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.

And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled --

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

this enrollment first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria --

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

and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city,

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.

and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of 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.

to enroll himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with child.

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

And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth,

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

and she brought forth her son -- the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber.

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

And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the field, and keeping the night-watches over their flock,

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

and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a great fear.

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.

And the messenger said to them, `Fear not, for lo, I bring you good news of great joy, that shall be to all the people --

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

because there was born to you to-day a Saviour -- who is Christ the Lord -- in the city of David,

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.”

and this to you the sign: Ye shall find a babe wrapped up, lying in the manger.'

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

And suddenly there came with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,

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

`Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men -- good will.'

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.”

And it came to pass, when the messengers were gone away from them to the heavens, that the men, the shepherds, said unto one another, `We may go over indeed unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that hath come to pass, that the Lord did make known to us.'

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

And they came, having hasted, and found both Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger,

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

and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the child.

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

And all who heard, did wonder concerning the things spoken by the shepherds unto them;

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

and Mary was preserving all these things, pondering in her heart;

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

and the shepherds turned back, glorifying and praising God, for all those things they heard and saw, as it was spoken unto them.

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.

And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child, then was his name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before his being conceived in the womb.

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.

And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present to the Lord,

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.”

as it hath been written in the Law of the Lord, -- `Every male opening a womb shall be called holy to the Lord,'

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

and to give a sacrifice, according to that said in the Law of the Lord, `A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.'

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.

And lo, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him,

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

and it hath been divinely told him by the Holy Spirit -- not to see death before he may see the Christ of the Lord.

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.

And he came in the Spirit to the temple, and in the parents bringing in the child Jesus, for their doing according to the custom of the law regarding him,

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

then he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and he said,

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

`Now Thou dost send away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace,

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

because mine eyes did see Thy salvation,

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

which Thou didst prepare before the face of all the peoples,

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.”

a light to the uncovering of nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel.'

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

And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him,

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.

and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, `Lo, this is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against --

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

(and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) -- that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'

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.

And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,

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.

and she a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day,

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

and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the Lord, and was speaking concerning him, to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

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

And when they finished all things, according to the Law of the Lord, they turned back to Galilee, to their city Nazareth;

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

and the child grew and was strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

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

And his parents were going yearly to Jerusalem, at the feast of the passover,

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

and when he became twelve years old, they having gone up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,

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.

and having finished the days, in their returning the child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother did not know,

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.

and, having supposed him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and were seeking him among the kindred and among the acquaintances,

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

and not having found him, they turned back to Jerusalem seeking him.

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.

And it came to pass, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them,

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

and all those hearing him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

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.”

And, having seen him, they were amazed, and his mother said unto him, `Child, why didst thou thus to us? lo, thy father and I, sorrowing, were seeking thee.'

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?”

And he said unto them, `Why that ye were seeking me? did ye not know that in the things of my Father it behoveth me to be?'

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

and they did not understand the saying that he spake to them,

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

and he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them, and his mother was keeping all these sayings in her heart,

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

and Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour with God and men.