Luke 2
1 It was the time when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that there should be a census of everyone in the Roman 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 under governor Quirinius of Syria.
(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
3 So everybody went to their own city to be registered.
And everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4 Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea.
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 to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby.
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 to have her baby.
While they were there her time came,
7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him up in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because the inn had no rooms left.
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 Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.
In that same countryside were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. They were scared out of their wits!
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 “Don't be afraid!” the angel told them. “I'm here to bring you good news that will make the all the people really glad.
“Have no fear,” the angel said. “For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation.
11 The Savior has been born to you today, here in David's city. He is the Messiah, the Lord.
This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Lord.
12 You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth 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 Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing –
14 “Glory to the God of heaven, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased!”
“glory to God on high, and on earth peace among those in whom he finds pleasure.”
15 After the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see what's happened concerning these things the Lord has told us about.”
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 They hurried there and found Mary, 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'd seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby.
and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.
18 All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
19 But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
while Mary treasured in her heart all that they said, and thought about it often.
20 The shepherds went back to watching their flocks, glorifying and thanking God for all that they'd heard and seen, for it was just as they'd been told.
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 After eight days, the time came for the baby to be circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he had even 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 When the time of their purification according to the law of Moses was finished, Joseph and Mary took 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 the law of the Lord states, “Every firstborn son must be dedicated to the Lord.”
in compliance with the Law of the Lord that every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,
24 There they made a sacrifice, as God's law also states, of “a pair of turtle doves 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 Living in Jerusalem at that time was a man called Simeon. Simeon did what was good and was very devout. He was waiting expectantly for the hope 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 shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 Following the Spirit's leading, he went to the Temple. When Jesus' parents brought in the little boy to be dedicated as required by 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 Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 “Lord and Master, now you can let your servant die in peace as you promised,
“Now, Lord, you will let your servant go, according to your word, in peace,
30 because I have seen for myself your salvation
for my eyes have seen the salvation
31 which you have prepared for everyone.
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations –
32 He is a light that will show you to the nations, the glory of your people Israel.”
a light to bring light to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.”
33 Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said 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 Jesus' mother Mary, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many to rise. He is a sign from God that many will reject,
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 revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right though you.”
Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart – and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”
36 Anna the prophetess also lived in Jerusalem. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. 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 she had been widowed. She was eighty-four years old. She spent her time at the Temple in worship, 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 She came up to them right at that moment, and began praising God. She spoke about Jesus to all those who were looking forward to the time when God would set Jerusalem free.
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 Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee.
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 The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was on him.
41 Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did.
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
43 When the festival had finished and it was time to return home, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't realize this.
and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.
44 They assumed he was with all the others traveling home. A day passed before they started looking for him among their friends and relatives.
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 couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.
and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
46 It was three days before they found him in the Temple. He was sitting among the religious 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 All who heard him speak were surprised by his understanding and his answers.
All who listened to him marveled at his intelligence and his answers.
48 His parents were totally confused when they saw what he was doing. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I—we've been worried sick! We've been looking everywhere 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 is it that you were looking for me?” Jesus replied. “Didn't you know I should be here 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 didn't understand what he meant.
His parents did not understand what he meant.
51 Then he went back with them to Nazareth, and did what he was told. His mother kept a careful note of everything that happened.
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 Jesus grew steadily wiser and stronger, favored both by God and by the people.
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and gained the blessing of God and people.
