Chapter 14

1Joseph finds a midwife. 10 A bright cloud overshadows the care. 11 A great light in the cave, gradually increases until the infant is born. 13 The midwife goes out, and tells Salome that she has seen a virgin bring forth. 17 Salome doubts it. 20 her hand withers, 22 she supplicates the Lord, 28 is cured, 30 but warned not to declare what she had seen . THEN I beheld a woman coming down from the mountains, and she said to me, Where art thou going, O man?
2And I said to her, I go to inquire for a Hebrew midwife.
3She replied to me, Where is the woman that is to be delivered?
4And I answered, In the cave, and she is betrothed to me.
5Then said the midwife, Is she not thy wife?
6Joseph answered, It is Mary, who was educated in the Holy of Holies, in the house of the Lord, and she fell to my lot, and is not my wife, but has conceived by the Holy Ghost.
7The midwife said, Is this true?
8He answered, Come and see.
9And the midwife went along with him, and stood in the cave.
10Then a bright cloud overshadowed the cave, and the midwife said, This day my soul is magnified, for mine eyes have seen surprising things, and salvation is brought forth to Israel.
11But on a sudden the cloud became a great light in the cave, so that their eyes could not bear it.
12But the light gradually decreased, until the infant appeared, and sucked the breast of his mother Mary.
13Then the midwife cried out, and said, How glorious a day is this, wherein mine eyes have seen this extraordinary sight!
14And the midwife went out from the cave, and Salome met her.
15And the midwife said to her, Salome, Salome, I will tell you a most surprising thing which I saw,
16A virgin hath brought forth, which is a thing contrary to nature.
17To which Salome replied, As the Lord my God liveth, unless I receive particular proof of this matter, I will not believe that a virgin hath brought forth.
18Then Salome went in, and the midwife said, Mary, shew thyself, for a great controversy is risen concerning thee.
19And Salome received satisfaction.
20But her hand was withered, and she groaned bitterly.
21And said, Woe to me, because of mine iniquity; for I have tempted the living God, and my hand is ready to drop off.
22Then Salome made her supplication to the Lord, and said, O God of my fathers, remember me, for I am of the seed of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.
23Make me not a reproach among the children of Israel, but restore me sound to my parents.
24For thou well knowest, O Lord, that I have performed many offices of charity in thy name, and have received my reward from thee.
25Upon this an angel of the Lord stood by Salome, and said, The Lord God hath heard thy prayer, reach forth thy hand to the child, and carry him, and by that means thou shalt be restored.
26Salome, filled with exceeding joy, went to the child, and said, I will touch him:
27And she purposed to worship him, for she said, This is a great king which is born in Israel.
28And straightway Salome was cured.
29Then the midwife went out of the cave, being approved by God.
30And lo! a voice came to Salome, Declare not the strange things which thou hast seen, till the child shall come to Jerusalem.
31So Salome also departed, approved by God.