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.

Y ACONTECIO en aquellos días que salió edicto de parte de Augusto César, que toda la tierra fuese empadronada.

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

Este empadronamiento primero fué hecho siendo Cirenio gobernador de la Siria.

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

E iban todos para ser empadronados, cada uno á 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.

Y subió José de Galilea, de la ciudad de Nazaret, á Judea, á la ciudad de David, que se llama Bethlehem, por cuanto era de la casa y 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 ser empadronado con María su mujer, desposada 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.

Y aconteció que estando ellos allí, se cumplieron los días en que ella había de parir.

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 parió á su hijo primogénito, y le envolvió en pañales, y acostóle en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en el mesón.

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

Y había pastores en la misma tierra, que velaban y guardaban las vigilias de la noche sobre su ganado.

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 he aquí el ángel del Señor vino sobre ellos, y la claridad de Dios los cercó 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.

Mas el ángel les dijo: No temáis; porque he aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo, que será 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.

Que os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es CRISTO 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.”

Y esto os será por señal: hallaréis al niño envuelto en pañales, echado en un pesebre.

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

Y repentinamente fué con el ángel una multitud de los ejércitos celestiales, que alababan á Dios, y decían:

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 en las alturas á Dios, Y en la tierra paz, buena voluntad para con los hombres.

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.”

Y aconteció que como los ángeles se fueron de ellos al cielo, los pastores dijeron los unos á los otros: Pasemos pues hasta Bethlehem, y veamos esto que ha sucedido, que el Señor nos ha manifestado.

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

Y vinieron apriesa, y hallaron á María, y á José, y al niño acostado en el pesebre.

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

Y viéndolo, hicieron notorio lo que les había sido dicho del niño.

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

Y todos los que oyeron, se maravillaron de lo que los pastores les decían.

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

Mas María guardaba todas estas cosas, confiriéndolas 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 se volvieron los pastores glorificando y alabando á Dios de todas las cosas que habían oído y visto, como les había sido 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.

Y pasados los ocho días para circuncidar al niño, llamaron su nombre JESUS; el cual le fué puesto por el ángel antes que él fuese concebido en el vientre.

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.

Y como se cumplieron los días de la purificación de ella, conforme á la ley de Moisés, le trajeron á Jerusalem para presentarle 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 varón que abriere la matriz, será llamado santo al 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 dar la ofrenda, conforme á lo que está dicho en la ley del Señor: un par de tórtolas, ó dos palominos.

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.

Y he aquí, había un hombre en Jerusalem, llamado Simeón, y este hombre, justo y pío, esperaba la consolación de Israel: y el Espíritu Santo era 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 había recibido respuesta del Espíritu Santo, que no vería la muerte antes que viese al Cristo 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.

Y vino por Espíritu al templo. Y cuando metieron al niño Jesús sus padres en el templo, para hacer por él conforme á la costumbre de la ley.

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

Entonces él le tomó en sus brazos, y bendijo á Dios, y dijo:

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

Ahora despides, Señor, á tu siervo, Conforme á tu palabra, en paz;

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

Porque han visto mis ojos tu salvación,

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

La cual has aparejado 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 para ser revelada á los Gentiles, Y la 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 José y su madre estaban maravillados de las cosas que se decían de él.

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.

Y los bendijo Simeón, y dijo á su madre María: He aquí, éste es puesto para caída y para levantamiento de muchos en Israel; y para señal á la que será contradicho;

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 tu alma de ti misma, para que sean manifestados 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.

Estaba también allí Ana, profetisa, hija de Phanuel, de la tribu de Aser; la cual había venido en grande edad, y había vivido con su marido siete años desde su virginidad;

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 era viuda de hasta ochenta y cuatro años, que no se apartaba del templo, sirviendo de noche y de 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

Y ésta, sobreviniendo en la misma hora, juntamente confesaba al Señor, y hablaba de él á todos los que esperaban la redención en Jerusalem.

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

Mas como cumplieron todas las cosas según la ley del Señor, se volvieron á Galilea, á 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 fortalecíase, y se henchía de sabiduría; y la gracia de Dios era sobre él.

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

E iban sus padres todos los años á Jerusalem en 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 fué de doce años, subieron ellos á Jerusalem conforme á la costumbre del día 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.

Y acabados los días, volviendo ellos, se quedó el niño Jesús en Jerusalem, sin saberlo José y su madre.

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 pensando que estaba en la compañía, anduvieron camino de un día; y le buscaban entre los parientes y entre los conocidos:

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

Mas como no le hallasen, volvieron á Jerusalem buscándole.

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.

Y aconteció, que tres días después le hallaron en el templo, sentado en medio de los doctores, oyéndoles y preguntándoles.

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

Y todos los que le oían, se pasmaban 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.”

Y cuando le vieron, se maravillaron; y díjole su madre: Hijo, ¿por qué nos has hecho así? He aquí, tu padre y yo te hemos buscado con dolor.

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 él les dice: ¿Qué hay? ¿por qué me buscabais? ¿No sabíais que en los negocios de mi Padre me conviene estar?

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

Mas ellos no entendieron las palabras que les habló.

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

Y descendió con ellos, y vino á Nazaret, y estaba sujeto á ellos. Y su madre guardaba todas estas cosas 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, y en edad, y en gracia para con Dios y los hombres.