Luke 2
1 About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.
And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be registered.
2 (This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
(This registering was the first made while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And every one went to his own town to be registered.
And all went to be registered, each to his own city.
4 Among others Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David, in Judea — because he belonged to the family and house of David —
And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 To be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was about to become a mother.
to be registered with Mary who had been betrothed to him, who was with child.
6 While they were there her time came,
And it came to pass, while they were there, that the days for her delivery were completed.
7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him round and laid him in a manger.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swathing-clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In that same country-side were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 when an angel of the Lord suddenly stood by them, and the Glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were seized with fear.
And an angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were in great fear.
10 “Have no fear,” the angel said. “For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation.
And the angel said to them, Fear not; for lo! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to the whole people;
11 This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Saviour, who is Christ and Lord.
for to you hath been born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is the Christ, the Lord.
12 And this shall be the sign for you. You will find the infant swathed, and lying in a manger.”
And this shall be the sign to you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swathing-clothes, [[lying]] in a manger.
13 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing —
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 “Glory to God on high, And on earth peace among men in whom he finds pleasure.”
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will!”
15 Now, when the angels had left them and gone back to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another: “Let us go at once to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, of which the Lord has told us.”
And it came to pass, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said one to another, Let us go at once to Bethlehem, and see that which hath come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.
16 So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger;
And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
17 and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad what had been told them concerning this child.
18 All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
And all who heard wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 while Mary treasured up all that they said, and dwelt upon it in her thoughts.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all which they had heard and seen, as had been told them.
21 Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus — the name given him by the angel before his conception.
And when eight days were completed for him to be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 When the period of purification of mother and child, enjoined by the Law of Moses, came to an end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 in compliance with the Law of the Lord that ‘every first-born male shall be dedicated to the Lord,’
as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord,”
24 And also to offer the sacrifice enjoined in the Law of the Lord — ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
and to offer a sacrifice, according to what is directed in the law of the Lord: “A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.”
25 There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
And lo! there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and he was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him;
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27 Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple Courts, and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law,
And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28 Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now, Lord, thou wilt let thy servant go, According to thy word, in peace,
Lord! now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30 for my eyes have seen the Salvation
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared in the sight of all nations —
which thou hast prepared before the face of all the peoples;
32 A Light to bring light to the Gentiles, And to be the Glory of thy people Israel.”
a light to enlighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
33 While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,
And his father and his mother marveled at what was spoken concerning him.
34 Simeon gave them his blessing, and said to Mary, the child’s mother: “This child is appointed to be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign much spoken against —
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be spoken against; —
35 Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart — and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”
yea, a sword will pierce through thine own soul, —that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
36 There was also a Prophetess named Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage,
And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel: of the tribe of Asher; she was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 and then a widow, till she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day.
and she was a widow eighty-four years old, who never left the temple, worshipping with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 At that moment she came up, and began publicly to thank God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the deliverance of Jerusalem.
And she came up at this very time, and gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When the child’s parents had done everything enjoined by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was upon him.
And the child grew, and waxed strong, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.
41 Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.
Now his parents used to go yearly to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
And when he was twelve years old, and they went up, after the custom of the feast,
43 and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.
and had completed the days, on their returning, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents did not know it,
44 Thinking that he was with their fellow-travellers, they went one day’s journey before searching for him among their relations and acquaintances;
but, supposing him to be in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance;
45 and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
and not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of him.
46 It was not till the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the Teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
47 All who listened to him marvelled at his intelligence and his answers.
And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.
48 His parents were amazed when they saw him, and his mother said to him: “My child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
And when they saw him, they were amazed; and his mother said to him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have been seeking thee in much distress.
49 “What made you search for me?” he answered. “Did not you know that I must be in my Father’s House?”
And he said to them, Why is it that ye have been seeking me? Did ye not know that I must be about my Father's business?
50 His parents did not understand what he meant.
And they understood not what he spoke to them.
51 However he went down with them to Nazareth, and submitted himself to their control; and his mother treasured all that was said in her heart.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and ‘gained the blessing of God and men.’
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
