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.
Now it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole inhabited world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria.
This first census took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
3 So everybody went to their own city to be registered.
So everyone was traveling, each to his own town, to enroll himself.
4 Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea.
So Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of Natsareth town, into Judea to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because he was of David's ‘house’, that is, line of descent,
5 He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby.
to enroll himself with Mary, the woman who had been betrothed to him, who was pregnant.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.
So it happened that when they got there the days for her to give birth were completed;
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 gave birth to her firstborn Son, wrapped Him in pieces of cloth and laid Him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the lodging place.
8 Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.
Now there were shepherds in that same area, staying out in the field and keeping the nightly watches 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!
When wow, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
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.
The angel said to them: “Do not be afraid because listen, I am announcing the most joyful news to you, which will 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.
You see, today, in David's city, a Savior was born to you, who is Lord Christ!
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: you will find a Baby wrapped in pieces of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly army was with the angel 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 will toward mankind!”
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.”
So when the angels went away from them into the sky the men, the shepherds, said to one another, “Hey, let's go to Bethlehem and see this event that has taken place, that the Lord made known to us!”
16 They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
So they went in a hurry and located both Mary and Joseph, and the Baby 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 they spread an exact account of the saying that had been spoken to them concerning this Child.
18 All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
All who heard marveled at the things told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
As for Mary, she treasured all these sayings, 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.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God over all that they had heard and seen, just as it was told 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.
When eight days were completed so as to circumcise Him, His name was indeed called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was 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 of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they took 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.”
(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens a 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 was specified in the Lord's Law, “a pair of turtledoves 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.
Well now, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, expectantly waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah.
(It had been revealed to him repeatedly by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw the Lord's Messiah.)
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,
So by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought the Child Jesus in, to do concerning Him according to the custom of the law,
28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
Simeon took 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,
“Sovereign, now You can release your slave in peace, according to Your word,
30 because I have seen for myself your salvation
because my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for everyone.
which You have 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 to Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said about him.
And Joseph and His mother were marveling at the things being spoken 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,
Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: “Listen, this One is appointed to bring about the fall and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that is spoken against,
35 revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right though you.”
so that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed (furthermore, a sword will pass through your own soul also).”
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,
Also there was a prophetess Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher—she was of a great age, having lived with a 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 having been a widow for about eighty-four years—who did not depart from the temple, serving God with fastings and petitions night and day.
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.
Well she, having come up at that very moment, started praising the Lord, and kept on speaking of Him to all those in Jerusalem who were looking for redemption.
39 Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee.
When they had completed everything, according to the law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to their own town, Natsareth.
40 The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
And the Child kept growing and being strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom; yes, the grace of God was upon Him.
41 Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
Now every year His parents would go to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover;
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did.
so when He was twelve years old 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.
When they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but Joseph and His mother did not know 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.
Supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day's journey and then started looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.
Not finding 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.
So it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
47 All who heard him speak were surprised by his understanding and his answers.
(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!”
So upon seeing Him they were amazed, and His mother said to Him: “Son, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in distress.”
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?”
So He said to them: “Why were you seeking me? Didn't you know that I must be about my Father's concerns?”
50 But they didn't understand what he meant.
But they did not understand the statement that He made 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.
Then He went down with them and came to Natsareth, and continued subordinating Himself to them; His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 Jesus grew steadily wiser and stronger, favored both by God and by the people.
And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
