This edition contains scriptures from the American Standard Version (1901), an offshoot of the King James Version which retains the same old-English language. ___ "The Old Testament is like a rich and vivid tapestry into which have been woven many strands —bright ones telling of the wonder and beauty of human life; somber ones telling of its tumult and misery. "Across the wide fabric that covers many centuries, there is a golden strand. This is the promise of a Redeemer who would come to lead his people out of darkness and confusion into light and peace. How the Redeemer would come, or when, was not clear. But as time went on and men grew in their understanding of God, they began to glimpse what the Redeemer would be like ..." — Elizabeth Yates ____ The Christmas Story begins with a foreword by Elizabeth Yates, who shaped the rest of this book from holy scripture. Her arrangement brings Old and New Testament together to form a cohesive retelling, from the prophets who foretold the promised Messiah, through the epistles of Matthew and Luke, and wrapping up with John and Revelation to complete the picture of the forever Light, the eternal Morning Star who would save the world from sin and bring his people into the peace of God. Original scripture selections were taken from the King James Version, so since that version is not allowed for open usage worldwide, we have kept this edition in Yates' same formal tone with the international permissions of the KJV's close cousin, the American Standard Version (1901). Yates' scripture arrangements are graced with stark, beautiful woodcut illustrations by Nora Spicer Unwin.