Luke 2
1 Now in those days, it came about that Caesar Augustus sent out a decree ordering that a census be taken of all the people living in the world.
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 made while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
3 So everyone went to his own city to be registered for the census.
And everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family 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 along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.
to be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother.
6 Now it came about that while they were there, the time came for her to deliver her baby.
While they were there her time came,
7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn child, and she wrapped him in long strips of cloth 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 There were shepherds in that region who were staying in the fields, guarding their flock at night.
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 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 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, because I bring you the good news that will bring great joy to 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 a savior was born for you in the city of David! 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 This is the sign that will be given to you: You will find a baby 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 there was together with the angel a great, heavenly army 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 may there be peace on earth among people with whom he is pleased.”
“glory to God on high, and on earth peace among those in whom he finds pleasure.”
15 It came about that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let us now 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 They hurried there and found Mary and Joseph, and saw the baby 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 him, they made known what had been said to them about this child.
and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.
18 All who heard it were amazed at what was spoken to them by the shepherds.
All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
19 But Mary kept thinking about all the things she had heard, treasuring 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 everything that they had heard and seen, just as it had been spoken to 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 it was the end of the eighth day, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name he had been 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 When the required number of days for their purification had passed, according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought him up to the temple in 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 male who opens the womb will be set apart to the Lord.”
in compliance with the Law of the Lord that every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,
24 So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of 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 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout. He was looking 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 Led by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple. When the parents brought in the infant Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of 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 he took him into his arms and praised God and he said,
Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 “Now let your servant depart in peace, Lord, according to your word.
“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 presence of all peoples:
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations –
32 A light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.”
a light to bring light to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.”
33 His father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.
While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,
34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the downfall and rising up of many people in Israel and for a sign that is rejected—
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 and a sword will pierce your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart – and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”
36 A prophetess named Anna was there. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had lived with her husband for seven years after her virginity,
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 was a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but was serving with fastings and prayers, night and day.
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 At that very hour she came near to them and began giving thanks to God and she spoke about the child to everyone who had been 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 they had finished everything they were required to do according to 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 The child grew and became strong, increasing in 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 His parents went every year to Jerusalem for the Festival 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 again went up at the customary time for the feast.
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
43 After they had stayed the full number of days for the feast, they began to return home. But the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem and his parents did not know it.
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 with the group that was traveling with them, so they traveled a day's journey. Then they started looking 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 did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem and started looking for him there.
and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
46 It came about that after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of 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 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 they saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Listen, 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 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I had to be about my Father's business?
“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 meant by those words.
His parents did not understand what he meant.
51 Then he went back home with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured 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 But Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and stature, and increased in favor with God and people.
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and gained the blessing of God and people.
