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 empire should be enrolled.
2 This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria.
This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 So everybody went to their own city to be registered.
All went to enroll themselves, everyone 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.
Joseph also went up from Galil, out of the city of Natzeret, into Judea, to the city of David, 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 enroll himself with Miriam, who was pledged to be married to him, being pregnant.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.
It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.
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, and wrapped him with pieces of cloth, and placed him in a feeding trough, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.
There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, 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 look, an angel of the Lord stood by 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, for see, I bring you good news of great joy 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.
For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Messiah, 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.”
This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
13 Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army 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 humankind."
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 happened that when the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, 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.
They came with haste, and found both Miriam and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
17 After they'd seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby.
When they saw it, they made known the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18 All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
But Miriam kept 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 for all the things 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 fulfilled to circumcise him, his name was called Yeshua, which was 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,
When the days of their purification according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up 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 who opens the 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 offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord, "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.
And look, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Shim'on. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Ruach ha-Kodesh was on 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 by the Ruach ha-Kodesh that he should not see death before he had seen 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,
He came in the Ruach into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Yeshua, that they might do concerning him according to the requirement of the Law,
28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
then 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,
"Now you are releasing your servant, Lord, according to your word, in peace;
30 because I have seen for myself your salvation
for 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 the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."
33 Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said about him.
And his father and his mother were marveling at the things which were 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 Shim'on blessed them, and said to Miriam, his mother, "Look, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
35 revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right though you.”
Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts 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,
There was one Hannah, a prophetess, the daughter of Penuel, 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 she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who did not depart from the temple, worshipping 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.
Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee.
When they had accomplished all things that were according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galil, to their own city, Natzeret.
40 The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
The child was growing, and was becoming strong, being filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
41 Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did.
When he was twelve years old, they went up 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 when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Yeshua stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents 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.
but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.
When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for 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.
It happened 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 amazed at his understanding and his 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!”
When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Look, your father and I were anxiously looking for 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?”
He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be doing the works of my Father?"
50 But they didn't understand what he meant.
They did not understand the saying which 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 Natzeret. He was subject to them, and 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 Yeshua increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.
