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.

Aconteció en aquellos días que salió un edicto de César Augusto, para que se hiciera un censo de todo el mundo habitado (el Imperio Romano).

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

Este fue el primer censo que se levantó cuando Cirenio era gobernador de Siria.

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

Todos se dirigían a inscribirse en el censo, cada uno a su ciudad.

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.

También José subió de Galilea, de la ciudad de Nazaret, a Judea, a la ciudad de David que se llama Belén (Casa del Pan), por ser él de la casa y de la familia de David,

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.

para inscribirse junto con María, comprometida para casarse con él, la cual estaba encinta.

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

Sucedió que mientras estaban ellos allí, se cumplieron los días de su alumbramiento.

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

Y dio a luz a su Hijo primogénito; Lo envolvió en pañales y Lo acostó en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en el mesón. Los Pastores y los Angeles

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

En la misma región había pastores que estaban en el campo, cuidando sus rebaños durante las vigilias de la noche.

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

Y un ángel del Señor se les presentó, y la gloria del Señor los rodeó de resplandor, y tuvieron gran temor.

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.

Pero el ángel les dijo: “No teman, porque les traigo buenas nuevas de gran gozo que serán para todo el pueblo;

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

porque les ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es Cristo (el Mesías) el Señor.

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.”

Esto les servirá de señal: hallarán a un Niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre.”

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

De repente apareció con el ángel una multitud de los ejércitos celestiales, alabando a Dios y diciendo:

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

“Gloria a Dios en las alturas, Y en la tierra paz entre los hombres (de buena voluntad) en quienes El se complace.”

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.”

Cuando los ángeles se fueron al cielo, los pastores se decían unos a otros: “Vayamos, pues, hasta Belén (Casa del Pan) y veamos esto que ha sucedido, que el Señor nos ha dado a saber.”

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

Fueron a toda prisa, y hallaron a María y a José, y al Niño acostado en el pesebre.

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

Cuando Lo vieron, dieron a saber lo que se les había dicho acerca de este Niño.

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

Y todos los que lo oyeron se maravillaron de las cosas que les fueron dichas por los pastores.

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

Pero María atesoraba todas estas cosas, reflexionando sobre ellas en su corazón.

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

Y los pastores se volvieron, glorificando y alabando a Dios por todo lo que habían oído y visto, tal como se les había dicho.

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.

Cuando se cumplieron los ocho días para circuncidar al Niño, Le pusieron por nombre Jesús, el nombre dado por el ángel antes de que El fuera concebido en el seno materno. Jesús Presentado en el Templo

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.

Al cumplirse los días para la purificación de ellos, según la ley de Moisés, Lo trajeron a Jerusalén (Ciudad de Paz) para presentar al Niño al Señor,

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.”

(como está escrito en la Ley del Señor: “ Todo varon que abra la matriz (el primogenito) sera llamado santo para el Señor),”

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

y para ofrecer un sacrificio conforme a lo que fue dicho en la Ley del Señor: “un par de tortolas o dos pichones.”

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.

Había en Jerusalén un hombre que se llamaba Simeón. Este hombre, justo y piadoso, esperaba la consolación de Israel, y el Espíritu Santo estaba sobre él.

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

Y por el Espíritu Santo se le había revelado que no vería la muerte sin antes ver al Cristo (al Mesías) del Señor.

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.

Movido por el Espíritu fue al templo. Y cuando los padres del niño Jesús Lo trajeron para cumplir por El el rito de la Ley,

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

Simeón tomó al Niño en sus brazos, y bendijo a Dios diciendo:

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

“Ahora, Señor, permite que Tu siervo se vaya En paz, conforme a Tu palabra;

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

Porque mis ojos han visto Tu salvación

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

La cual has preparado en presencia de todos los pueblos;

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.”

Luz de revelacion a los gentiles, Y gloria de Tu pueblo Israel.”

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

Y los padres del Niño estaban asombrados de las cosas que de El se decían.

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.

Simeón los bendijo, y dijo a Su madre María: “Este Niño ha sido puesto para caída y levantamiento de muchos en Israel, y para ser señal de contradicción,

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

y una espada traspasará aun tu propia alma, a fin de que sean revelados los pensamientos de muchos corazones.”

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.

Y había una profetisa, Ana, hija de Fanuel, de la tribu de Aser. Ella era de edad muy avanzada, y había vivido con su marido siete años después de su matrimonio,

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.

y después de viuda, hasta los ochenta y cuatro años. Nunca se alejaba del templo, sirviendo noche y día con ayunos y oraciones.

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

Llegando ella en ese preciso momento, daba gracias a Dios y hablaba del Niño a todos los que esperaban la redención de Jerusalén. Crecimiento de Jesús

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

Habiendo ellos cumplido con todo conforme a la Ley del Señor, se volvieron a Galilea, a su ciudad de Nazaret.

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

Y el Niño crecía y se fortalecía, llenándose de sabiduría; y la gracia de Dios estaba sobre El. El Niño Jesús Discute con los Maestros

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

Los padres de Jesús acostumbraban ir a Jerusalén todos los años a la fiesta de la Pascua.

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

Y cuando El cumplió doce años, subieron allá conforme a la costumbre de la fiesta.

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.

Al regresar ellos, después de haber pasado todos los días de la fiesta, el niño Jesús se quedó en Jerusalén sin que lo supieran Sus padres,

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.

y suponiendo que iba en la caravana, anduvieron camino de un día, y comenzaron a buscar a Jesús entre los familiares y conocidos.

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

Cuando no Lo encontraron, volvieron y Lo buscaron en Jerusalén.

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.

Después de tres días Lo encontraron en el templo, sentado en medio de los maestros, escuchándolos y haciéndoles preguntas.

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

Todos los que Le oían estaban asombrados de Su entendimiento y de Sus respuestas.

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.”

Cuando Sus padres Lo vieron, se quedaron maravillados; y Su madre Le dijo: “Hijo, ¿por qué nos has tratado de esta manera? Mira, Tu padre y yo Te hemos estado buscando llenos de angustia.”

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?”

Entonces El les dijo: “¿Por qué Me buscaban? ¿Acaso no sabían que Me era necesario estar en la casa (en las cosas) de Mi Padre ?”

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

Pero ellos no entendieron las palabras que El les había dicho.

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

Descendió con sus padres y vino a Nazaret, y continuó sujeto a ellos. Y Su madre atesoraba todas estas cosas (las palabras) en su corazón.

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

Y Jesús crecía en sabiduría, en estatura (edad) y en gracia para con Dios y los hombres.