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.
And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world be registered—
2 This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria.
this census first came to pass when Quirinius was governor of Syria—
3 So everybody went to their own city to be registered.
and all were going to be registered, each to his proper 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 of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Beth-Lehem, because of his being 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 register himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with Child.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.
And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth,
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 Son—the firstborn, and wrapped Him up, and laid Him down in the manger, because there was not a place for them in the guest-chamber.
8 Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.
And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the field and keeping the night-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!
and behold, a messenger of the LORD stood over them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they feared [with] a 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 messenger said to them, “Do not fear, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that 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.
because today in the city of David a Savior was born to you, 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: you will find a Baby wrapped up, lying in the manger.”
13 Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
And suddenly there came with the messenger 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 in the highest to God, and on earth peace, among men—good will!”
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, when the messengers were gone away from them to the heavens, that the men, the shepherds, said to one another, “We may indeed go over to Beth-Lehem and see this thing that has come to pass, that the LORD made known to us!”
16 They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
And they came, having hurried, and found 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 made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the Child.
18 All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
And all who heard [it] wondered concerning the things spoken to them by the shepherds;
19 But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
and Mary was preserving all these things, 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 turned back, glorifying and praising God for all those things they heard and saw, as it was spoken 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 to circumcise the Child, then was His Name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before His being 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 were fulfilled, according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem, to present to the LORD,
23 as the law of the Lord states, “Every firstborn son must be dedicated to the Lord.”
as it has been written in the Law of the LORD: “Every male opening a womb will 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 give a sacrifice, according to that 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 [is] Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him,
26 The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah.
and it has been divinely told him by the Holy Spirit—not to see death before he may see the Christ of the LORD.
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 in the parents bringing in the child Jesus, for their doing according to the custom of the Law regarding Him,
28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and he said,
29 “Lord and Master, now you can let your servant die in peace as you promised,
“Now You send Your servant away, O LORD, according to Your word, in peace,
30 because I have seen for myself your salvation
because my eyes saw Your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for everyone.
which You prepared before the face of all the peoples,
32 He is a light that will show you to the nations, the glory of your people Israel.”
a light to the uncovering of nations, 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 wondering at the things 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,
and Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this [One] is set for the falling and rising again 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 also a sword will pass through your own soul)—that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.”
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 Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, 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 she [is] a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving with fasts and supplications, 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.
and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the LORD, and was speaking concerning Him to all those looking 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 completed all things according to the Law of the LORD, they turned back to Galilee, to their city of Nazareth;
40 The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
and the Child grew and was strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on Him.
41 Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
And His parents were going yearly to Jerusalem, at the Celebration of the Passover,
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did.
and when He became twelve years old, they having gone up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the celebration,
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 having finished the days, in their returning the child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and His mother did not know,
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.
and having supposed Him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and were seeking Him among the relatives and among the acquaintances,
45 When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.
and having not found Him, they turned back 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, both hearing them and questioning them,
47 All who heard him speak were surprised by his understanding and his answers.
and all those hearing 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 having seen Him, they were amazed, and His mother said to Him, “Child, why did You do this to us? Behold, Your father and I, sorrowing, were seeking You.”
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 you were seeking Me? Did you not know that it is necessary for Me to be in the things of My Father?”
50 But they didn't understand what he meant.
And they did not understand the saying that He spoke 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 subject to them, and His mother was keeping all these sayings in her heart,
52 Jesus grew steadily wiser and stronger, favored both by God and by the people.
and Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and men.
