1 O ra, in quei giorni fu emanato un decreto da parte di Cesare Augusto che si compisse il censimento di tutto l'impero.

In those days Caesar Augustus sent out word that the name of every person in the Roman nation must be written in the books of the nation.

2 Q uesto censimento fu il primo ad essere fatto quando Quirinio era governatore della Siria.

This first writing took place while Quirinius was ruler of Syria.

3 E tutti andavano a farsi registrare ciascuno nella sua città.

So all the people went to their own cities to have their names written in the books of the nation.

4 O r anche Giuseppe uscí dalla città di Nazaret della Galilea, per recarsi in Giudea nella città di Davide, chiamata Betlemme, perché egli era della casa e della famiglia di Davide,

Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee to the town of Bethlehem. It was known as the city of David. He went there because he was from the family of David.

5 p er farsi registrare con Maria, sua moglie, che aveva sposato e che era incinta.

Joseph went to have his and Mary’s names written in the books of the nation. Mary was his promised wife and soon to become a mother.

6 C osí mentre erano là, giunse per lei il tempo del parto.

While they were there in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to her baby.

7 E d ella diede alla luce il suo figlio primogenito, e lo fasciò e lo pose a giacere in una mangiatoia, perché non c'era posto per loro nell'albergo.

Her first son was born. She put cloth around Him and laid Him in a place where cattle are fed. There was no room for them in the place where people stay for the night. The Shepherds Learn of the Birth of Jesus

8 O ra in quella stessa regione c'erano dei pastori che dimoravano all'aperto nei campi, e di notte facevano la guardia al loro gregge.

In the same country there were shepherds in the fields. They were watching their flocks of sheep at night.

9 E d ecco, un angelo del Signore si presentò loro e la gloria del Signore risplendette intorno a loro, ed essi furono presi da grande paura.

The angel of the Lord came to them. The shining-greatness of the Lord shone around them. They were very much afraid.

10 M a l'angelo disse loro: «Non temete, perché vi annunzio una grande gioia che tutto il popolo avrà;

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. See! I bring you good news of great joy which is for all people.

11 p oiché oggi nella città di Davide è nato per voi un Salvatore, che è Cristo, il Signore

Today, One Who saves from the punishment of sin has been born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.

12 E questo vi servirà di segno: Voi troverete un bambino fasciato, coricato in una mangiatoia».

There will be something special for you to see. This is the way you will know Him. You will find the Baby with cloth around Him, lying in a place where cattle are fed.”

13 E ad un tratto si uní all'angelo una moltitudine dell'esercito celeste che lodava Dio, dicendo:

At once many angels from heaven were seen, along with the angel, giving thanks to God. They were saying,

14 « Gloria a Dio nei luoghi altissimi, e pace in terra agli uomini, su cui si posa il suo favore».

“Greatness and honor to our God in the highest heaven and peace on earth among men who please Him.” The Shepherds Go to Bethlehem

15 E avvenne che, quando gli angeli si allontanarono da loro per ritornare in cielo, i pastori dissero tra loro: «Andiamo fino a Betlemme, per vedere ciò che è avvenuto e che il Signore ci ha fatto conoscere».

The angels went from the shepherds back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see what has happened. The Lord has told us about this.”

16 A ndarono quindi in fretta e trovarono Maria, Giuseppe e il bambino, che giaceva in una mangiatoia.

They went fast and found Mary and Joseph. They found the Baby lying in a place where cattle are fed.

17 D opo averlo visto, divulgarono quanto era stato loro detto a proposito di quel bambino.

When they saw the Child, they told what the angel said about Him.

18 E tutti coloro che li udirono si meravigliarono delle cose raccontate loro dai pastori.

All who heard it were surprised at what the shepherds told them.

19 M aria custodiva tutte queste parole, meditandole in cuor.

But Mary hid all these words in her heart. She thought about them much.

20 E i pastori se ne ritornarono, glorificando e lodando Dio per tutte le cose che avevano udito e visto, come era stato loro detto.

The shepherds went back full of joy. They thanked God for all they had heard and seen. It happened as the angel had told them. Jesus Taken to the House of God

21 E quando furono trascorsi gli otto giorni dopo i quali egli doveva essere circonciso, gli fu posto nome Gesú, il nome dato dall'angelo prima che fosse concepito nel grembo.

When eight days were over, they did the religious act of becoming a Jew on the Child. He was named Jesus. This name was given to Him by the angel when Mary was told He was to be born.

22 Q uando poi furono compiuti i giorni della purificazione di lei secondo la legge di Mosé, portarono il bambino a Gerusalemme per presentarlo al Signore

When the days were over for her to be made pure as it was written in the Law of Moses, they took Jesus to Jerusalem to give Him to the Lord.

23 c ome è scritto nella legge del Signore: «Ogni maschio primogenito sarà chiamato santo al Signore»,

It is written in the Law of the Lord, “The first-born male born of a woman will be called holy to the Lord.”

24 e per offrire in sacrificio, come è detto nella legge del Signore, un paio di tortore o due giovani colombi.

They were to give a gift of two turtle-doves or two young birds on the altar in worship to the Lord. This was written in the Law of the Lord. Simeon’s Song of Thanks

25 O r ecco, vi era a Gerusalemme un uomo chiamato Simeone; quest'uomo era giusto e pio e aspettava la consolazione d'Israele; e lo Spirito Santo era su di lui.

There was a man in Jerusalem by the name of Simeon. He was a good man and very religious. He was looking for the time when the Jewish nation would be saved. The Holy Spirit was on him.

