mourns for him.
27 Simeon chosen his successor by lot.

THEN Herod perceiving that
he was mocked by the wise
men, and being very angry,
commanded certain men to go and
to kill all the children that were
in Bethlehem, from two years old
and under.

2 But Mary hearing that the
children were to be killed, being
under much fear, took the child,
and wrapped him up in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in an
ox-manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn.

3 Elizabeth also, hearing that
her son John was about to be
searched for, took him and went
up unto the mountains, and looked
around for a place to hide him;

4 And there was no secret place
to be found.

5 Then she groaned within herself,
and said, O mountain of the Lord,
receive the mother with the child.

6 For Elizabeth could not climb up,

7 And instantly the mountain
was divided and received them.

8 And there appeared to them
an angel of the Lord to preserve
them.

9 But Herod made search after
John, and sent servants to Zacharias,
when he was (ministering) at the altar,
and said unto him, Where hast thou hid
thy son?

10 He replied, to them, I am a
minister of God, and a servant at
the altar: how should I know
where my son is?

11 So the servants went back,
and told Herod the whole; at
which he was incensed, and said,
Is not this son of his like to be
king of Israel?

12 He sent therefore again his
servants to Zacharias, saying, Tell
us the truth, where is thy son, for
you know that your life is in my
hand.

13 So the servants went and told
him all this:

14 But Zacharias replied to
them, I am a martyr for God, and
if ye shed my blood, the Lord will
receive my soul.

15 Besides know that ye shed
innocent blood.

16 However Zacharias was murdered
in the entrance of the temple
said altar, and about the partition;

17 But the children of Israel
knew not when he want killed.

18 Then at the hour of salutation
the priests went into the temple
but Zacharias did not according
to custom, meet them and bless them.

19 Yet they still continued
waiting for him to salute them;

20 And when they found he did
not in a long time come, one of
them ventured into the holy place
where the altar was, and he saw
blood lying upon the ground
congealed:

21 When, behold, a voice from
heaven said, Zacharias is murdered,
and his blood shall not be
wiped away, until the revenger
of his blood come.