as a
widow am no longer as a widow, and
I who was barren shall conceive.

CHAPTER V.

1 Joachim abides the first day in his house but
sacrifices on the morrow.
2 Consults the plate on the priests forehead,
3 and is without sin.
6 Anna brings forth a daughter,
9 whom she calls Mary.

AND Joachim abode the first
day in his house, but on the
morrow he brought his offerings,
and said,

2 If the Lord be propitious to
me let the plate which is on the
priests forehead make it manifest.

3 And he consulted the plate
which the priest wore, and saw it,
and behold sin was not found in
him.

4 And Joachim said, Now I know
that the Lord is propitious
to me, and hath taken away all
my sins.

5 And he went down from the
temple of the Lord justified,
and he went to his own house.

6 And when nine months were
fulfilled to Anna, she brought
forth, and said to the midwife,
What have I brought forth?

7 And she told her, A girl.

8 Then Anna said, The Lord
hath this day magnified my soul;
and she laid her in bed.

9 And when the days of her
purification were accomplished,
she gave suck to the child; and
called her name Mary.

CHAPTER VI.

1 Mary at nine months old, walks nine steps.
3 Anna keeps her holy.
4 When she is a year old, Joachim makes a great feast.