Lucas 2

Simeon

25 Well now, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, expectantly waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 (It had been revealed to him repeatedly by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw the Lord’s Messiah.*The Greek Text has ‘Christ’, but the Holy Spirit presumably used Hebrew to communicate with Simeon. The man evidently lived in communion with God, and thus the Holy Spirit could guide him at any time—here He sends him into the temple at just the right moment.) 27 So by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought the Child Jesus in, to do concerning Him according to the custom of the law, 28 Simeon took Him into his arms and blessed God and said:

29 "Sovereign,*Simon actually used the term from which we get ‘despot’, but in English this term has a negative flavor, unless one adds ‘benevolent’; but ‘benevolent despot’ does not work very well in direct address—so I render ‘Sovereign’. [When I myself address God, I habitually follow Simeon’s example—I also am His slave.] now You can release your slave in peace,

according to Your word,

30 because my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples:

32 a light for revelation to Gentiles,

and the glory of Your people Israel."