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.

Por esos días, Augusto César promulgó un edicto en el que ordenaba levantar un censo de todo el mundo.

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

Este primer censo se llevó a cabo cuando Quirino 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.

por lo que todos debían ir a su propio pueblo para inscribirse.

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.

Como José era descendiente de David y vivía en Nazaret, que era una ciudad de Galilea, tuvo que ir a Belén, la ciudad de David, que estaba en Judea,

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, que estaba desposada con él y se hallaba encinta.

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

Y mientras ellos se encontraban allí, se cumplió el tiempo de que ella diera a luz,

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 allí tuvo a su hijo primogénito; y lo envolvió en pañales, y lo acostó en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en ese albergue. Los ángeles y los pastores

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

En esa misma región había pastores que pasaban la noche en el campo cuidando a sus rebaños.

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

Allí un ángel del Señor se les apareció, y el resplandor de la gloria del Señor los envolvió. Ellos se llenaron de 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, que les traigo una buena noticia, que será para todo el pueblo motivo de mucha alegría.

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

Hoy, en la ciudad de David, les ha nacido 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.”

Esto les servirá de señal: Hallarán al 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,

En ese momento apareció, junto con el ángel, una multitud de las huestes celestiales, que alababan a 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 a Dios en las alturas! ¡Paz en la tierra a todos los que gozan de su favor!»

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 volvieron al cielo, los pastores se dijeron unos a otros: «Vayamos a Belén, y veamos esto que ha sucedido, y que el Señor nos ha dado a conocer.»

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

Así que fueron de prisa, y hallaron a María y a José, y el niño estaba acostado en el pesebre.

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

Al ver al niño, contaron lo que se les había dicho acerca de él.

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

Todos los que estaban escuchando quedaron asombrados de lo que decían los pastores,

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

pero María guardaba todo esto en su corazón, y meditaba acerca de ello.

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

Al volver los pastores, iban alabando y glorificando a Dios por todo lo que habían visto y oído, pues todo había sucedido tal y como se les había dicho. Presentación de Jesús en el templo

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 que el niño fuera circuncidado, le pusieron por nombre JESÚS, que era el nombre que el ángel le había puesto antes de que fuera concebido.

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 cuando se cumplieron los días para que, según la ley de Moisés, ellos fueran purificados, llevaron al niño a Jerusalén para presentarlo ante el 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.”

y cumplir con lo que está escrito en la ley del Señor: «Todo primer hijo varón será consagrado 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 ofrecer un sacrificio en cumplimiento de la ley del Señor, que pide «un par de tórtolas, o 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.

En Jerusalén vivía un hombre justo y piadoso, llamado Simeón, que esperaba la salvación de Israel. El Espíritu Santo reposaba en 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 le había revelado que no moriría antes de que viera al Ungido 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.

Simón fue al templo, guiado por el Espíritu. Y cuando los padres del niño Jesús lo llevaron al templo para cumplir con lo establecido por la ley,

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

él tomó al niño en sus brazos y bendijo a Dios con estas palabras:

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

«Señor, ahora despides a este siervo tuyo, y lo despides en paz, de acuerdo a tu palabra.

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

Mis ojos han visto ya tu salvación,

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

que has preparado a la vista 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 reveladora para las naciones, y gloria para tu pueblo Israel.»

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

José y la madre del niño estaban asombrados de todo lo que de él se decía.

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 a María, la madre del niño, le dijo: «Tu hijo ha venido para que muchos en Israel caigan o se levanten. Será una señal que muchos rechazarán

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

y que pondrá de manifiesto el pensamiento de muchos corazones, aunque a ti te traspasará el alma como una espada.»

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.

También estaba allí Ana, hija de Fanuel, de la tribu de Aser. Ana era una profetisa de edad muy avanzada. Desde su virginidad, había vivido siete años de 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 ahora era una viuda de ochenta y cuatro años. Nunca se apartaba del templo, sino que de día y de noche rendía culto a Dios 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

En ese mismo instante Ana se presentó, y dio gracias a Dios y habló del niño a todos los que esperaban la redención de Jerusalén. El regreso a Nazaret

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

Después de cumplir con todo lo prescrito en la ley del Señor, volvieron a Nazaret, que era su ciudad en Galilea.

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

El niño crecía y se fortalecía, y se llenaba de sabiduría, y la gracia de Dios reposaba en él. El niño Jesús en el templo

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

Todos los años, los padres de Jesús iban a Jerusalén durante la fiesta de la pascua,

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

y siguiendo su costumbre, cuando Jesús cumplió doce años fueron a Jerusalén para 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.

Cuando la fiesta terminó y emprendieron el regreso, sucedió que el niño Jesús se quedó en Jerusalén sin que sus padres lo notaran.

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.

Como ellos pensaban que el niño estaba entre los otros viajeros, hicieron un día de camino y, mientras tanto, lo buscaban entre los parientes y conocidos.

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

Como no lo hallaron, volvieron a Jerusalén para buscarlo allí.

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.

Tres días después lo hallaron en el templo, sentado en medio de los doctores de la ley, a quienes escuchaba y les hacía preguntas.

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

Todos los que lo oían se asombraban de su inteligencia 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 encontraron, se sorprendieron; y su madre le dijo: «Hijo, ¿por qué nos has hecho esto? ¡Con qué angustia tu padre y yo te hemos estado buscando!»

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?”

Él les respondió: «¿Y por qué me buscaban? ¿Acaso no sabían que es necesario que me ocupe de los negocios de mi Padre?»

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

Ellos no comprendieron lo que Jesús les dijo,

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

aunque se fue con ellos a Nazaret y vivió sujeto a ellos. Por su parte, su madre guardaba todo esto en su corazón.

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

Y Jesús siguió creciendo en sabiduría y en estatura, y en gracia para con Dios y con los hombres.