1 E n ce temps-là parut un édit de César Auguste, ordonnant un recensement de toute la terre.

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 C e premier recensement eut lieu pendant que Quirinius était gouverneur de Syrie.

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

3 T ous allaient se faire inscrire, chacun dans sa ville.

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

4 J oseph aussi monta de la Galilée, de la ville de Nazareth, pour se rendre en Judée, dans la ville de David, appelée Bethléhem, parce qu'il était de la maison et de la famille de David,

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 a fin de se faire inscrire avec Marie, sa fiancée, qui était enceinte.

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 P endant qu'ils étaient là, le temps où Marie devait accoucher arriva,

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

7 e t elle enfanta son fils premier-né. Elle l'emmaillota, et le coucha dans une crèche, parce qu'il n'y avait pas de place pour eux dans l'hôtellerie.

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 I l y avait, dans cette même contrée, des bergers qui passaient dans les champs les veilles de la nuit pour garder leurs troupeaux.

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

9 E t voici, un ange du Seigneur leur apparut, et la gloire du Seigneur resplendit autour d'eux. Ils furent saisis d'une grande frayeur.

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

10 M ais l'ange leur dit: Ne craignez point; car je vous annonce une bonne nouvelle, qui sera pour tout le peuple le sujet d'une grande joie:

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

11 c 'est qu'aujourd'hui, dans la ville de David, il vous est né un Sauveur, qui est le Christ, le Seigneur.

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

12 E t voici à quel signe vous le reconnaîtrez: vous trouverez un enfant emmailloté et couché dans une crèche.

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 t soudain il se joignit à l'ange une multitude de l'armée céleste, louant Dieu et disant:

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

14 G loire à Dieu dans les lieux très hauts, Et paix sur la terre parmi les hommes qu'il agrée!

“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 L orsque les anges les eurent quittés pour retourner au ciel, les bergers se dirent les uns aux autres: Allons jusqu'à Bethléhem, et voyons ce qui est arrivé, ce que le Seigneur nous a fait connaître.

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 I ls y allèrent en hâte, et ils trouvèrent Marie et Joseph, et le petit enfant couché dans la crèche.

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

17 A près l'avoir vu, ils racontèrent ce qui leur avait été dit au sujet de ce petit enfant.

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

18 T ous ceux qui les entendirent furent dans l'étonnement de ce que leur disaient les bergers.

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

19 M arie gardait toutes ces choses, et les repassait dans son coeur.

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

20 E t les bergers s'en retournèrent, glorifiant et louant Dieu pour tout ce qu'ils avaient entendu et vu, et qui était conforme à ce qui leur avait été annoncé.

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 L e huitième jour, auquel l'enfant devait être circoncis, étant arrivé, on lui donna le nom de Jésus, nom qu'avait indiqué l'ange avant qu'il fût conçu dans le sein de sa mère.

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 E t, quand les jours de leur purification furent accomplis, selon la loi de Moïse, Joseph et Marie le portèrent à Jérusalem, pour le présenter au Seigneur, -

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 s uivant ce qui est écrit dans la loi du Seigneur: Tout mâle premier-né sera consacré au Seigneur, -

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 t pour offrir en sacrifice deux tourterelles ou deux jeunes pigeons, comme cela est prescrit dans la loi du Seigneur.

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 E t voici, il y avait à Jérusalem un homme appelé Siméon. Cet homme était juste et pieux, il attendait la consolation d'Israël, et l'Esprit Saint était sur 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 I l avait été divinement averti par le Saint Esprit qu'il ne mourrait point avant d'avoir vu le Christ du Seigneur.

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

27 I l vint au temple, poussé par l'Esprit. Et, comme les parents apportaient le petit enfant Jésus pour accomplir à son égard ce qu'ordonnait la loi,

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 i l le reçut dans ses bras, bénit Dieu, et dit:

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

29 M aintenant, Seigneur, tu laisses ton serviteur S'en aller en paix, selon ta parole.

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

30 C ar mes yeux ont vu ton salut,

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

31 S alut que tu as préparé devant tous les peuples,

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

32 L umière pour éclairer les nations, Et gloire d'Israël, ton peuple.

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 S on père et sa mère étaient dans l'admiration des choses qu'on disait de lui.

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

34 S iméon les bénit, et dit à Marie, sa mère: Voici, cet enfant est destiné à amener la chute et le relèvement de plusieurs en Israël, et à devenir un signe qui provoquera la contradiction,

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 t à toi-même une épée te transpercera l'âme, afin que les pensées de beaucoup de coeurs soient dévoilées.

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

36 I l y avait aussi une prophétesse, Anne, fille de Phanuel, de la tribu d'Aser. Elle était fort avancée en âge, et elle avait vécu sept ans avec son mari depuis sa virginité.

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 R estée veuve, et âgée de quatre vingt-quatre ans, elle ne quittait pas le temple, et elle servait Dieu nuit et jour dans le jeûne et dans la prière.

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 É tant survenue, elle aussi, à cette même heure, elle louait Dieu, et elle parlait de Jésus à tous ceux qui attendaient la délivrance de Jérusalem.

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 L orsqu'ils eurent accompli tout ce qu'ordonnait la loi du Seigneur, Joseph et Marie retournèrent en Galilée, à Nazareth, leur ville.

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

40 O r, l'enfant croissait et se fortifiait. Il était rempli de sagesse, et la grâce de Dieu était sur lui.

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

41 L es parents de Jésus allaient chaque année à Jérusalem, à la fête de Pâque.

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

42 L orsqu'il fut âgé de douze ans, ils y montèrent, selon la coutume de la fête.

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

43 P uis, quand les jours furent écoulés, et qu'ils s'en retournèrent, l'enfant Jésus resta à Jérusalem. Son père et sa mère ne s'en aperçurent pas.

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 C royant qu'il était avec leurs compagnons de voyage, ils firent une journée de chemin, et le cherchèrent parmi leurs parents et leurs connaissances.

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 M ais, ne l'ayant pas trouvé, ils retournèrent à Jérusalem pour le chercher.

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

46 A u bout de trois jours, ils le trouvèrent dans le temple, assis au milieu des docteurs, les écoutant et les interrogeant.

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 T ous ceux qui l'entendaient étaient frappés de son intelligence et de ses réponses.

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

48 Q uand ses parents le virent, ils furent saisis d'étonnement, et sa mère lui dit: Mon enfant, pourquoi as-tu agi de la sorte avec nous? Voici, ton père et moi, nous te cherchions avec angoisse.

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 I l leur dit: Pourquoi me cherchiez-vous? Ne saviez-vous pas qu'il faut que je m'occupe des affaires de mon Père?

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 ais ils ne comprirent pas ce qu'il leur disait.

They did not understand the things He said to them.

51 P uis il descendit avec eux pour aller à Nazareth, et il leur était soumis. Sa mère gardait toutes ces choses dans son coeur.

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

52 E t Jésus croissait en sagesse, en stature, et en grâce, devant Dieu et devant les hommes.

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