Luke 2
1 It was the time when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that there should be a census of everyone in the Roman Empire.
那時，凱撒奧古斯都出了一道上諭，叫天下的人都要登記：
2 This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria.
這是在季黎敘利亞總督時，初次行的登記。
3 So everybody went to their own city to be registered.
於是眾人都去本城登記。
4 Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea.
若瑟因為是達味家族的人，也從加利肋亞納匝肋城，上猶大名叫白冷的達味城去，
5 He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby.
好同自己已懷孕的聘妻瑪利亞去登記。
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.
他們在那裡的時候，她分娩的日期滿了，
7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him up in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because the inn had no rooms left.
便生了她的頭胎兒，用襁褓包裹起，放在馬槽裏，因為在客棧中為他們沒有地方。
8 Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.
在那區有些牧人露宿，守夜看守羊群。
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. They were scared out of their wits!
有上主的一個天使站在他們身邊，上主的光輝環照著他們，他們便非常害怕。
10 “Don't be afraid!” the angel told them. “I'm here to bring you good news that will make the all the people really glad.
天使向他們說：「不要害怕! 看，我給你們報告一個為全民族的大喜訊：
11 The Savior has been born to you today, here in David's city. He is the Messiah, the Lord.
今天在達味城中，為你們誕生了一位救世者，他是主默西亞。
12 You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
這是給你們的記號：你們將要看見一個嬰兒，裹著襁褓，躺在馬槽裏。」
13 Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
忽然有一隊天軍，同那天使一起讚頌天主說：
14 “Glory to the God of heaven, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased!”
「天主受享光榮於高天，主愛的人在世享平安。」
15 After the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see what's happened concerning these things the Lord has told us about.”
眾天使離開他們往天上去了以後，牧人們就彼此說：「我們且往白冷去，看看上主所報告給我們所發生的事。」
16 They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
他們急忙去了，找到了瑪利亞和若瑟，並那躺在馬在槽中的嬰兒。
17 After they'd seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby.
他們看見以後，就把他們對他們論這小孩所說的事，傳揚開了，
18 All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
凡聽見的人都驚訝牧人向他們所說的的事。
19 But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
瑪利亞卻把這一切事默存在自己心中，反覆思想。
20 The shepherds went back to watching their flocks, glorifying and thanking God for all that they'd heard and seen, for it was just as they'd been told.
牧人們為了他們所聽見和看見的一切，正如天使向他們說的一樣，就光榮讚美天主回去了。
21 After eight days, the time came for the baby to be circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he had even been conceived.
滿了八天，孩子應受割損，遂給祂起名叫耶穌，這是祂降孕母胎前，由天使所起的。
22 When the time of their purification according to the law of Moses was finished, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
按梅瑟的法律，一滿了他們取潔的日期，他們便帶孩子上耶路撒冷去獻給上主，
23 as the law of the Lord states, “Every firstborn son must be dedicated to the Lord.”
就如上主法律上所記載的：『凡開胎首生的男孩性，應祝聖於上主。』
24 There they made a sacrifice, as God's law also states, of “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”
並該照上主法上所吩咐的，獻上禮物：一對斑鳩或兩隻鶵鴿。
25 Living in Jerusalem at that time was a man called Simeon. Simeon did what was good and was very devout. He was waiting expectantly for the hope of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
那時，在耶路撒冷有一個人，名叫西默盎。這人正義虔誠，期待以色列的安慰，而且聖神也在他身上。
26 The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah.
他曾蒙聖神啟示：自己在未看見上主的受傅者以前，決見不到死亡
27 Following the Spirit's leading, he went to the Temple. When Jesus' parents brought in the little boy to be dedicated as required by the Law,
他因聖神的感動，進了聖殿；那時，抱著嬰兒耶穌的父母正進來，要按著法律的慣例為祂行禮。
28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
西默盎就雙臂接過祂來，讚美天主說：
29 “Lord and Master, now you can let your servant die in peace as you promised,
「主啊! 現在可照你的話，放你的僕人平安去了!
30 because I have seen for myself your salvation
因為我親眼看見了你的救援，
31 which you have prepared for everyone.
即你在萬民之早準備好的：
32 He is a light that will show you to the nations, the glory of your people Israel.”
為作啟示異邦的光明，你百姓以色列的榮耀。」
33 Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said about him.
他的父親和母親就驚異他關於耶穌所說的這些話。
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus' mother Mary, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many to rise. He is a sign from God that many will reject,
西默盎祝福了他們，又向祂的母親瑪利亞說：「看，這孩子已被立定，為使以色列中許多人跌倒和復起，並成為夭對的記號─
35 revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right though you.”
至於妳，要有一把利劍刺透妳的心靈─為叫許多人心中的思念顯露在出來。」
36 Anna the prophetess also lived in Jerusalem. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. She had been married for seven years,
又有一位女先知亞納，是阿協爾支派法奴耳的女兒，已上了年紀。她出閣後，與丈夫同居了七年，
37 and then she had been widowed. She was eighty-four years old. She spent her time at the Temple in worship, fasting and praying.
以後就守寡，直到八十四歲。她齋戒祈禱，晝夜事奉天主，總不離開聖殿。
38 She came up to them right at that moment, and began praising God. She spoke about Jesus to all those who were looking forward to the time when God would set Jerusalem free.
正在那時刻，她也前來稱謝天主，並同一切希望耶路撒冷得救贖的人，講論這孩子。
39 Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee.
他們按著上主的法律，行完了一切，使返回了加利肋亞，他們的本城納匝肋。
40 The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
孩子漸漸長大而強壯，充滿智慧，天主的恩寵常在祂身上。
41 Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
祂的父母每年逾越節往耶路撒冷去。
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did.
祂到了十二歲時，他們又節日的慣例上去了。
43 When the festival had finished and it was time to return home, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't realize this.
過完了節日，他們回去的時候，孩童耶穌卻留在耶路撒冷，祂的父母並未發覺。
44 They assumed he was with all the others traveling home. A day passed before they started looking for him among their friends and relatives.
他們只以為祂在同行的人中間，遂走了一天的路程；以後就在親戚和相識的人中尋找祂。
45 When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.
既找不著，便折回耶路撒冷找祂。
46 It was three days before they found him in the Temple. He was sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
過了三天，才在聖殿裏找到了祂。祂正坐在經師中，聆聽他們，也詢問他們。
47 All who heard him speak were surprised by his understanding and his answers.
凡聽見祂的人，對祂的智慧和對答，都驚奇不止。
48 His parents were totally confused when they saw what he was doing. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I—we've been worried sick! We've been looking everywhere for you!”
他們一看見祂，便大為驚異，祂的母親就向祂說：「孩子，為什麼你這樣對待我們? 看，你的父親和我，一直痛苦的找你。」
49 “Why is it that you were looking for me?” Jesus replied. “Didn't you know I should be here in my Father's house?”
耶穌對他們說：「你們為什麼找我? 你們不知道我必須在我父親那裡嗎? 」
50 But they didn't understand what he meant.
但是，他們不明白祂對他們所說的話。
51 Then he went back with them to Nazareth, and did what he was told. His mother kept a careful note of everything that happened.
祂就同他們下去，來到納匝肋，屬他們管轄。祂的母親逜把一切默存在心中。
52 Jesus grew steadily wiser and stronger, favored both by God and by the people.
耶穌在智慧和身體上，並在天主和人前的恩愛上，漸漸地增長。
