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].
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered in a census.
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.
This was the first census, and it took place when Quirinius was governor of 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.
So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
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].
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family 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].
to register himself along with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
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.
While they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son. Then she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 That night, there were [some] shepherds who were taking care of their sheep [as usual] in the fields near [Bethlehem].
In the same region there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock 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 behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled 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].
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people.
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 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
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.”
This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared and joined the other angel. They all praised God, singing/saying,
Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, 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, and peace on earth, good will among 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!”
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has 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.
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
17 Then they told [Mary and Joseph and others] what had been told them {what [the angel] had told them} about this child.
After seeing him, they made widely known what they had been told about the child,
18 Everyone who heard what was said by the shepherds {what the shepherds said} to them was amazed.
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary [did not talk to others about what the angels said]; she just kept thinking very much about it.
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering 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.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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.
When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was called Jesus, the name given 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.
When the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens 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].
They also went up to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord: “a pair of turtledoves 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 behold, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout. He 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.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
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].
So he came in the Spirit into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law,
28 So he took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying,
Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,
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.
“Now, Master, yoʋ are releasing yoʋr servant in peace according to yoʋr word,
for my eyes have seen yoʋr salvation,
which yoʋ have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of yoʋr people Israel.”
33 His parents marveled about what [Simeon] said about [Jesus]. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary,
Joseph and the child's mother were amazed at what was being said about 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.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, the child's mother, “Behold, this child is appointed to bring about the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
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).”
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce yoʋr own soul as well.”
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.
There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in days. Her husband had died seven years after they were married,
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 she was a widow of about eighty-four years of age. She did not depart from the temple, but served night and day 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].
She came at that very hour and began giving praise to the Lord and speaking about the child to all who were waiting for redemption in 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].
When Joseph and Mary had finished everything that was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40 As Jesus grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was very pleased with him.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; he was filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem to [celebrate] the Passover festival.
Now Jesus' parents went 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.
When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
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 they had completed their days there and started returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But Joseph did not know it, and neither did Jesus' mother.
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.
They assumed that he was in the company of travelers, so they went a day's journey before they began looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 They did not find him, so they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking 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.
After three days, they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, 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 who heard him were amazed at his understanding 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!”
When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Child, why have yoʋ treated us like this? Behold, yoʋr father and I have been looking for yoʋ in great distress.”
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 were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
50 But they did not understand [the meaning of] what he said to them.
But they did not understand what he said to them.
51 Then he returned with them down to Nazareth. He always obeyed them. But his mother kept thinking about all those things.
Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. And his mother kept 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 advanced in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and men.
