Matthew 1

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

This is the story of Jesus Christ, a descendant of both King David and Abraham, tracing his divine lineage.

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

Abraham lovingly fathered Isaac, who in turn, with great pride, fathered Jacob. Jacob, filled with joy, became the father of Judas and his siblings.

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

Judas fathered Phares and Zara with Thamar. Phares then became the proud father of Esrom, who in turn, with great joy, welcomed his son Aram into the world.

And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

Aram became the father of Aminadab, who in turn fathered Naasson. Naasson then brought forth Salmon.

And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Salmon, filled with love, fathered Booz with Rachab. Booz, in turn, with deep affection, fathered Obed with Ruth. And from their union, Obed, with immense pride, fathered Jesse.

And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

Jesse fathered King David, who in turn fathered Solomon with Bathsheba, Urias' former wife.

And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

Solomon, filled with love, brought forth Roboam. Roboam, in his turn, lovingly fathered Abia. And from Abia, with great affection, came Asa.

And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

Asa lovingly fathered Josaphat, who in turn, with great pride, fathered Joram. Joram, filled with joy, then became the father of Ozias.

And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

Ozias lovingly fathered Joatham, who in turn, with great pride, brought forth Achaz. Achaz, filled with hope, then became the father of Ezekias.

And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

Ezekias, filled with love, brought forth Manasses. Manasses, in turn, with a heart full of hope, fathered Amon. And from Amon, with a spirit of courage, came Josias.

And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

Josias fathered Jechonias and his siblings during the heartbreaking period when they were taken as captives to Babylon.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

After being taken to Babylon, Jechonias became the father of Salathiel. In turn, Salathiel fathered Zorobabel.

And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

Zorobabel lovingly fathered Abiud, who in turn, with great affection, brought forth Eliakim. Eliakim, filled with pride and joy, then became the father of Azor.

And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

Azor lovingly fathered Sadoc, who in turn, with great affection, brought forth Achim. Achim, filled with pride, then became the father of Eliud.

And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

Eliud lovingly fathered Eleazar, who in turn, with great pride, brought forth Matthan. Matthan, filled with joy, then became the father of Jacob.

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Jacob was the father of Joseph, who was married to Mary. It was Mary who gave birth to Jesus, known as the Christ.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

From Abraham to David, we count fourteen generations. Another fourteen generations passed from David's time until the Babylonian exile. And from that exile to the birth of Christ, fourteen more generations unfolded.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

The story of Jesus Christ's birth is quite unique: His mother Mary, who was engaged to Joseph but not yet married, was discovered to be pregnant, a miracle attributed to the Holy Spirit.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Joseph, her husband, was a fair man. He didn't want to shame her publicly, so he decided to quietly end their relationship.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

As Joseph wrestled with his thoughts, suddenly, an angel of God visited him in his dream. "Joseph, descendant of David," the angel said, "Don't be afraid to make Mary your wife. The child within her is from the Holy Spirit."

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will be the one to rescue his people from their wrongdoings.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Everything that happened was to fulfill what the Lord's prophet had foretold.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Look, a virgin will carry a child, give birth to a son, and he will be named Emmanuel. This means, God is among us.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Awakening from his slumber, Joseph, filled with faith and obedience, followed the angel's divine command and lovingly accepted his wife.

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

He didn't intimately know her until she gave birth to her firstborn son. And Joseph named him JESUS.