< 路加福音 2 >
1 當那些日子,凱撒奧古斯都有旨意下來,叫天下人民都報名上冊。
About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.
2 這是居里扭作敘利亞巡撫的時候,頭一次行報名上冊的事。
(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).
And every one went to his own town to be registered.
4 約瑟也從加利利的拿撒勒城上猶太去,到了大衛的城,名叫伯利恆,因他本是大衛一族一家的人,
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 要和他所聘之妻馬利亞一同報名上冊。那時馬利亞的身孕已經重了。
To be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was about to become a mother.
While they were there her time came,
7 就生了頭胎的兒子,用布包起來,放在馬槽裏,因為客店裏沒有地方。
and she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him round and laid him in a manger.
8 在伯利恆之野地裏有牧羊的人,夜間按着更次看守羊群。
In that same country-side were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,
9 有主的使者站在他們旁邊,主的榮光四面照着他們;牧羊的人就甚懼怕。
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 那天使對他們說:「不要懼怕!我報給你們大喜的信息,是關乎萬民的;
“Have no fear,” the angel said. “For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation.
11 因今天在大衛的城裏,為你們生了救主,就是主基督。
This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Saviour, who is Christ and Lord.
12 你們要看見一個嬰孩,包着布,臥在馬槽裏,那就是記號了。」
And this shall be the sign for you. You will find the infant swathed, and lying in a manger.”
Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing —
14 在至高之處榮耀歸與上帝! 在地上平安歸與他所喜悅的人 !
“Glory to God on high, And on earth peace among men in whom he finds pleasure.”
15 眾天使離開他們,升天去了。牧羊的人彼此說:「我們往伯利恆去,看看所成的事,就是主所指示我們的。」
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 他們急忙去了,就尋見馬利亞和約瑟,又有那嬰孩臥在馬槽裏;
So they went quickly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger;
and, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.
All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,
while Mary treasured up all that they said, and dwelt upon it in her thoughts.
20 牧羊的人回去了,因所聽見所看見的一切事,正如天使向他們所說的,就歸榮耀與上帝,讚美他。
And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 滿了八天,就給孩子行割禮,與他起名叫耶穌;這就是沒有成胎以前,天使所起的名。
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 按摩西律法滿了潔淨的日子,他們帶着孩子上耶路撒冷去,要把他獻與主,(
When the period of purification of mother and child, enjoined by the Law of Moses, came to an end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 正如主的律法上所記:「凡頭生的男子必稱聖歸主。」)
in compliance with the Law of the Lord that ‘every first-born male shall be dedicated to the Lord,’
24 又要照主的律法上所說,或用一對斑鳩,或用兩隻雛鴿獻祭。
And also to offer the sacrifice enjoined in the Law of the Lord — ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
25 在耶路撒冷有一個人,名叫西面;這人又公義又虔誠,素常盼望以色列的安慰者來到,又有聖靈在他身上。
There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
26 他得了聖靈的啟示,知道自己未死以前,必看見主所立的基督。
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 他受了聖靈的感動,進入聖殿,正遇見耶穌的父母抱着孩子進來,要照律法的規矩辦理。
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,
Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 主啊!如今可以照你的話, 釋放僕人安然去世;
“Now, Lord, thou wilt let thy servant go, According to thy word, in peace,
for my eyes have seen the Salvation
Which thou hast prepared in the sight of all nations —
A Light to bring light to the Gentiles, And to be the Glory of thy people Israel.”
While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,
34 西面給他們祝福,又對孩子的母親馬利亞說:「這孩子被立,是要叫以色列中許多人跌倒,許多人興起;又要作毀謗的話柄,叫許多人心裏的意念顯露出來;你自己的心也要被刀刺透。」
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 —
Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart — and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”
36 又有女先知,名叫亞拿,是亞設支派法內力的女兒,年紀已經老邁,從作童女出嫁的時候,同丈夫住了七年就寡居了,
There was also a Prophetess 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 現在已經八十四歲,並不離開聖殿,禁食祈求,晝夜事奉上帝。
and then a widow, till she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day.
38 正當那時,她進前來稱謝上帝,將孩子的事對一切盼望耶路撒冷得救贖的人講說。
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 約瑟和馬利亞照主的律法辦完了一切的事,就回加利利,到自己的城拿撒勒去了。
When the child’s parents had done everything enjoined by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40 孩子漸漸長大,強健起來,充滿智慧,又有上帝的恩在他身上。
The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was upon him.
Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,
43 守滿了節期,他們回去,孩童耶穌仍舊在耶路撒冷。他的父母並不知道,
and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.
44 以為他在同行的人中間,走了一天的路程,就在親族和熟識的人中找他,
Thinking that he was with their fellow-travellers, they went one day’s journey before searching for him among their relations and acquaintances;
and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.
46 過了三天,就遇見他在殿裏,坐在教師中間,一面聽,一面問。
It was not till the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the Teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.
All who listened to him marvelled at his intelligence and his answers.
48 他父母看見就很希奇。他母親對他說:「我兒!為甚麼向我們這樣行呢?看哪,你父親和我傷心來找你!」
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 耶穌說:「為甚麼找我呢?豈不知我應當以我父的事為念嗎 ?」
“What made you search for me?” he answered. “Did not you know that I must be in my Father’s House?”
His parents did not understand what he meant.
51 他就同他們下去,回到拿撒勒,並且順從他們。他母親把這一切的事都存在心裏。
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 耶穌的智慧和身量,並上帝和人喜愛他的心,都一齊增長。
And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and ‘gained the blessing of God and men.’