Luke 2
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered in a census.
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, and it took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
And everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family 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 to register himself along with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
to be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother.
6 While they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth,
While they were there her time came,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son. Then she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in the 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 In the same region there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
In that same countryside were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
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, which 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 For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who 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 This will be the sign for 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 Suddenly there was with the angel a 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 peace on earth, good will among men.”
“glory to God on high, and on earth peace among those in whom he finds pleasure.”
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over 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 went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger;
17 After seeing him, they made widely known what they had been told about the child,
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 told them.
All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
while Mary treasured in her heart all that they said, and thought about it often.
20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had 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 When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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 days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up 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 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”).
in compliance with the Law of the Lord that every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,
24 They also went up to offer a sacrifice according to what is said 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 And behold, 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 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit 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 So he came in the Spirit 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 “Now, Master, yoʋ are releasing yoʋr servant in peace according to yoʋr word,
“Now, Lord, you will let your servant go, according to your word, in peace,
30 for my eyes have seen yoʋr salvation,
for my eyes have seen the salvation
31 which yoʋ have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations –
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of yoʋr people Israel.”
a light to bring light to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.”
33 Joseph and the child's mother were amazed at what was being 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 Mary, the child's mother, “Behold, this child is appointed to bring about the falling and rising 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 yoʋr own 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, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in days. Her husband had died seven years after they were married,
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 she was a widow of about eighty-four years of age. She did not depart from the temple, but served night and day with fasting and prayer.
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 at that very hour and began giving praise to the Lord and speaking about the child to all who were waiting for redemption in 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 Joseph and Mary had finished everything that was 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 in spirit; he was filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was on him.
41 Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
43 And when they had completed their days there and started returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But Joseph did not know it, and neither did Jesus' mother.
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 that he was in the company of travelers, so they went a day's journey before they began looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
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 did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
46 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 amazed 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. His mother said to him, “Child, why have yoʋ treated us like this? Behold, yoʋr father and I have been looking for yoʋ in great distress.”
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 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must 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 what he said to them.
His parents did not understand what he meant.
51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. And his mother kept 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 advanced in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and men.
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and gained the blessing of God and people.
