1 I n 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.

فِي تِلكَ الأيّامِ، أصدَرَ أُغُسطُسُ قَيصَرُ مَرسُوماً بِأنْ يَجرِي تَسجِيلُ أسماءِ كُلِّ الَّذِينَ يَعِيشُونَ فِي العالَمِ الرُّومانِيِّ.

2 T his first writing took place while Quirinius was ruler of Syria.

وَكانَ هَذا أوَّلَ إحصاءٍ رَسمِيٍّ لِلسُّكّانِ. حَدَثَ عِندَما كانَ كِيرِينيُوسُ والِياً عَلَى سُورِيّا.

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

وَهَكَذا ذَهَبَ كُلُّ واحِدٍ إلَى بَلدَتِهِ الأصلِيَّةِ لِكَي يُسَجَّلَ اسْمُهُ.

4 J oseph 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.

فَذَهَبَ يُوسُفُ أيضاً مِنْ بَلدَةِ النّاصِرَةِ فِي الجَلِيلِ، إلَى بَلدَةِ داوُدَ الَّتِي تُدعَى بَيتَ لَحمَ – فَقَدْ كانَ مِنْ عائِلَةِ داوُدَ وَنَسلِهِ.

5 J oseph 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.

فَذَهَبَ لِيُسَجَّلَ اسْمُهُ مَعَ مَريَمَ خَطِيبَتِهِ الَّتِي كانَتْ حُبلَى.

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

وَبَينَما كانا هُناكَ حانَ وَقْتُ وِلادَتِهاَ.

7 H er 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

فَوَلَدَتِ ابنَها البِكرَ، وَقَمَّطَتْهُ وَوَضَعَتهُ فِي مِعلَفٍ لِلدَّوابِ، إذْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُما مَكانٌ داخِلَ الخانِ. بَعضُ الرُّعاةِ يَسمَعُونَ عَنْ مَولِدِ يَسُوع

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

وَكانَ فِي تِلكَ المِنطَقَةِ بَعضُ الرُّعاةِ ساهِرِيْنَ فِي الحُقُولِ يَحْرُسُونَ قُطعانَهُمْ أثناءَ اللَّيلِ.

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

فَظَهَرَ لَهُمْ مَلاكٌ مِنْ عِندِ الرِّبِّ، وَأضاءَ مَجدُ الرَّبِّ حَولَهُمْ، فَخافُوا خَوفاً شَدِيْداً.

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

فَقالَ المَلاكُ لَهُمْ: «لا تَخافُوا، فَأنا أُعلِنُ لَكُمْ بُشْرَى فَرَحٍ عَظِيْمٍ لِكُلِّ الشَّعبِ:

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

لَقَدْ وُلِدَ مِنْ أجلِكُمُ اليَومَ فِي بَلدَةِ داوُدَ مُخَلِّصٌ هُوَ المَسِيْحُ الرَّبُّ.

12 T here 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.”

سَتُمَيِّزُونَهُ هَكَذا: سَتَجِدُونَ طِفلاً مُقَمَّطاً مَوضُوعاً فِي مِعلَفٍ لِلدَّوابِّ.»

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

وَفَجأةً ظَهَرَ مَعَ المَلاكِ جَمعٌ مِنْ جَيشِ السَّماءِ يُسَبِّحُونَ اللهَ وَيَقولونَ:

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

«المَجدُ للهِ فِي الأعالِي، وَعَلَى الأرْضِ السَّلامُ، لِلنّاسِ الَّذينَ يُسَرُّ بِهِمُ اللهُ.»

15 T he 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.”

ثُمَّ تَرَكَتْهُمُ المَلائِكَةُ وَعادَتْ إلَى السَّماءِ. فَقالَ الرُّعاةُ بَعضُهُمْ لِبَعضٍ: «فَلْنَذهَبْ إلَى بَيتَ لَحمَ لِكَيْ نَرَى هَذا الأمرَ الَّذِي حَدَثَ، وَقَدْ أعلَنَهُ لَنا الرَّبُّ.»

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

فَانطَلَقُوا مُسْرِعِيْنَ، وَوَجَدُوا مَريَمَ وَيُوسُفَ وَالطِّفلَ مَوضُوعاً فِي مِعلَفِ الدَّوابِّ.

17 W hen they saw the Child, they told what the angel said about Him.

وَعِندَما رَآهُ الرُّعاةُ، أخبَرُوا الجَمِيعَ بِالرِّسالَةِ الَّتِي أعلَنَها لَهُمُ المَلاكُ عَنْ هَذا الطِّفلِ.

18 A ll who heard it were surprised at what the shepherds told them.

فَدُهِشَ كُلُّ الَّذِيْنَ سَمِعُوا الأُمُورَ الَّتِي أخبَرَهُمْ بِها الرُّعاةُ.

