Luke 2
1 About that time the Emperor Augustus commanded that ([his officials must] write down the names/[a census be taken]) of all the people who lived in countries [controlled] by the Roman [government] {that the Roman [government controlled]}, [so that the government could collect taxes from them].
NOW it was in those days that there went forth a mandate from Augustus Caesar to enrol the people of his dominion.
2 That was the first time that they (wrote down the names/took a census) in Syria [province, which included Judea district]. They did this while Quirinius was the governor of the province.
This enrolment was first made under the government of Qurinos in Suria.
3 Every person had to go to the town where his [most famous ancestor] had lived, so that [the officials] could write down their names.
And every man went to be enrolled in his city.
4 So, because Joseph was a descendant of [King] David, he went up from Nazareth, the town in Galilee [district where he lived], to the town of Bethlehem in Judea [district]. That was the town where [King] David [grew up].
And Jauseph also went up from Natsrath of Galila, unto Jehud, to the city of David, which is called Beth-lechem, because he was of the house and of the family of David,
5 Joseph went with Mary, who [was considered] {whom [people considered]} [to be] his wife, who was now pregnant. They went so that they could put his name and Mary’s name [in the record book].
with Mariam his espoused while with child, there to be enrolled.
6 When they arrived [in Bethlehem], there was no place for them to stay in the house where travelers stay. [So they stayed in a cattle shed]. When the time for Mary to give birth arrived, she gave birth to her first son there. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a trough where [people] put food for the animals.
And it was that while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should give birth:
and she brought forth her son, the first-born, and wrapped him in bandages, and laid him in the manger; because there was no place for them where they stayed.
8 That night, there were [some] shepherds who were taking care of their sheep [as usual] in the fields near [Bethlehem].
But there were shepherds in the country who were staying there, and keeping watch by night over their flocks.
9 An angel from God appeared to them. A great light (from the Lord/from God) shone on them and around them. [So] they became very afraid.
And, behold, the angel of Aloha came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone upon them; and they feared with great fear.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! I have come to tell you good news, which will [make you] very happy! This message is for everyone [to hear].
And the angel said to them, Fear not; for, behold, I announce to you great joy, which shall be to all people:
11 [The message is that] today a baby has been born in [Bethlehem, the town where King] David grew up. That baby will [eventually] save you [from the guilt of your sins]! He is the Messiah, [your] Lord!
for there is born for you to-day the Redeemer, who is the Lord the Meshicha, in the city of David.
12 I will tell you how [you will recognize him] (OR, how you will know [that what I say is true]): [In Bethlehem] you will find a baby who has been wrapped {[whose mother] has wrapped him} in strips of cloth and placed in a trough where [people] put food for the animals.”
And this is to you the sign, You shall find the infant wrapped in bandages, and laid in a manger.
13 Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared and joined the other angel. They all praised God, singing/saying,
And instantly there were seen with the angel many hosts of the heavens, glorifying Aloha,
14 “May [all the angels] in the highest heaven praise God! And on the earth may the people to whom God has shown his favor have peace [with him]!”
and saying, Glory to Aloha in the heights, and upon earth peace and good hope for the sons of men.
15 After the angels left them [and returned] to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem to see this [wonderful] thing that has happened, which (the Lord/God) has told us about!”
And when the angels were gone from them into heaven, the shepherds spake one with another, and said, Let us go unto Beth-lechem, and see the thing which the Lord hath made known to us.
16 So they went quickly. They found the [place where] Mary and Joseph [were staying], and [they saw] the baby lying in the trough where [people] put food for the animals.
And they came with speed, and found Mariam, and Jauseph, and the infant who was laid in the manger;
17 Then they told [Mary and Joseph and others] what had been told them {what [the angel] had told them} about this child.
and when they saw, they showed the word which had been spoken to them concerning the child.
18 Everyone who heard what was said by the shepherds {what the shepherds said} to them was amazed.
And all who heard wondered at those (things) which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary [did not talk to others about what the angels said]; she just kept thinking very much about it.
But Mariam kept all these words, and compared them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned [to their sheep]. They kept praising God very much for all the things that they had heard and seen, [because] everything [happened] exactly like [the angels] told them.
And those shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Aloha for all that they had seen and heard as they had been spoken to them.
21 Seven days later, when [the priests] circumcised the baby, [his parents] named him Jesus. That was the name that [they were told by] the angel {the angel [told them]} [to] give him before Mary became pregnant.
AND when the eight days completed to circumcise the child, his name was called Jeshu, for he was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb
22 It had been written by Moses {Moses had written} [long ago] in a law that God gave him, that when a woman gave birth to her first son, the parents had to take him [to the Temple] in Jerusalem in order that they might dedicate him (to the Lord/to God). So when the time came for them to do those rituals so that [God would consider] them pure again, Mary and Joseph took Jesus there.
And when were completed, the days of their purification according to the law of Musha, they carried him up to Urishlem, to present him before the Lord:
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, That every male openeth the matrix the holy to the Lord shall be called: )
24 God had commanded in his laws that if the first child [of a couple] was a boy, his parents should offer as a sacrifice to God two turtledoves or two young pigeons. [So Joseph and Mary gave the priest two birds so he could offer them].
and to offer the sacrifice as it is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two of the young of pigeons.
25 At that time there was an [old] man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He habitually did what was pleasing to God and he obeyed God’s laws. The Holy Spirit was [directing] him as he was waiting for [God] [MTY] [to] encourage the Israeli [people by sending the Messiah].
But there was a certain man in Urishlem, whose name was Shemun; and this man was just and righteous, and he had waited for the consolation of Isroel, and the Spirit of Holiness was upon him.
