< Luke 2 >

1 Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be enrolled.
Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration of the whole Empire.
2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
It was the first registration made during the governorship of Quirinius in Syria;
3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
and all went to be registered--every one to the town to which he belonged.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him, being pregnant.
to have himself registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was with child.
6 It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.
But while they were there, her full time came,
7 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.
and she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped Him round, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
Now there were shepherds in the same part of the country, keeping watch over their sheep by night in the open fields,
9 And look, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
when suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them; and they were filled with terror.
10 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.
But the angel said to them, "Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy--joy for all the People.
11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.
For a Saviour who is the Anointed Lord is born to you to-day, in the town of David.
12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
And this is the token for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
And immediately there was with the angel a multitude of the army of Heaven praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward humankind."
"Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!"
15 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."
Then, as soon as the angels had left them and returned to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go over as far as Bethlehem and see this that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
So they made haste and came and found Mary and Joseph, with the babe lying in the manger.
17 When they saw it, they made known the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
And when they saw the child, they told what had been said to them about Him;
18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
and all who listened were astonished at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
But Mary treasured up all these things, often dwelling on them in her mind.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen in accordance with the announcement made to them.
21 When eight days were fulfilled to circumcise him, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
When eight days had passed and the time for circumcising Him had come, He was called JESUS, the name given Him by the angel before His conception in the womb.
22 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
And when the days for their purification appointed by the Law of Moses had passed, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord--
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord"),
as it is written in the Law of the Lord: "Every first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord."
24 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."
And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons."
25 And look, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem of the name of Symeon, an upright and God-fearing man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
To him it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Anointed One.
27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the requirement of the Law,
Led by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do with regard to Him according to the custom of the Law,
28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Lord, according to your word, in peace;
"Now, O Sovereign Lord, Thou dost send Thy servant away in peace, in fulfilment of Thy word,
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
Because mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
Which Thou hast made ready in the sight of all nations--
32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."
A light to shine upon the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel."
33 And his father and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,
And while the child's father and mother were wondering at the words of Symeon concerning Him,
34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, 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.
Symeon blessed them and said to Mary the mother, "This child is appointed for the falling and the uprising of many in Israel and for a token to be spoken against;
35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
and a sword will pierce through your own soul also; that the reasonings in many hearts may be revealed."
36 There was one Anna, 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,
There was also Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, belonging to the tribe of Asher. She was of a very great age, having had after her maidenhood seven years of married life,
37 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.
and then being a widow of eighty-four years. She was never absent from the Temple, but worshipped, by day and by night, with fasting and prayer.
38 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.
And coming up just at that moment, she gave thanks to God, and spoke about the child to all who were expecting the deliverance of Jerusalem.
39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
Then, as soon as they had accomplished all that the Law required, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong, being filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
And the child grew and became strong and full of wisdom, and the favour of God rested upon Him.
41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
Now His parents used to go up year by year to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast,
And when He was twelve years old they went up as was customary at the time of the Feast, and,
43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
after staying the full number of days, when they started back home the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not discover this,
44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
but supposing Him to be in the travelling company, they proceeded a day's journey. Then they searched up and down for Him among their relatives and acquaintances;
45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
but being unable to find Him they returned to Jerusalem, making anxious inquiry for Him.
46 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.
On the third day they found Him in the Temple sitting among the Rabbis, both listening to them and asking them questions,
47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
while all who heard Him were astonished at His intelligence and at the answers He gave.
48 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."
When they saw Him, they were smitten with amazement, and His mother said to Him, "My child, why have you behaved thus to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in anguish."
49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be doing the works of my Father?"
"Why is it that you have been searching for me?" He replied; "did you not know that it is my duty to be engaged upon my Father's business?"
50 They did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.
But they did not understand the significance of these words.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was always obedient to them; but His mother carefully treasured up all these incidents in her memory.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.
And as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

< Luke 2 >