19 B ut Mary hid all these words in her heart. She thought about them much.

أمّا مَريَمَ، فَكانَتْ تُخَبِّئُ كُلَّ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ فِي قَلبِها، وَظَلَّتْ تَتَأمَّلُها عَلَى الدَّوامِ.

20 T he 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

وَعادَ الرُّعاةُ وَهُمْ يُمَجِّدُونَ اللهَ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ عَلَى كُلِّ ما سَمِعُوهُ وَرَأوهُ. فَقَدْ حَدَثَ كُلُّ شَيءٍ كَما قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَماماً.

21 W hen 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.

وَجاءَ اليَومُ الثّامِنُ، مَوعِدُ خِتانِ الطِّفلِ، فَسَمَّوهُ يَسُوعَ. وَهُوَ الاسْمُ الَّذِي سَمّاهُ بِهِ المَلاكُ قَبلَ أنْ تَحبَلَ بِهِ مَريَمُ. تَقدِيْمُ يَسُوعَ فِي الهَيكَل

22 W hen 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.

وَعِندَما حانَ وَقتُ التَّطْهيرِ حَسَبَ شَرِيْعَةِ مُوسَى، أخَذا يَسُوعَ إلَى مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ لِكَي يُقَدِّماهُ لِلرَّبِّ

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

وَفْقاً لِما هُوَ مَكتُوبٌ فِي شَرِيْعَةِ الرَّبِّ: «يَنبَغِي أنْ يُخَصَّصَ كُلُّ ذَكَرٍ بِكرٍ لِلرَّبِّ. »

24 T hey 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

وَذَهَبا لِيُقَدِّما ذَبِيحَةً حَسَبَ ما تَقُولُهُ شَرِيْعَةُ الرَّبِّ: «قَدِّمُوا يَمامَتَينِ أوْ حَمامَتَينِ صَغِيرَتَينِ.» سِمعانُ يَرَى يَسُوع

25 T here 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.

وَكانَ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ رَجُلٌ اسْمُهُ سِمعانُ. وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ بارٌّ تَقِيٌّ يَنتَظِرُ وَقتَ تَعزِيَةِ اللهِ لِبَنِي إسْرائِيلَ. وَالرُّوحُ القُدُسُ كانَ عَلَيهِ.

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

وَقَدْ أعلَنَ لَهُ الرُّوحُ القُدُسُ أنَّهُ لَنْ يَمُوتَ قَبلَ أنْ يَرَى ذاكَ الَّذِي مَسَحَهُ الرَّبُّ.

27 H e 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.

فَقادَهُ الرُّوحُ إلَى ساحَةِ الهَيكَلِ. وَعِندَما أدخَلَ الأبَوانِ الطِّفلَ يَسُوعَ لِيُتَمِّما ما تَنُصُّ عَليهِ الشَّرِيعَةُ،

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

أخَذَهُ سِمعانُ بَينَ ذِراعَيْهِ، وَسَبَّحَ اللهَ وَقالَ:

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

«وَالآنَ يا رَبُّ، أطلِقْنِيْ أنا عَبدَكَ فَأموتَ بِسَلامٍ كَما وَعَدْتَ.

30 M y eyes have seen the One Who will save men from the punishment of their sins.

فَقَدْ رَأتْ عَينايَ خَلاصَكَ

31 Y ou have made Him ready in the sight of all nations.

الَّذِي هَيَّأْتَهُ أمامَ جَمِيعِ الشُّعُوبِ.

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

هُوَ نُورٌ لإعلانِ طَرِيْقِكَ لِلأُمَمِ، وَهُوَ مَجدٌ لِشَعبِكَ بَنيْ إسْرائِيلَ.»

33 J oseph and the mother of Jesus were surprised and wondered about these words which were said about Jesus.

وَدُهِشَ أبُوهُ وَأُمُّهُ مِنَ الكَلِماتِ الَّتِي قِيلَتْ فِيهِ.

34 S imeon 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.

ثُمَّ بارَكَهُما سِمعانُ، وَقالَ لِمَريَمَ أُمِّ يَسُوعَ: «جُعِلَ هَذا الطِّفلُ لِيُسقِطَ وَلِيُقِيْمَ كَثِيْرِيْنَ فِي بَنيْ إسرائِيلَ، وَلِيَكونَ بُرْهاناً ضِدَّ المُقاوِمِينَ!