26 It was [previously] revealed by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit [previously] revealed} to him that he would see God’s [promised] Messiah before he died.
And it was said to him from the Spirit of Holiness, that he should not see death, until he had seen the Meshicha of the Lord.
27 When Joseph and Mary brought their baby Jesus [to the Temple] in order to perform the rituals that [God had commanded] in his laws, the Spirit led Simeon to enter the Temple [courtyard, and revealed to him that Jesus was the Messiah].
Behold, this man came in the Spirit to the temple, and when his parents brought in Jeshu the child, to do for him as it is commanded in the law,
28 So he took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying,
he took him upon his arms and blessed Aloha, and said,
29 Lord, you promised me that I would see the one [MTY] who would enable you to save people of all people-groups from the guilt of their sins. He will be [MET] like a light that will reveal your truth to non-Jews, and he will cause people to think highly of your people, the Israeli people. Since I [SYN] have now seen this one that you promised to send, now let me die peacefully.
Now dismiss thy servant, my Lord, according to thy word, in peace;
For lo, mine eyes have seen thy grace,
Which thou hast prepared in the face of all the nations;
A light for the revelation of the peoples, And the glory of thy people Isroel.
33 His parents marveled about what [Simeon] said about [Jesus]. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary,
But Jauseph and his mother wondered at these words which were spoken concerning him.
34 “Note what I say: [God] has determined that because of this child, many Israeli people will [turn away from God], and many others will turn to God [MET]. Although he will be like a sign [MET] [to warn people], [many] people will oppose him.
And Shemun blessed them, and said to Mariam his mother, Behold, this child is set for the ruin and uprising of many in Isroel, for the sign of contention.
35 As a result, the [evil] thoughts of many people will be made evident {he will reveal the [evil] thoughts of many people}. [Furthermore, the cruel things that they will do to him] [MET] [will be like] a sword that will pierce your (soul/inner being).”
And through thine own soul shall pass a spear, that may be revealed the reasonings of the hearts of many.
36 There was also [in the Temple courtyard] a very old woman named Anna. She was a prophetess. Her father Phanuel was a member of the tribe of Asher. After she had been married seven years, her husband died.
NOW Chana, the prophetess, (was) the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was aged also in her days, and seven years with her husband had lived from her virginity.
37 After that, she lived until she was 84 years old, and she was still a widow. She stayed in the Temple [area] all the time, night and day, worshipping God. She often (abstained from food/fasted) as she prayed.
And she was a widow as of years eighty and four, and she removed not from the temple, and with fasting and with prayer she worshipped in the day and in the night.
38 [While Joseph and Mary and the baby were] still [in the Temple, Anna came to them. She thanked God for the baby]. Then she spoke about Jesus to many people who were expecting [God to send the Messiah] [MTY] to set [the people of] [MTY] Jerusalem free [from their enemies].
And she also arose in that hour and confessed the Lord, and discoursed concerning him with all who were expecting the redemption of Urishlem.
39 After Joseph and Mary had finished performing the rituals that (the Lord/God) required [the parents of a first son] to perform, they returned to their own town, Nazareth, in Galilee [district].
And when they had fulfilled every thing according to the law of the Lord, they returned unto Galila, to Natsrath their city.
40 As Jesus grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was very pleased with him.
But the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and was filled with wisdom; and the grace of Aloha was upon him.
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem to [celebrate] the Passover festival.
And his relatives every year went unto Urishlem at the feast of Petscha.
42 So when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up [to Jerusalem] as they always did.
AND when he was a son of twelve years, they went up, as they were used, to the festival.
43 When the celebration ended, his parents started to return home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. [His parents] did not realize that [Jesus stayed there].
And when the days (were) fulfilled, they returned. But Jeshu, the child, remained in Urishlem, and Jauseph and his mother knew not.
44 They thought that he was with the other people who were traveling with them. They walked all day. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.
For they thought that he was with the sons of the company; and when they had gone the journey of one day, they sought him with the men and with any who knew him.
45 They did not find him, so they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
And they found him not: and they returned again to Urishlem, and sought him.
46 Two days later, they found him. He was in the Temple [courtyard], sitting with the [Jewish] religious teachers. He was listening to what they said, and he was asking them questions.
And after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and questioning them.
47 Everyone who heard what he [said] was amazed at how much he understood and [how well] he answered [the questions that the teachers asked].
And all of them were astonished, as they heard him, at his wisdom and at his answers.
48 When his parents saw him, they were very surprised. His mother said to him, “My son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried as we [(exc)] have been searching for you!”
And when they saw him, they wondered; and his mother said to him, My son, why hast thou done with us thus? for, behold, I and thy father with great anxiety have sought thee.
49 He said to them, [speaking about the Temple being God his Father’s house], “(I am surprised that you [(dl)] did [not know] where to find me!/Why did you [not know] where to find me?) [RHQ] (You [(dl)] should have known that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house!/Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?) [RHQ]”
He saith to them, Why have you sought me (elsewhere)? Knew you not that (in) the house of my Father it behoveth me to be?
50 But they did not understand [the meaning of] what he said to them.
But they did not comprehend the word that he spake to them.
51 Then he returned with them down to Nazareth. He always obeyed them. But his mother kept thinking about all those things.
And he went down with them, and came to Natsrath, and was subject to them. But his mother kept all these words in her heart.
52 [As the years passed], Jesus continued to become wiser and he grew taller. God and people continued to approve of him more and more.
But Jeshu increased in his stature, and in his wisdom, and in favour with Aloha and men.