26 E gli era stato divinamente rivelato dallo Spirito Santo, che non sarebbe morto prima di aver visto il Cristo del Signore.

The Holy Spirit made it known to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen God’s Chosen One.

27 E gli dunque, mosso dallo Spirito, venne nel tempio, e, come i genitori vi portavano il bambino Gesú, per fare a suo riguardo quanto prescriveva la legge,

He came to the house of God being led by the Holy Spirit. The parents took Jesus to the house of God. They came to do what the Law said must be done.

28 e gli lo prese tra le braccia e benedisse Dio, dicendo:

Then Simeon took Jesus in his arms. He gave honor to Him and thanked God, saying,

29 « Ora, Signore, lascia che il tuo servo muoia in pace secondo la tua parola,

“Lord, now let me die in peace, as You have said.

30 p erché i miei occhi hanno visto la tua salvezza,

My eyes have seen the One Who will save men from the punishment of their sins.

31 c he tu hai preparato davanti a tutti i popoli;

You have made Him ready in the sight of all nations.

32 l uce per illuminare le genti e gloria del tuo popolo Israele».

He will be a light to shine on the people who are not Jews. He will be the shining-greatness of Your people the Jews.”

33 E Giuseppe e la madre del bambino si meravigliavano delle cose che si dicevano di lui.

Joseph and the mother of Jesus were surprised and wondered about these words which were said about Jesus.

34 P oi Simeone li benedisse e disse a Maria sua madre: «Ecco, costui è posto per la caduta e per l'innalzamento di molti in Israele e per essere segno di contraddizione,

Simeon honored them and said to Mary the mother of Jesus, “See! This Child will make many people fall and many people rise in the Jewish nation. He will be spoken against.

35 e a te stessa una spada trafiggerà l'anima, affinché siano svelati i pensieri di molti cuori».

A sword will cut through your soul. By this the thoughts of many hearts will be understood.” Anna Gives Thanks for Jesus

36 V i era anche Anna, una profetessa, figlia di Fanuel, della tribú di Aser, la quale era molto avanzata in età, avendo vissuto dopo la sua verginità sette anni con il marito.

Anna was a woman who spoke God’s Word. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the family group of Asher. Anna was many years old. She had lived with her husband seven years after she was married.

37 E lla era vedova e, sebbene avesse ormai ottantaquattro anni, non si allontanava mai dal tempio, servendo Dio notte e giorno con digiuni e preghiere.

Her husband had died and she had lived without a husband eighty-four years. Yet she did not go away from the house of God. She served God day and night, praying and going without food so she could pray better.

38 S opraggiunta ella pure in quel momento, lodava il Signore e parlava di quel bambino a tutti coloro che aspettavano la redenzione in Gerusalemme.

At that time she came and gave thanks to God. She told the people in Jerusalem about Jesus. They were looking for the One to save them from the punishment of their sins and to set them free. They Return to Nazareth

39 O ra, quando ebbero compiuto tutto quello che riguardava l'osservanza della legge del Signore, ritornarono in Galilea nella loro città di Nazaret.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything the Law said to do, they went back to Nazareth in Galilee.

40 I ntanto il bambino cresceva e si fortificava nello spirito, essendo ripieno di sapienza; e la grazia di Dio era su di lui.

The Child grew and became strong in spirit. He was filled with wisdom and the loving-favor of God was on Him.

41 O r i suoi genitori si recavano ogni anno a Gerusalemme per la festa di Pasqua.

His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt.

42 E , quando egli compí dodici anni, essi salirono a Gerusalemme, secondo l'usanza della festa.

When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem as they had done before.

43 T erminati quei giorni, mentre essi ritornavano, il fanciullo Gesú rimase in Gerusalemme; ma Giuseppe e sua madre non lo sapevano.

When the days of the special supper were over, they started back to their town. But the boy Jesus was still in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it.

44 S upponendo che egli fosse nella comitiva, essi fecero una giornata di cammino, poi si misero a cercarlo fra i parenti e i conoscenti;

They thought Jesus was with the others of the group. They walked for one day. Then they looked for Him among their family and friends.

45 e , non avendolo trovato, tornarono a Gerusalemme in cerca di lui.

When they could not find Jesus, they turned back to Jerusalem to look for Him.

46 E avvenne che, tre giorni dopo, lo trovarono nel tempio, seduto in mezzo ai dottori, intento ad ascoltarli e a far loro domande.

Three days later they found Him in the house of God. He was sitting among the teachers. He was hearing what they said and asking questions.

47 E tutti quelli che l'udivano, stupivano della sua intelligenza e delle sue risposte.

All those who heard Him were surprised and wondered about His understanding and at what He said.

48 E , quando essi lo videro, rimasero stupiti, e sua madre gli disse: «Figlio, perché ci hai fatto questo? Ecco, tuo padre ed io, angosciati, ti cercavamo!».

When His parents saw Him, they were surprised. His mother said to Him, “My Son, why have You done this to us? See! Your father and I have had much sorrow looking for You.”

49 M a egli disse loro: «Perché mi cercavate? Non sapevate che io devo occuparmi delle cose del Padre mio?».

He said to them, “Why were you looking for Me? Do you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?”

50 M a essi non compresero le parole che aveva detto loro.

They did not understand the things He said to them.

51 E d egli scese con loro, tornò a Nazaret e stava loro sottomesso. E sua madre serbava tutte queste parole nel suo cuore.

He went with them to Nazareth and obeyed them. But His mother kept all these words in her heart.

52 E Gesú cresceva in sapienza, in statura e in grazia davanti a Dio e agli uomini.

Jesus grew strong in mind and body. He grew in favor with God and men.