Luca 2
1 In quei giorni un decreto di Cesare Augusto ordinò che si facesse il censimento di tutta la terra.
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].
2 Questo primo censimento fu fatto quando era governatore della Siria Quirinio.
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.
3 Andavano tutti a farsi registrare, ciascuno nella sua città.
Every person had to go to the town where his [most famous ancestor] had lived, so that [the officials] could write down their names.
4 Anche Giuseppe, che era della casa e della famiglia di Davide, dalla città di Nazaret e dalla Galilea salì in Giudea alla città di Davide, chiamata Betlemme,
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].
5 per farsi registrare insieme con Maria sua sposa, che era incinta.
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].
6 Ora, mentre si trovavano in quel luogo, si compirono per lei i giorni del parto.
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.
7 Diede alla luce il suo figlio primogenito, lo avvolse in fasce e lo depose in una mangiatoia, perché non c'era posto per loro nell'albergo.
8 C'erano in quella regione alcuni pastori che vegliavano di notte facendo la guardia al loro gregge.
That night, there were [some] shepherds who were taking care of their sheep [as usual] in the fields near [Bethlehem].
9 Un angelo del Signore si presentò davanti a loro e la gloria del Signore li avvolse di luce. Essi furono presi da grande spavento,
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.
10 ma l'angelo disse loro: «Non temete, ecco vi annunzio una grande gioia, che sarà di tutto il popolo:
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].
11 oggi vi è nato nella città di Davide un salvatore, che è il Cristo Signore.
[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!
12 Questo per voi il segno: troverete un bambino avvolto in fasce, che giace in una mangiatoia».
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.”
13 E subito apparve con l'angelo una moltitudine dell'esercito celeste che lodava Dio e diceva:
Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared and joined the other angel. They all praised God, singing/saying,
14 «Gloria a Dio nel più alto dei cieli e pace in terra agli uomini che egli ama».
“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]!”
15 Appena gli angeli si furono allontanati per tornare al cielo, i pastori dicevano fra loro: «Andiamo fino a Betlemme, vediamo questo avvenimento che il Signore ci ha fatto conoscere».
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!”
16 Andarono dunque senz'indugio e trovarono Maria e Giuseppe e il bambino, che giaceva nella mangiatoia.
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.
17 E dopo averlo visto, riferirono ciò che del bambino era stato detto loro.
Then they told [Mary and Joseph and others] what had been told them {what [the angel] had told them} about this child.
18 Tutti quelli che udirono, si stupirono delle cose che i pastori dicevano.
Everyone who heard what was said by the shepherds {what the shepherds said} to them was amazed.
19 Maria, da parte sua, serbava tutte queste cose meditandole nel suo cuore.
But Mary [did not talk to others about what the angels said]; she just kept thinking very much about it.
20 I pastori poi se ne tornarono, glorificando e lodando Dio per tutto quello che avevano udito e visto, com'era stato detto loro.
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.
21 Quando furon passati gli otto giorni prescritti per la circoncisione, gli fu messo nome Gesù, come era stato chiamato dall'angelo prima di essere concepito nel grembo della madre.
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.
22 Quando venne il tempo della loro purificazione secondo la Legge di Mosè, portarono il bambino a Gerusalemme per offrirlo al Signore,
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.
23 come è scritto nella Legge del Signore: ogni maschio primogenito sarà sacro al Signore;
24 e per offrire in sacrificio una coppia di tortore o di giovani colombi, come prescrive la Legge del Signore.
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].
25 Ora a Gerusalemme c'era un uomo di nome Simeone, uomo giusto e timorato di Dio, che aspettava il conforto d'Israele;
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].
26 lo Spirito Santo che era sopra di lui, gli aveva preannunziato che non avrebbe visto la morte senza prima aver veduto il Messia del Signore.
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.
27 Mosso dunque dallo Spirito, si recò al tempio; e mentre i genitori vi portavano il bambino Gesù per adempiere la Legge,
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].
28 lo prese tra le braccia e benedisse Dio:
So he took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 «Ora lascia, o Signore, che il tuo servo vada in pace secondo la tua parola;
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.
30 perché i miei occhi han visto la tua salvezza,
31 preparata da te davanti a tutti i popoli,
32 luce per illuminare le genti e gloria del tuo popolo Israele».
33 Il padre e la madre di Gesù si stupivano delle cose che si dicevano di lui.
His parents marveled about what [Simeon] said about [Jesus]. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary,
34 Simeone li benedisse e parlò a Maria, sua madre: «Egli è qui per la rovina e la risurrezione di molti in Israele, segno di contraddizione
“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.
35 perché siano svelati i pensieri di molti cuori. E anche a te una spada trafiggerà l'anima».
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).”
36 C'era anche una profetessa, Anna, figlia di Fanuèle, della tribù di Aser. Era molto avanzata in età, aveva vissuto col marito sette anni dal tempo in cui era ragazza,
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.
37 era poi rimasta vedova e ora aveva ottantaquattro anni. Non si allontanava mai dal tempio, servendo Dio notte e giorno con digiuni e preghiere.
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.
38 Sopraggiunta in quel momento, si mise anche lei a lodare Dio e parlava del bambino a quanti aspettavano la redenzione di Gerusalemme.
[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].
39 Quando ebbero tutto compiuto secondo la legge del Signore, fecero ritorno in Galilea, alla loro città di Nazaret.
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].
40 Il bambino cresceva e si fortificava, pieno di sapienza, e la grazia di Dio era sopra di lui.
As Jesus grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was very pleased with him.
41 I suoi genitori si recavano tutti gli anni a Gerusalemme per la festa di Pasqua.
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem to [celebrate] the Passover festival.
42 Quando egli ebbe dodici anni, vi salirono di nuovo secondo l'usanza;
So when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up [to Jerusalem] as they always did.
43 ma trascorsi i giorni della festa, mentre riprendevano la via del ritorno, il fanciullo Gesù rimase a Gerusalemme, senza che i genitori se ne accorgessero.
When the celebration ended, his parents started to return home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. [His parents] did not realize that [Jesus stayed there].
44 Credendolo nella carovana, fecero una giornata di viaggio, e poi si misero a cercarlo tra i parenti e i conoscenti;
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.
45 non avendolo trovato, tornarono in cerca di lui a Gerusalemme.
They did not find him, so they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
46 Dopo tre giorni lo trovarono nel tempio, seduto in mezzo ai dottori, mentre li ascoltava e li interrogava.
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.
47 E tutti quelli che l'udivano erano pieni di stupore per la sua intelligenza e le sue risposte.
Everyone who heard what he [said] was amazed at how much he understood and [how well] he answered [the questions that the teachers asked].
48 Al vederlo restarono stupiti e sua madre gli disse: «Figlio, perché ci hai fatto così? Ecco, tuo padre e io, angosciati, ti cercavamo».
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!”
49 Ed egli rispose: «Perché mi cercavate? Non sapevate che io devo occuparmi delle cose del Padre mio?».
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]”
50 Ma essi non compresero le sue parole.
But they did not understand [the meaning of] what he said to them.
51 Partì dunque con loro e tornò a Nazaret e stava loro sottomesso. Sua madre serbava tutte queste cose nel suo cuore.
Then he returned with them down to Nazareth. He always obeyed them. But his mother kept thinking about all those things.
52 E Gesù cresceva in sapienza, età e grazia davanti a Dio e agli uomini.
[As the years passed], Jesus continued to become wiser and he grew taller. God and people continued to approve of him more and more.
