child dedication

⁶The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.

³Behold, the inheritance of the Lord is sons, the reward is the fruit of the womb.

⁵You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. ⁶And these words, which I instruct to you this day, shall be in your heart. ⁷And you shall explain them to your sons. And you shall meditate upon them sitting in your house, and walking on a journey, when lying down and when rising up.

²⁷I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted to me my petition, which I asked of him. ²⁸Because of this, I have also lent him to the Lord, for all the days when he shall be lent to the Lord.” And they adored the Lord in that place. And Hannah prayed, and she said:

¹³And they brought to him the little children, so that he might touch them. But the disciples admonished those who brought them. ¹⁴But when Jesus saw this, he took offense, and he said to them: “Allow the little ones to come to me, and do not prohibit them. For of such as these is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵Amen I say to you, whoever will not accept the kingdom of God like a little child, will not enter into it.” ¹⁶And embracing them, and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.

⁵“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. And before you went forth from the womb, I sanctified you. And I made you a prophet to the nations.”

²²And after the days of her purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord,

¹⁶And embracing them, and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.

⁴I have no greater grace than this, when I hear that my sons are walking in the truth.

⁴And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord.

¹¹For I know the thoughts that I think over you, says the Lord: thoughts of peace and not of affliction, so that I may give you patience and an end.

⁷And you shall explain them to your sons. And you shall meditate upon them sitting in your house, and walking on a journey, when lying down and when rising up.

¹³For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother. ¹⁴I will confess to you, for you have been magnified terribly. Your works are miraculous, as my soul knows exceedingly well. ¹⁵My bone, which you have made in secret, has not been hidden from you, and my substance is in accord with the lower parts of the earth. ¹⁶Your eyes saw my imperfection, and all this shall be written in your book. Days will be formed, and no one shall be in them. ¹⁷But to me, O God, your friends have been greatly honored. Their first ruler has been exceedingly strengthened. ¹⁸I will number them, and they will be more numerous than the sand. I rose up, and I am still with you.

³Behold, the inheritance of the Lord is sons, the reward is the fruit of the womb. ⁴Like arrows in the hand of the powerful, so are the sons of those who have been cast out. ⁵Blessed is the man who has filled his desire from these things. He will not be confounded when he speaks to his enemies at the gate.

¹⁷Every excellent gift and every perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor any shadow of alteration.

¹⁴But when Jesus saw this, he took offense, and he said to them: “Allow the little ones to come to me, and do not prohibit them. For of such as these is the kingdom of God.

²“Sanctify to me every firstborn which opens the womb among the sons of Israel, as much of men as of cattle. For they are all mine.”

²²And after the days of her purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord, ²³just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “For every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,” ²⁴and in order to offer a sacrifice, according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

²⁴And after she had weaned him, she brought him with her, along with three calves, and three measures of flour, and a small bottle of wine, and she led him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. But the boy was still a young child. ²⁵And they immolated a calf, and they presented the boy to Eli. ²⁶And Hannah said: “I beg you, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord: I am that woman, who stood before you here, praying to the Lord. ²⁷I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted to me my petition, which I asked of him. ²⁸Because of this, I have also lent him to the Lord, for all the days when he shall be lent to the Lord.” And they adored the Lord in that place. And Hannah prayed, and she said: