1 I n those days it occurred that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman empire should be registered.

And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled --

2 T his was the first enrollment, and it was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

this enrollment first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria --

3 A nd all the people were going to be registered, each to his own city or town.

and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city,

4 A nd Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David,

5 T o be enrolled with Mary, his espoused ( married) wife, who was about to become a mother.

to enroll himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with child.

6 A nd while they were there, the time came for her delivery,

And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth,

7 A nd she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.

and she brought forth her son -- the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber.

8 A nd in that vicinity there were shepherds living in the field, watching over their flock by night.

And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the field, and keeping the night-watches over their flock,

9 A nd behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened.

and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a great fear.

10 B ut the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.

And the messenger said to them, `Fear not, for lo, I bring you good news of great joy, that shall be to all the people --

11 F or to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!

because there was born to you to-day a Saviour -- who is Christ the Lord -- in the city of David,

12 A nd this will be a sign for you: you will find '> after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

and this to you the sign: Ye shall find a babe wrapped up, lying in the manger.'

13 T hen suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven ( a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,

And suddenly there came with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,

14 G lory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased '> men of goodwill, of His favor].

`Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men -- good will.'

15 W hen the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing ( saying) that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

And it came to pass, when the messengers were gone away from them to the heavens, that the men, the shepherds, said unto one another, `We may go over indeed unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that hath come to pass, that the Lord did make known to us.'

16 S o they went with haste and '> by searching] found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.

And they came, having hasted, and found both Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger,

17 A nd when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child,

and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the child.

18 A nd all who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them.

And all who heard, did wonder concerning the things spoken by the shepherds unto them;

19 B ut Mary was keeping within herself all these things ( sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart.

and Mary was preserving all these things, pondering in her heart;

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

and the shepherds turned back, glorifying and praising God, for all those things they heard and saw, as it was spoken unto them.

21 A nd at the end of eight days, when was to be circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child, then was his name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before his being conceived in the womb.

22 A nd when the time for their purification came according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord—

And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present to the Lord,

23 A s it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be set apart and dedicated and called holy to the Lord—

as it hath been written in the Law of the Lord, -- `Every male opening a womb shall be called holy to the Lord,'

24 A nd to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

and to give a sacrifice, according to that said in the Law of the Lord, `A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.'

25 N ow there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

And lo, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him,

26 A nd it had been divinely revealed (communicated) to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

and it hath been divinely told him by the Holy Spirit -- not to see death before he may see the Christ of the Lord.

27 A nd prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple '> enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the little child Jesus to do for Him what was customary according to the Law,

And he came in the Spirit to the temple, and in the parents bringing in the child Jesus, for their doing according to the custom of the law regarding him,

28 t ook Him up in his arms and praised and thanked God and said,

then he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and he said,

29 A nd now, Lord, You are releasing Your servant to depart (leave this world) in peace, according to Your word.

`Now Thou dost send away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace,

30 F or with my eyes I have seen Your Salvation,

because mine eyes did see Thy salvation,

31 W hich You have ordained and prepared before (in the presence of) all peoples,

which Thou didst prepare before the face of all the peoples,

32 A Light for revelation to the Gentiles and praise and honor and glory to Your people Israel.

a light to the uncovering of nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel.'

33 A nd His father and mother were marveling at what was said about Him.

And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him,

34 A nd Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against—

and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, `Lo, this is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against --

35 A nd a sword will pierce through your own soul also—that the secret thoughts and purposes of many hearts may be brought out and disclosed.

(and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) -- that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'

36 A nd there was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband seven years from her maidenhood,

And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,

37 A nd as a widow even for eighty-four years. She did not go out from the temple enclosure, but was worshiping night and day with fasting and prayer.

and she a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day,

38 A nd she too came up at that same hour, and she returned thanks to God and talked of to all who were looking for the redemption (deliverance) of Jerusalem.

and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the Lord, and was speaking concerning him, to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 A nd when they had done everything according to the Law of the Lord, they went back into Galilee to their own town, Nazareth.

And when they finished all things, according to the Law of the Lord, they turned back to Galilee, to their city Nazareth;

40 A nd the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.

and the child grew and was strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

41 N ow His parents went to Jerusalem every year to the Passover Feast.

And his parents were going yearly to Jerusalem, at the feast of the passover,

42 A nd when He was twelve years, they went up, as was their custom.

and when he became twelve years old, they having gone up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,

43 A nd when the Feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this,

and having finished the days, in their returning the child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother did not know,

44 B ut, supposing Him to be in the caravan, they traveled on a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.

and, having supposed him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and were seeking him among the kindred and among the acquaintances,

45 A nd when they failed to find Him, they went back to Jerusalem, looking for Him all the way.

and not having found him, they turned back to Jerusalem seeking him.

46 A fter three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

And it came to pass, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them,

47 A nd all who heard Him were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His intelligence and understanding and His replies.

and all those hearing him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48 A nd when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, Child, why have You treated us like this? Here Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.

And, having seen him, they were amazed, and his mother said unto him, `Child, why didst thou thus to us? lo, thy father and I, sorrowing, were seeking thee.'

49 A nd He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house and about My Father’s business?

And he said unto them, `Why that ye were seeking me? did ye not know that in the things of my Father it behoveth me to be?'

50 B ut they did not comprehend what He was saying to them.

and they did not understand the saying that he spake to them,

51 A nd He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them; and his mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart.

and he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them, and his mother was keeping all these sayings in her heart,

52 A nd Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.

and Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour with God and men.