< Luke 2 >

1 And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled —
Now in those days an edict was published by Augustus Cesar, that all the world should be enrolled or taxed,
2 this enrolment first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria —
(this tax was first levied when Cyrenius was governor of Syria) and they all went to be enrolled,
3 and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city,
every one to his own city:
4 and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David,
so Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he
5 to enrol himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with child.
was of the house and line of David) to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was big with child.
6 And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth,
And while they were there, the days of her delivery were fulfilled,
7 and she brought forth her son — the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber.
and she brought forth her son, the first-born, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the field, and keeping the night-watches over their flock,
And there were in the same country shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night: and lo,
9 and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a great fear.
an angel of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them, and they were greatly terrified:
10 And the messenger said to them, 'Fear not, for lo, I bring you good news of great joy, that shall be to all the people —
and the angel said to them, Be not affrighted; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people,
11 because there was born to you to-day a Saviour — who is Christ the Lord — in the city of David,
that this day is born, in the city of David, your Saviour Christ the Lord.
12 and this [is] to you the sign: Ye shall find a babe wrapped up, lying in the manger.'
And this shall be a sign to you, Ye shall find the child wrapped in swaddling bands lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there came with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,
And on a sudden there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,
14 'Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men — good will.'
praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men.
15 And it came to pass, when the messengers were gone away from them to the heavens, that the men, the shepherds, said unto one another, 'We may go over indeed unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that hath come to pass, that the Lord did make known to us.'
And when the angels went from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go to Bethlehem, and see this which hath been told us, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came, having hasted, and found both Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger,
And they came with speed, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger:
17 and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the child.
and when they had seen it, they divulged what had been told them concerning this child:
18 And all who heard, did wonder concerning the things spoken by the shepherds unto them;
and all that heard it, were amazed at the things which were related to them by the shepherds.
19 and Mary was preserving all these things, pondering in her heart;
But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering them in her heart.
20 and the shepherds turned back, glorifying and praising God, for all those things they heard and saw, as it was spoken unto them.
And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had heard and seen, according as it had been told unto them.
21 And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child, then was his name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before his being conceived in the womb.
And when eight days were fulfilled for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, having been so called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present to the Lord,
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him before the Lord:
23 as it hath been written in the Law of the Lord, — 'Every male opening a womb shall be called holy to the Lord,'
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, That every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: ) and to offer a sacrifice,
24 and to give a sacrifice, according to that said in the Law of the Lord, 'A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.'
according to what is required in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.
25 And lo, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [is] Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him,
And there was a man at Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and he was a just and a religious man, who expected the consolation of Israel; and the holy Spirit was upon him.
26 and it hath been divinely told him by the Holy Spirit — not to see death before he may see the Christ of the Lord.
And it was revealed to him by the holy Spirit, that he should not die before he had seen the Anointed of the Lord.
27 And he came in the Spirit to the temple, and in the parents bringing in the child Jesus, for their doing according to the custom of the law regarding him,
And he came by the influence of the Spirit into the temple, as his parents brought in the child Jesus to do concerning Him according to the custom of the law:
28 then he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and he said,
and he took Him into his arms,
29 'Now Thou dost send away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace,
and blessed God, and said, "Now, Lord, thou dismissest thy servant in peace, according to thy word;
30 because mine eyes did see Thy salvation,
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast provided in the sight of all people,
31 which Thou didst prepare before the face of all the peoples,
a light for the enlightening of the Gentiles,
32 a light to the uncovering of nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel.'
and the glory of thy people Israel."
33 And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him,
And Joseph and his mother were amazed at the things that were spoken concerning Him.
34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, 'Lo, this [one] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against —
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against,
35 (and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) — that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'
(and a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also) that the thoughts of many hearts may be discovered.
36 And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; who was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her first marrying,
37 and she [is] a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day,
and had been a widow about eighty four years; who departed not from the temple; serving God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the Lord, and was speaking concerning him, to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
And coming in at the very same time, gave thanks unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all that were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they finished all things, according to the Law of the Lord, they turned back to Galilee, to their city Nazareth;
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 and the child grew and was strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
41 And his parents were going yearly to Jerusalem, at the feast of the passover,
Now his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover:
42 and when he became twelve years old, they having gone up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,
and when He was twelve years old, going up to Jerusalem, as usual at the feast, and having finished the time,
43 and having finished the days, in their returning the child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother did not know,
when they returned, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem: and Joseph and his mother did not know it;
44 and, having supposed him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and were seeking him among the kindred and among the acquaintances,
but supposing Him to be in the company, went a day's journey, and then sought for Him among their kindred and acquaintance:
45 and not having found him, they turned back to Jerusalem seeking him.
and not finding Him they returned to Jerusalem seeking for Him:
46 And it came to pass, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them,
and after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, attending to them and asking them questions.
47 and all those hearing him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
And all that heard Him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.
48 And, having seen him, they were amazed, and his mother said unto him, 'Child, why didst thou thus to us? lo, thy father and I, sorrowing, were seeking thee.'
And when they saw Him, they were amazed. And his mother said to Him, Son, why didst thou deal thus with us? behold, thy father and I with grief have been seeking for thee.
49 And he said unto them, 'Why [is it] that ye were seeking me? did ye not know that in the things of my Father it behoveth me to be?'
And He said to them, Why did ye so seek me? Did not ye know that I ought to be in my Father's house?
50 and they did not understand the saying that he spake to them,
but they did not understand the word which He spake to them.
51 and he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them, and his mother was keeping all these sayings in her heart,
Then He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 and Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour with God and men.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

< Luke 2 >