1 N ow in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

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

2 T his was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

This was the first enrollment, and it was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 A nd everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

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

4 J oseph 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 family of David,

And 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,

5 i n order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

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

6 W hile they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

And while they were there, the time came for her delivery,

7 A nd she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And 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.

8 I n the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

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

9 A nd an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

And 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.

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

But 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.

11 f or today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

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

12 T his will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

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

13 A nd suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

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

14 “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

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

15 W hen the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

When 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.

16 S o they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

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

17 W hen they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

And when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child,

18 A nd all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

And all who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them.

19 B ut Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

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

20 T he shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. Jesus Presented at the Temple

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

21 A nd when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

And 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.

22 A nd when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

And 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—

23 ( as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “ Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ”),

As 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—

24 a nd to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “ A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

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 A nd 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.

Now 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.

26 A nd it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

And 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).

27 A nd he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,

And 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,

28 t hen he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

took Him up in his arms and praised and thanked God and said,

29 “ Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;

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

30 F or my eyes have seen Your salvation,

For with my eyes I have seen Your Salvation,

31 W hich You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

Which You have ordained and prepared before (in the presence of) all peoples,

32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

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

33 A nd His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

And His father and mother were marveling at what was said about Him.

34 A nd Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—

And 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—

35 a nd a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

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

36 A nd there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

And 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,

37 a nd then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

And 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.

38 A t that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Return to Nazareth

And 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.

39 W hen they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

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

40 T he Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Visit to Jerusalem

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

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

Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year to the Passover Feast.

42 A nd when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

And when He was twelve years, they went up, as was their custom.

43 a nd as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,

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

44 b ut supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

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

45 W hen they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.

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

46 T hen, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

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

47 A nd all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

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

48 W hen 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 have been anxiously looking for You.”

And 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.

49 A nd He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house ?”

And 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?

50 B ut they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

But they did not comprehend what He was saying to them.

51 A nd He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And 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.

52 A nd Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

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