Luke, 2

1. Now it happened that at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be made of the whole inhabited world.

1. In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

2. This census -- the first -- took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria,

2. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria.

3. and everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

3. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.

4. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee for Judaea, to David's town called Bethlehem, since he was of David's House and line,

4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5. in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

5. to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

6. Now it happened that, while they were there, the time came for her to have her child,

6. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.

7. and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the living-space.

7. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8. In the countryside close by there were shepherds out in the fields keeping guard over their sheep during the watches of the night.

8. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9. An angel of the Lord stood over them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified,

9. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

10. but the angel said, 'Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people.

10. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;

11. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

11. for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.'

12. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

13. And all at once with the angel there was a great throng of the hosts of heaven, praising God with the words:

13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace for those he favours.

14. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

15. Now it happened that when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go to Bethlehem and see this event which the Lord has made known to us.'

15. When the angels went 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 hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

16. And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him,

17. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child;

18. and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds said to them.

18. and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

19. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.

19. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.

20. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.

20. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21. When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.

21. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22. And when the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord-

22. And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

23. observing what is written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord-

23. (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")

24. and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is prescribed in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

24. and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

25. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him.

25. Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking 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 would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.

26. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required,

27. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,

28. he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

28. he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29. Now, Master, you are letting your servant go in peace as you promised;

29. "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;

30. for my eyes have seen the salvation

30. for mine eyes have seen thy salvation

31. which you have made ready in the sight of the nations;

31. which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32. a light of revelation for the gentiles and glory for your people Israel.

32. a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."

33. As the child's father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him,

33. And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;

34. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed-

34. and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against

35. and a sword will pierce your soul too -- so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'

35. (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

36. There was a prophetess, too, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years

36. And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,

37. before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer.

37. and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

38. She came up just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

38. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39. When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

39. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

40. And as the child grew to maturity, he was filled with wisdom; and God's favour was with him.

40. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

41. Every year his parents used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

41. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

42. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual.

42. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom;

43. When the days of the feast were over and they set off home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it.

43. and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,

44. They assumed he was somewhere in the party, and it was only after a day's journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances.

44. but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances;

45. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.

45. and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46. It happened that, three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions;

46. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions;

47. and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies.

47. and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, 'My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.'

48. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."

49. He replied, 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?'

49. And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

50. But they did not understand what he meant.

50. And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.

51. He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart.

51. And 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. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with people.

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