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.
But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.
2 This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria.
The census itself first took place when Cyrenius had the government of Syria.
3 So everybody went to their own city to be registered.
And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city:
4 Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea.
and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David's city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby.
to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him [as his] wife, she being great with child.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.
And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth [to her child] were fulfilled,
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.
and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.
And there were shepherds in that country abiding without, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
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!
And lo, an angel of [the] Lord was there by them, and [the] glory of [the] Lord shone around them, and they feared [with] great fear.
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.
And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people;
11 The Savior has been born to you today, here in David's city. He is the Messiah, the Lord.
for to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ [the] Lord.
12 You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger.
13 Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to the God of heaven, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased!”
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men.
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.”
And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.
16 They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger;
17 After they'd seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby.
and having seen [it] they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child.
18 All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
And all who heard [it] wondered at the things said to them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
But Mary kept all these things [in her mind], pondering [them] in her heart.
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.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.
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.
And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was the name given by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb.
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,
And when the days were fulfilled for their purifying according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem to present [him] to the Lord
23 as the law of the Lord states, “Every firstborn son must be dedicated to the Lord.”
(as it is written in the law of [the] Lord: Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),
24 There they made a sacrifice, as God's law also states, of “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”
and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of [the] Lord: A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.
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.
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and pious, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and [the] Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah.
And it was divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he should see [the] Lord's Christ.
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,
And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and as the parents brought in the child Jesus that they might do for him according to the custom of the law,
28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Lord and Master, now you can let your servant die in peace as you promised,
Lord, now thou lettest thy bondman go, according to thy word, in peace;
30 because I have seen for myself your salvation
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 which you have prepared for everyone.
which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 He is a light that will show you to the nations, the glory of your people Israel.”
a light for revelation of [the] Gentiles and [the] glory of thy people Israel.
33 Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said about him.
And his father and mother wondered at the things which were said concerning him.
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,
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Lo, this [child] is set for the fall and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against;
35 revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right though you.”
(and even a sword shall go through thine own soul; ) so that [the] thoughts may be revealed from many hearts.
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,
And there was a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of [the] tribe of Asher, who was far advanced in years, having lived with [her] husband seven years from her virginity,
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.
and herself a widow up to eighty-four years; who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers;
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.
and she coming up the same hour gave praise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee.
And when they had completed all things according to the law of [the] Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth.
40 The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
And the child grew and waxed strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom, and God's grace was upon him.
41 Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
And his parents went yearly to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did.
And when he was twelve years old, and they went up [to Jerusalem] according to the custom of the feast
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.
and had completed the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents knew not [of it];
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.
but, supposing him to be in the company that journeyed together, they went a day's journey, and sought him among their relations and acquaintances:
45 When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.
and not having found him they returned to Jerusalem seeking him.
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.
And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and hearing them and asking them questions.
47 All who heard him speak were surprised by his understanding and his answers.
And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
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!”
And when they saw him they were amazed: and his mother said to him, Child, why hast thou dealt thus with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee distressed.
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?”
And he said to them, Why [is it] that ye have sought me? did ye not know that I ought to be [occupied] in my Father's business?
50 But they didn't understand what he meant.
And they understood not the thing that he said to them.
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.
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was in subjection to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart.
52 Jesus grew steadily wiser and stronger, favored both by God and by the people.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.
