Luke 2
1 About that time the Emperor Augustus commanded that ([his officials must] write down the names/[a census be taken]) of all the people who lived in countries [controlled] by the Roman [government] {that the Roman [government controlled]}, [so that the government could collect taxes from them].
And in those days it occurred, that a decree went forth from Augustus Caesar, that all the people of his dominion should be enrolled.
2 That was the first time that they (wrote down the names/took a census) in Syria [province, which included Judea district]. They did this while Quirinius was the governor of the province.
And this enrollment was first made under the presidency of Quirinus in Syria.
3 Every person had to go to the town where his [most famous ancestor] had lived, so that [the officials] could write down their names.
And everyone went to his own city to be enrolled.
4 So, because Joseph was a descendant of [King] David, he went up from Nazareth, the town in Galilee [district where he lived], to the town of Bethlehem in Judea [district]. That was the town where [King] David [grew up].
And Joseph also went up from Nazareth of Galilee to Judaea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 Joseph went with Mary, who [was considered] {whom [people considered]} [to be] his wife, who was now pregnant. They went so that they could put his name and Mary’s name [in the record book].
with Mary his espoused, then pregnant, to be enrolled.
6 When they arrived [in Bethlehem], there was no place for them to stay in the house where travelers stay. [So they stayed in a cattle shed]. When the time for Mary to give birth arrived, she gave birth to her first son there. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a trough where [people] put food for the animals.
And it was while they were there, that the days for her to bring forth were completed.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in bandages, and laid him in the stall; for they had no place where they could lodge.
8 That night, there were [some] shepherds who were taking care of their sheep [as usual] in the fields near [Bethlehem].
And there were shepherds in that region, who abode there and kept watch of their flocks by night.
9 An angel from God appeared to them. A great light (from the Lord/from God) shone on them and around them. [So] they became very afraid.
And lo, the angel of God came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone upon them: and they feared with great fear.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! I have come to tell you good news, which will [make you] very happy! This message is for everyone [to hear].
And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold I announce to you great joy, which will be to all the world.
11 [The message is that] today a baby has been born in [Bethlehem, the town where King] David grew up. That baby will [eventually] save you [from the guilt of your sins]! He is the Messiah, [your] Lord!
For there is born to you this day a deliverer, who is the Lord Messiah, in the city of David
12 I will tell you how [you will recognize him] (OR, how you will know [that what I say is true]): [In Bethlehem] you will find a baby who has been wrapped {[whose mother] has wrapped him} in strips of cloth and placed in a trough where [people] put food for the animals.”
And this is the sign for you: Ye will find the babe wrapped in bandages, and placed in a stall.
13 Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared and joined the other angel. They all praised God, singing/saying,
And instantly there were seen with the angel, the many hosts of heaven, praising God, and saying:
14 “May [all the angels] in the highest heaven praise God! And on the earth may the people to whom God has shown his favor have peace [with him]!”
Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace and good hope for men.
15 After the angels left them [and returned] to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem to see this [wonderful] thing that has happened, which (the Lord/God) has told us about!”
And it was so, that when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds conferred with one another, and said: Let us go down to Bethlehem, and see this thing which hath occurred, as the Lord hath made known to us.
16 So they went quickly. They found the [place where] Mary and Joseph [were staying], and [they saw] the baby lying in the trough where [people] put food for the animals.
And they came hastily, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe laid in the stall.
17 Then they told [Mary and Joseph and others] what had been told them {what [the angel] had told them} about this child.
And when they saw, they made known the information which was given to them concerning the child.
18 Everyone who heard what was said by the shepherds {what the shepherds said} to them was amazed.
And all that heard, wondered at the things that were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary [did not talk to others about what the angels said]; she just kept thinking very much about it.
And Mary laid up all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned [to their sheep]. They kept praising God very much for all the things that they had heard and seen, [because] everything [happened] exactly like [the angels] told them.
And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all that they had seen and heard, as it was told them.
21 Seven days later, when [the priests] circumcised the baby, [his parents] named him Jesus. That was the name that [they were told by] the angel {the angel [told them]} [to] give him before Mary became pregnant.
And when the eight days for the circumcision of the child were completed, his name was called JESUS; as he was named by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb
22 It had been written by Moses {Moses had written} [long ago] in a law that God gave him, that when a woman gave birth to her first son, the parents had to take him [to the Temple] in Jerusalem in order that they might dedicate him (to the Lord/to God). So when the time came for them to do those rituals so that [God would consider] them pure again, Mary and Joseph took Jesus there.
And when the days of their purification were completed, according to the law of Moses, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him before the Lord:
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, that every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: )
24 God had commanded in his laws that if the first child [of a couple] was a boy, his parents should offer as a sacrifice to God two turtledoves or two young pigeons. [So Joseph and Mary gave the priest two birds so he could offer them].
and to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.
25 At that time there was an [old] man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He habitually did what was pleasing to God and he obeyed God’s laws. The Holy Spirit was [directing] him as he was waiting for [God] [MTY] [to] encourage the Israeli [people by sending the Messiah].
