Luke 2
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.
2 This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
And everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
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 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
to be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother.
6 While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
While they were there her time came,
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
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 And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
In that same countryside were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,
9 Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
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 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
“Have no fear,” the angel said. “For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation.
11 Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Lord.
12 And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And this will be the sign for you. You will find the infant swathed, and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing –
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
“glory to God on high, and on earth peace among those in whom he finds pleasure.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
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 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger;
17 After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.
and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.
18 And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
while Mary treasured in her heart all that they said, and thought about it often.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
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 When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.
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 And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
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 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),
in compliance with the Law of the Lord that every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,
24 and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
and also to offer the sacrifice required by the Law of the Lord – a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
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 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,
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 Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
“Now, Lord, you will let your servant go, according to your word, in peace,
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
for my eyes have seen the salvation
31 which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations –
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
a light to bring light to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
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 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed— and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart – and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”
36 There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
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 and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
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 Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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 When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
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 And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was on him.
41 Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.
Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
43 When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.
and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.
44 Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
Thinking that he was with their fellow travelers, they went one day’s journey before searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances;
45 When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
46 Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
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 And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
All who listened to him marveled at his intelligence and his answers.
48 When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”
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 “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
“What made you search for me?” he answered. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50 But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.
His parents did not understand what he meant.
51 Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
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 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and gained the blessing of God and people.