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

وَسَتُكشَفُ أفكارُ قُلُوبٍ كَثِيرَةً. أمّا أنتِ يا مَريَمُ، فَسَيَختَرِقُ نَفسَكِ أيضاً سَيفٌ بِسَبَبِ ما سَيَحدُثُ.» حَنَّةُ تَرَى يَسُوع

36 A nna 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.

وَكانَتْ هُناكَ نَبِيَّةٌ اسْمُها حَنَّةُ بِنتُ فَنُوئِيلَ مِنْ قَبِيلَةِ أشِيرَ. كانَتْ طاعِنَةً فِي السِّنِّ، وَقَدْ عاشَتْ مَعَ زَوجِها سَبعَ سَنَواتٍ بَعدَ زَواجِها مِنْهُ،

37 H er 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.

ثُمَّ بَقِيَتْ أرمَلَةً حَتَّى سِنِّ الرّابِعَةِ وَالثَّمانِيْنَ، وَلَمْ تَترُكْ ساحَةَ الهَيْكَلِ قَطُّ. كانَتْ تَعبُدُ اللهَ لَيلَ نَهارٍ بِالصَّومِ وَالصَّلاةِ.

38 A t 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

فَتَقَدَّمَتْ إلَيْهِمْ فِي تِلكَ اللَّحظَةِ وَشَكَرَتِ اللهَ. ثُمَّ تَحَدَّثَتْ عَنِ الطِّفلِ لِكُلِّ الَّذِيْنَ كانُوا يَتَلَهَّفُونَ عَلَى تَحْريرِ القُدْسِ. العَودَةُ إلَى النّاصِرة

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

وَبَعدَ أنْ أكمَلُوا كُلَّ ما تَنُصُّ عَلَيْهِ شَرِيعَةُ الرَّبِّ، عادُوا إلَى بَلدَتِهِمُ النّاصِرَةَ.

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

وَاستَمَرَّ الطِّفلُ يَنمُو وَيَتَقَوَّى مُمتَلِئاً بِالحِكْمَةِ، وكانَتْ نِعمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ. يَسُوعُ الصَّبيّ

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

وَكانَ أبَواهُ يَذهَبانِ كُلَّ عامٍ إلَى مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ لِلاحتِفالِ بِعِيْدِ الفِصْحِ.

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

وَعِندَما كانَ يَسوعُ فِي الثّانِيَةَ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ عُمرِهِ، ذَهَبُوا إلَى العِيدِ كَعادَتِهِمْ.

43 W hen 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.

وَعِندَما انتَهَى العِيْدُ، هَمَّا بِالعَودَةِ إلى بَلدَتِهِما. أمّا الصَّبِيُّ يَسُوعَ، فَبَقِيَ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ دُونَ أنْ يَعلَمَ أبَواهُ بِذَلِكَ.

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

فَارتَحَلا مُدَّةَ يَومٍ ظانِّيْنِ أنَّهُ مَعَ مَجمُوعَةِ المُسافِرِيْنَ. ثُمَّ راحا يُفَتِّشانِ عَنْهُ بَيْنَ الأقارِبِ وَالأصحابِ.

45 W hen they could not find Jesus, they turned back to Jerusalem to look for Him.

وَلَمّا لَمْ يَعثُرا عَلَيْهِ، عادا إلَى مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ بَحثاً عَنهُ.

46 T hree 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.

وَبَعدَ ثَلاثَةِ أيّامٍ وَجَداهُ فِي ساحَةِ الهَيْكَلِ جالِساً بَيْنَ مُعَلِّمِي الشَّرِيْعَةِ يُصغِي إلَيْهِمْ وَيَسْألُهُمْ.

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

وقَدْ دُهِشَ جَمِيعُ الَّذِيْنَ سَمِعُوهُ مِنْ فَهمِهِ وَمِنْ أجوِبَتِهِ.

48 W hen 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.”

وَعِندَما رَآهُ أبَواهُ دُهِشا، وَقالَتْ لَهُ أُمُّهُ: «لِماذا فَعَلْتَ هَذا بِنا يا بُنَيَّ؟ كُنّا أنا وَأبُوكَ قَلِقَيْنِ جِدّاً وَنَحنُ نَبحَثُ عَنْكَ.»

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

فَقالَ لَهُما يَسُوعُ: «لِماذا تَبْحَثانِ عَنِّي؟ ألَمْ تَعلَما أنَّهُ يَنبَغي عَلَيَّ أنْ أنشَغِلَ بِعَمَلِ أبِي؟»

50 T hey did not understand the things He said to them.

لَكِنَّهُما لَمْ يَفهَما جَوابَهُ هَذا.

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

ثُمَّ رَجِعَ مَعَهُما إلَى النّاصِرَةِ، وَعاشَ تَحتَ سُلطَتِهِما. وَكانَتْ أُمُّهُ تَحفَظُ كُلَّ هَذِهِ الأشياءِ فِي قَلْبِها.

52 J esus grew strong in mind and body. He grew in favor with God and men.

وَنَما يَسُوعُ فِي الحِكْمَةِ وَالجِسمِ وَالنِّعمَةِ عِندَ اللهِ وَالنّاسِ.