路加福音 2
1 一天，凯撒·奥古斯都颁发命令，要对罗马帝国所有民众进行一次人口登记。
About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.
2 自从居里纽斯担任叙利亚总督以来，这还是首次人口普查。
(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
3 众人回到自己的城市进行登记。
And everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4 约瑟是大卫王的后人，于是他离开加利利的拿撒勒，前往犹太的大卫之城伯利恒。
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 –
5 他与订立婚约的玛利亚一同前往，此时玛利亚即将分娩。
to be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother.
6 他们来到目的地后，玛利亚的产期也到了，
While they were there her time came,
7 诞下她的长子，但因为客栈中没有空房间，他们只能用布包好婴儿，放在马槽中。
and she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him around and laid him in a manger.
8 当晚在伯利恒附近，有几名牧羊人正在看守羊群。
In that same countryside were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,
9 主派来的天使现身于他们面前，周身环绕着主的荣光，这让他们吓得魂飞魄散！
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.
10 天使说：“不要怕！看！我为你们带来了好消息，这也会让所有人感受到真正的喜悦。
“Have no fear,” the angel said. “For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation.
11 就在今天，在这大卫之城，你们的救世主已经诞生，他就是主基督。
This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Lord.
12 当你们在马槽内看到一个被布包裹的婴孩，就代表你们找到他了。”
And this will be the sign for you. You will find the infant swathed, and lying in a manger.”
13 这时忽然出现了很多来自天堂的生命，开始赞美上帝。
Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing –
14 “赞颂天堂的上帝，人间令他喜悦之人都将获得安宁！”
“glory to God on high, and on earth peace among those in whom he finds pleasure.”
15 众天使离开他们返回天堂。牧人彼此说：“我们去伯利恒吧，看看主所说的事情，哪些已经成真。”
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.”
16 于是他们匆忙赶去，找到了玛利亚、约瑟和放在马槽里的婴孩。
So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger;
17 在亲眼目睹这一切后，他们就将天使关于这婴儿的讲述告诉其他人。
and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.
18 对牧羊人所说的这些事，所有人都感到惊奇万分。
All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
19 玛利亚将所发生的一切牢记心中，反复思量。
while Mary treasured in her heart all that they said, and thought about it often.
20 牧羊人因亲眼见到天使所言成真，于是便赞美和感谢上帝，回去继续看管他们的羊群。
And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen. It had all happened as they had been told.
21 婴儿诞生后第八天，需要进行割礼，将他起名为耶稣，这也是玛利亚尚未怀胎之时，天使为其提供的名字。
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.
22 按摩西律法，玛丽和月色还需要进行净化仪式。这一天，约瑟和玛利亚带孩子去耶路撒冷，打算将其展示给主。
When the period of purification of mother and child, required by the Law of Moses, came to an end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 就像主的律法所述：“所有长子婴儿都应先献给主。”
in compliance with the Law of the Lord that every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,
24 随后他们进行了献祭，因为上帝的律法还说：应献祭“一对斑鸠或两只雏鸽。”
and also to offer the sacrifice required by the Law of the Lord – a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.
25 在耶路撒冷有一人名叫西蒙，时刻遵循正道行事，非常虔诚。他期待能看到以色列的希望，希望圣灵降临于他。
There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of Israel’s consulation, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
26 圣灵曾向他显现，告诉他在有生之年必会见到主的基督。
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 他遵循圣灵的指引来到神庙，这时耶稣的父母抱着孩子走进来，打算按照律法献上婴儿。
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,
28 西蒙用双臂抱住耶稣，一边感谢上帝，一边说：
Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 “主啊，我的主人，现在可以按照你的承诺，让你的仆人离开了！
“Now, Lord, you will let your servant go, according to your word, in peace,
30 因为我已亲眼见到
for my eyes have seen the salvation
31 你为所有人准备的救赎。
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations –
32 他就是将你显现给全世界的光，是你以色列子民的荣耀。”
a light to bring light to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.”
33 西蒙的话让耶稣的父母很震惊。
While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,
34 西蒙向他们祝福，对耶稣的母亲玛利亚说：“这孩子必定会让很多以色列人倒下，也让很多人崛起。他就是上帝的信号，但很多人都会反对他，
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 –
35 这也揭露了他们心中的想法。对你而言，这感觉就像被刀剑刺穿。”
Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart – and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”
36 亚拿是耶路撒冷的一位年事已高的女先知，是亚什部落法内利的女儿，曾有过一段七年的婚姻。
There was also a prophet 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,
37 丈夫去世后，她便独自寡居，如今已八十四岁，经常会到神庙中膜拜、禁食和祷告。
and then a widow, until she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day.
38 此刻她刚好走近他们，于是开始赞美上帝，然后向所有期待上帝拯救耶路撒冷的众人，讲述耶稣的事情。
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.
39 耶稣的父母完成了上帝律法要求的一切，于是就返回加利利，回到位于拿撒勒的家中。
When the child’s parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40 婴儿逐渐长大，愈发强壮和睿智，因为他已获得上帝的赐福。
The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was on him.
41 每年逾越节，耶稣的父母都会去耶路撒冷。
Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.
42 在他十二岁那年，他们按着惯例再次去参加这个节日。
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
43 节日结束后本应该回家，但年幼的耶稣仍留在耶路撒冷，他父母却没有意识到这一点，
and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.
44 以为他在返回家园的人群之中。一天后，他们开始在亲戚朋友中寻找他。
Thinking that he was with their fellow travelers, they went one day’s journey before searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances;
45 但一直没有找到，于是就回到耶路撒冷继续寻找。
and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
46 三天后，才发现他在神庙里，身边是几位宗教老师。他一面听他们说的话，一面向他们提出问题。
It was not until the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.
47 所有听过他讲话的人，都对他深刻的理解和回答而惊讶万分。
All who listened to him marveled at his intelligence and his answers.
48 看到眼前这一切，他父母非常不解。他母亲说：“孩子，你怎么能这样对我们？你看，我和你父亲如此担心你，到处找你！”
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.”
49 耶稣回答：“你们为什么找我？难道你们不知道，我应该在这里，在我父的家中？”
“What made you search for me?” he answered. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50 但他父母并不理解他这番话。
His parents did not understand what he meant.
51 于是他就顺从父母之意回到拿撒勒，但他母亲把这一切都记在心上。
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.
52 耶稣的智慧和力量不断增长，上帝和民众都喜欢他。
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and gained the blessing of God and people.
