Luke 2
1 And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be registered.
It was the time when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that there should be a census of everyone in the Roman Empire.
2 (This registering was the first made while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own city.
So everybody went to their own city to be registered.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea.
5 to be registered with Mary who had been betrothed to him, who was with child.
He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby.
6 And it came to pass, while they were there, that the days for her delivery were completed.
While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swathing-clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
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.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, and keeping watch over their flock by night.
Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.
9 And an angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were in great fear.
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!
10 And the angel said to them, Fear not; for lo! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to the whole people;
“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.
11 for to you hath been born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is the Christ, the Lord.
The Savior has been born to you today, here in David's city. He is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 And this shall be the sign to you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swathing-clothes, [[lying]] in a manger.
You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will!”
“Glory to the God of heaven, and on earth peace to those who please him!”
15 And it came to pass, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said one to another, Let us go at once to Bethlehem, and see that which hath come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.
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.”
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad what had been told them concerning this child.
After they'd seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby.
18 And all who heard wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all which they had heard and seen, as had been told them.
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.
21 And when eight days were completed for him to be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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.
22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
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,
23 as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord,”
as the law of the Lord states, “Every firstborn son must be dedicated to the Lord.”
24 and to offer a sacrifice, according to what is directed in the law of the Lord: “A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.”
There they made a sacrifice, as God's law also states, of “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”
25 And lo! there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and he was a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him;
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.
26 and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
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,
28 he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
29 Lord! now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
“Lord and Master, now you can let your servant die in peace as you promised,
30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
because I have seen for myself your salvation
31 which thou hast prepared before the face of all the peoples;
which you have prepared for everyone.
32 a light to enlighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
He is a light that will show you to the nations, the glory of your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was spoken concerning him.
Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said about him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be spoken against; —
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,
35 yea, a sword will pierce through thine own soul, —that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right through you.”
36 And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel: of the tribe of Asher; she was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
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,
37 and she was a widow eighty-four years old, who never left the temple, worshipping with fastings and prayers night and day.
and then she had been widowed. She was eighty-four years old. She spent her time at the Temple in worship, fasting and praying.
38 And she came up at this very time, and gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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.
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.
The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
41 Now his parents used to go yearly to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.
Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
42 And when he was twelve years old, and they went up, after the custom of the feast,
When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did.
43 and had completed the days, on their returning, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents did not know it,
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.
44 but, supposing him to be in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance;
They assumed he was with all the others traveling home. A day passed before they started looking for him among their friends and relatives.
45 and not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of him.
When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.
46 And it came to pass, 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.
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.
47 And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.
All who heard him speak were surprised by his understanding and his answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed; and his mother said to him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have been seeking thee in much distress.
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!”
49 And he said to them, Why is it that ye have been seeking me? Did ye not know that I must be about my Father's business?
“Why is it that you were looking for me?” Jesus replied. “Didn't you know I should be here in my Father's house?”
50 And they understood not what he spoke to them.
But they didn't understand what he meant.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart.
Then he went back with them to Nazareth, and did what he was told. His mother kept a careful note of everything that happened.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Jesus grew steadily wiser and stronger, favored both by God and by the people.
