Luke 2
1 Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration 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 It was the first registration made during the governorship of Quirinius in Syria;
(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
3 and all went to be registered--every one to the town to which he belonged.
And everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4 So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage 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 have himself registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was with child.
to be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother.
6 But while they were there, her full time came,
While they were there her time came,
7 and she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped Him round, 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 Now there were shepherds in the same part of the country, keeping watch over their sheep by night in the open fields,
In that same countryside were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,
9 when suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them; and they were filled with terror.
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, "Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy--joy 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 a Saviour who is the Anointed Lord is born to you to-day, in the town of David.
This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Lord.
12 And this is the token for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes 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 immediately there was with the angel a multitude of the army of Heaven praising God and saying,
Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing –
14 "Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!"
“glory to God on high, and on earth peace among those in whom he finds pleasure.”
15 Then, as soon as the angels had left them and returned to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go over as far as Bethlehem and see this 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 made haste and came and found Mary and Joseph, with the babe lying in the manger.
So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger;
17 And when they saw the child, they told what had been said to them about Him;
and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.
18 and all who listened were astonished at what the shepherds told them.
All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, often dwelling on them in her mind.
while Mary treasured in her heart all that they said, and thought about it often.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen in accordance with the announcement made 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 eight days had passed and the time for circumcising Him had come, He was called JESUS, the name given Him by the angel before His conception 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 for their purification appointed by the Law of Moses had passed, they took Him 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 as it is written in the Law of the Lord: "Every first-born male 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 And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord, "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 Now there was a man in Jerusalem of the name of Symeon, an upright and God-fearing man, who 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 To him it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Anointed One.
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 came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do with regard to 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 up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 "Now, O Sovereign Lord, Thou dost send Thy servant away in peace, in fulfilment of Thy word,
“Now, Lord, you will let your servant go, according to your word, in peace,
30 Because mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
for my eyes have seen the salvation
31 Which Thou hast made ready in the sight of all nations--
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations –
32 A light to shine upon the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel."
a light to bring light to the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.”
33 And while the child's father and mother were wondering at the words of Symeon concerning Him,
While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,
34 Symeon blessed them and said to Mary the mother, "This child is appointed for the falling and the uprising of many in Israel and for a token to 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 and a sword will pierce through your own soul also; that the reasonings in many hearts may be revealed."
Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart – and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”
36 There was also Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, belonging to the tribe of Asher. She was of a very great age, having had after her maidenhood seven years of married life,
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 being a widow of eighty-four years. She was never absent from the Temple, but worshipped, by day and by night, 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 And coming up just at that moment, she gave thanks to God, and spoke about the child to all who were expecting the deliverance 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 Then, as soon as they had accomplished all that the Law required, 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 and full of wisdom, and the favour of God rested upon Him.
The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was on him.
41 Now His parents used to go up year by year to Jerusalem at 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 as was customary at the time of the Feast, and,
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
43 after staying the full number of days, when they started back home the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not discover this,
and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.
44 but supposing Him to be in the travelling company, they proceeded a day's journey. Then they searched up and down 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 but being unable to find Him they returned to Jerusalem, making anxious inquiry for Him.
and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
46 On the third day they found Him in the Temple sitting among the Rabbis, both 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 while all who heard Him were astonished at His intelligence and at the answers He gave.
All who listened to him marveled at his intelligence and his answers.
48 When they saw Him, they were smitten with amazement, and His mother said to Him, "My child, why have you behaved thus to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in anguish."
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 have been searching for me?" He replied; "did you not know that it is my duty to be engaged upon 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 the significance of these words.
His parents did not understand what he meant.
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was always obedient to them; but His mother carefully treasured up all these incidents in her memory.
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 as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and gained the blessing of God and people.
