Chapter 13: Joseph Questions Mary

1Mary was in her sixth month. And look! Joseph returned from his building work, entered the house, and found her pregnant. He struck his face, flung himself to the ground in sackcloth, and wept bitterly, saying, “How can I look to the Lord God? What prayer can I offer concerning this young girl, since I took her as a virgin from the Temple of the Lord God and did not protect her? Who has set this trap for me? Who has done this evil thing in my house? Who has defiled the virgin? Am I not reliving the story of Adam? For while Adam was giving glory in the hour of prayer, the serpent came, found Eve alone, and deceived her. Now the same thing has happened to me!”

2Joseph rose from the sackcloth, called Mary, and said to her, “God cared for you. Why have you done this? You have forgotten the Lord your God. Why have you humiliated your soul? You were nourished in the Holy of Holies and received food from the hand of an angel!”

3She wept bitterly and said, “I am pure, and I have not known a man!”

4Joseph said to her, “Then where did this thing in your womb come from?”

5She said, “As the Lord my God lives, I do not know where it came from!”