Luke 2

1 Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.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;

5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6 It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.7 She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, 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.9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”
15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing 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.17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived 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 Lord23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),t

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.”t
25 Behold, 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.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.t27 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 custom of the law,

28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now you are releasing your servant, Master,
according to your word, in peace;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 a light for revelation to the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.

38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in 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.40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast,43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,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.45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking 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.47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”
49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.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.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2

The Census and the Birth of Jesus

1 Nowt in those days a decrees went out from Caesart Augustuss to registerts all the empiret for taxes.2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governort of Syria.3 Everyonet went to his own townt to be registered.4 Sot Joseph also went up from the town of Nazarethss in Galilee to Judea, to the cityt of David called Bethlehem,ss because he was of the houses and family linet of David.5 He wentt to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him,t and who was expecting a child.6 Whilet they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.t

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloths and laid him in a manger,t because there was no place for them in the inn.ts

The Shepherds’ Visit

8 Nowt there were shepherdss nearbyt living out in the field, keeping guardt over their flock at night.9 Ant angel of the Lordt appeared tot them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.ts10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully,t for I proclaim to you good newst that brings great joy to all the people:11 Todays your Savior is born in the cityt of David.t He is Christts the Lord.12 Thist will be a signs for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”t

13 Suddenlyt a vast, heavenly armyt appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glorys to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among peoplet with whom he is pleased!”s
15 Whent the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehems and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lords has made known to us.”16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.t17 Whent they saw him,t they related what they had been toldt about this child,18 and all who heard it were astonishedt at what the shepherds said.19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.t

20 Sot the shepherds returned, glorifying and praisings God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.ts

21 Att the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angels before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus’ Presentation at the Temple

22 Nowt when the time came for theirsts purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Maryt brought Jesust up to Jerusalems to present him to the Lord23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn maletwill be set apart to the Lord”s),

24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of dovessor two young pigeons.s

The Prophecy of Simeon

25 Nowt there was a man in Jerusalems named Simeon who was righteoust and devout, looking for the restorationts of Israel, and the Holy Spirits was upon him.26 Itt had been revealedt to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not diet beforet he had seen the Lord’s Christ.ts27 Sot Simeon,t directed by the Spirit,t came into the temple courts,ts and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law,t

28 Simeont took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,t

29 “Now, according to your word,s Sovereign Lord,t permits your servantts to departt in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvations

31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:s

32 a light,t
for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glorys to your people Israel.”
33 Sot the child’st fatherss and mother were amazedt at what was said about him.34 Thent Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully:t This childt is destined to be the cause of the falling and risings of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.t

35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughtst of many hearts will be revealeds – and a swords will pierce your own soul as well!”s

The Testimony of Anna

36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old,t having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years.t She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.s

38 At that moment,t she came up to themt and began to give thanks to God and to speakt about the childt to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.ss
39 Sot when Joseph and Maryt had performedt everything according to the law of the Lord,s they returned to Galilee, to their own townt of Nazareth.s

40 And the child grew and became strong,s filled with wisdom,s and the favort of Gods was upon him.

Jesus in the Temple

41 Nowt Jesus’t parents went to Jerusalems everyt year for the feast of the Passover.s42 Whent he was twelve years old,s they went ups according to custom.43 Butt when the feast was over,t as they were returning home,t the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Hist parentss did not know it,44 but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers)s they went a day’s journey. Thent they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances.t45 Whent they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalems to look for him.46 Aftert three dayss they found him in the temple courts,t sitting among the teachers,t listening to them and asking them questions.47 And all who heard Jesust were astonisheds at his understanding and his answers.48 Whent his parentst saw him, they were overwhelmed. Hist mother said to him, “Child,t why have you treatedt us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.”t49 Butt he replied,t “Why were you looking for me?t Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”t50 Yett his parentst did not understands the remarkt he madet to them.

51 Thent he went down with them and came to Nazareth,s and was obedientt to them. Butt his mother kept all these thingst in her heart.s

52 And Jesus increasedt in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.