And there was a certain man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon. This man was upright and just, and was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 It was [previously] revealed by the Holy Spirit {The Holy Spirit [previously] revealed} to him that he would see God’s [promised] Messiah before he died.
And it had been told him by the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death, until he should see the Messiah of the Lord.
27 When Joseph and Mary brought their baby Jesus [to the Temple] in order to perform the rituals that [God had commanded] in his laws, the Spirit led Simeon to enter the Temple [courtyard, and revealed to him that Jesus was the Messiah].
This man came, by the Spirit, into the temple; and when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him as is commanded in the law,
28 So he took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying,
he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
29 Lord, you promised me that I would see the one [MTY] who would enable you to save people of all people-groups from the guilt of their sins. He will be [MET] like a light that will reveal your truth to non-Jews, and he will cause people to think highly of your people, the Israeli people. Since I [SYN] have now seen this one that you promised to send, now let me die peacefully.
My Lord, now release thou thy servant in peace, as thou hast said:
for lo, my eyes have seen thy mercy,
which thou hast prepared in the presence of all nations,
a light for a revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for thy people Israel.
33 His parents marveled about what [Simeon] said about [Jesus]. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary,
And Joseph and his mother were astonished at those things which were spoken concerning him.
34 “Note what I say: [God] has determined that because of this child, many Israeli people will [turn away from God], and many others will turn to God [MET]. Although he will be like a sign [MET] [to warn people], [many] people will oppose him.
And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold, this child is set forth for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, and for a standard of contention;
35 As a result, the [evil] thoughts of many people will be made evident {he will reveal the [evil] thoughts of many people}. [Furthermore, the cruel things that they will do to him] [MET] [will be like] a sword that will pierce your (soul/inner being).”
(and also a dart will pierce thy own soul); that the thoughts of the hearts of many may be disclosed.
36 There was also [in the Temple courtyard] a very old woman named Anna. She was a prophetess. Her father Phanuel was a member of the tribe of Asher. After she had been married seven years, her husband died.
And Hanna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she also was aged in days, and, from her maidenhood, had lived seven years with her husband,
37 After that, she lived until she was 84 years old, and she was still a widow. She stayed in the Temple [area] all the time, night and day, worshipping God. She often (abstained from food/fasted) as she prayed.
and was a widow of about eighty and four years, and departed not from the temple, but worshipped by day and by night with fasting and prayer;
38 [While Joseph and Mary and the baby were] still [in the Temple, Anna came to them. She thanked God for the baby]. Then she spoke about Jesus to many people who were expecting [God to send the Messiah] [MTY] to set [the people of] [MTY] Jerusalem free [from their enemies].
and she too stood up, in that hour, and gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to every one that waited for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 After Joseph and Mary had finished performing the rituals that (the Lord/God) required [the parents of a first son] to perform, they returned to their own town, Nazareth, in Galilee [district].
And when they had accomplished all things, according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city Nazareth.
40 As Jesus grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was very pleased with him.
And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and was filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem to [celebrate] the Passover festival.
And his people went up to Jerusalem every year, at the feast of the passover.
42 So when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up [to Jerusalem] as they always did.
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to the feast, as they were accustomed.
43 When the celebration ended, his parents started to return home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. [His parents] did not realize that [Jesus stayed there].
And when the days were completed, they returned: but the child Jesus remained at Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not of it;
44 They thought that he was with the other people who were traveling with them. They walked all day. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.
for they supposed he was with his companions. And when they had travelled a day's journey, they sought him among their people, and inquired of every one that knew them.
45 They did not find him, so they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
And they did not find him. And they returned again to Jerusalem, searching for him.
46 Two days later, they found him. He was in the Temple [courtyard], sitting with the [Jewish] religious teachers. He was listening to what they said, and he was asking them questions.
And after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, and listening to them, and asking them questions.
47 Everyone who heard what he [said] was amazed at how much he understood and [how well] he answered [the questions that the teachers asked].
And all they that heard him, were astonished at his wisdom and his answers.
48 When his parents saw him, they were very surprised. His mother said to him, “My son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried as we [(exc)] have been searching for you!”
And when they saw him they were amazed. And his mother said to him: My son, why hast thou done so to us? For lo, I and thy father have been seeking for thee with great anxiety.
49 He said to them, [speaking about the Temple being God his Father’s house], “(I am surprised that you [(dl)] did [not know] where to find me!/Why did you [not know] where to find me?) [RHQ] (You [(dl)] should have known that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house!/Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?) [RHQ]”
He said to them: Why did ye seek me? Do ye not know, that it behooveth me to be in my Father's house?
50 But they did not understand [the meaning of] what he said to them.
But they did not comprehend the word that he spoke to them.
51 Then he returned with them down to Nazareth. He always obeyed them. But his mother kept thinking about all those things.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. And his mother laid up all these things in her heart.
52 [As the years passed], Jesus continued to become wiser and he grew taller. God and people continued to approve of him more and more.
And Jesus increased in stature, and in wisdom, and in grace, before God and men.
