1 I n quel tempo uscì un decreto da parte di Cesare Augusto, che ordinava il censimento di tutto l’impero.

In 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.

2 Q uesto fu il primo censimento fatto quando Quirinio era governatore della Siria.

This first writing took place while Quirinius was ruler of Syria.

3 T utti andavano a farsi registrare, ciascuno nella sua città.

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

4 D alla Galilea, dalla città di Nazaret, anche Giuseppe salì in Giudea, alla città di Davide chiamata Betlemme, perché era della casa e della famiglia di Davide,

Joseph 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.

5 p er farsi registrare con Maria, sua sposa, che era incinta.

Joseph 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.

6 M entre erano là, si compì per lei il tempo del parto;

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

7 e d ella diede alla luce il suo figlio primogenito, lo fasciò e lo coricò in una mangiatoia, perché non c’era posto per loro nell’albergo.

Her 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

8 I n quella stessa regione c’erano dei pastori che stavano nei campi e di notte facevano la guardia al loro gregge.

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

9 E un angelo del Signore si presentò a loro e la gloria del Signore risplendé intorno a loro, e furono presi da gran timore.

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

10 L ’angelo disse loro: «Non temete, perché io vi porto la buona notizia di una grande gioia che tutto il popolo avrà:

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

11 “ Oggi, nella città di Davide, è nato per voi un Salvatore, che è Cristo, il Signore.

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

12 E questo vi servirà di segno: troverete un bambino avvolto in fasce e coricato in una mangiatoia ”».

There 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.”

13 E a un tratto vi fu con l’angelo una moltitudine dell’esercito celeste, che lodava Dio e diceva:

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

14 « Gloria a Dio nei luoghi altissimi e pace in terra agli uomini che egli gradisce! »

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

15 Q uando gli angeli se ne furono andati verso il cielo, i pastori dicevano tra di loro: «Andiamo fino a Betlemme e vediamo ciò che è avvenuto e che il Signore ci ha fatto sapere».

The 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.”

16 A ndarono in fretta e trovarono Maria e Giuseppe e il bambino, adagiato nella mangiatoia;

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

17 e , vedutolo, divulgarono quello che era stato loro detto di quel bambino.

When they saw the Child, they told what the angel said about Him.

18 E tutti quelli che li udirono si meravigliarono delle cose dette loro dai pastori.

All who heard it were surprised at what the shepherds told them.

19 M aria serbava in sé tutte queste cose, meditandole in cuor suo.

But Mary hid all these words in her heart. She thought about them much.

20 E i pastori tornarono indietro, glorificando e lodando Dio per tutto quello che avevano udito e visto, com’era stato loro annunciato. Presentazione di Gesù al tempio

The 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

21 Q uando furono compiuti gli otto giorni dopo i quali egli doveva essere circonciso, gli fu posto nome Gesù, il nome che gli era stato dato dall’angelo prima che egli fosse concepito.

When 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.

22 Q uando furono compiuti i giorni della loro purificazione, secondo la legge di Mosè, portarono il bambino a Gerusalemme per presentarlo al Signore,

When 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.

23 c ome è scritto nella legge del Signore: « Ogni maschio primogenito sarà consacrato al Signore »;

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

24 e per offrire il sacrificio, di cui parla la legge del Signore, di un paio di tortore o di due giovani colombi. Adorazione di Simeone e di Anna

They 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

25 V i era in Gerusalemme un uomo di nome Simeone. Quest’uomo era giusto e timorato di Dio, e aspettava la consolazione d’Israele; lo Spirito Santo era sopra di lui

There 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.

26 e gli era stato rivelato dallo Spirito Santo che non sarebbe morto prima di aver visto il Cristo del Signore.

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

27 E gli, mosso dallo Spirito, andò nel tempio; e, come i genitori vi portavano il bambino Gesù per adempiere a suo riguardo le prescrizioni della legge,

He 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.

28 l o prese tra le braccia e benedisse Dio, dicendo:

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

29 « Ora, o Signore, tu lasci andare in pace il tuo servo, secondo la tua parola;

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

30 p erché i miei occhi hanno visto la tua salvezza,

My eyes have seen the One Who will save men from the punishment of their sins.

31 c he hai preparata dinanzi a tutti i popoli,

You have made Him ready in the sight of all nations.

32 l uce per illuminare le genti e gloria del tuo popolo Israele».

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

33 I l padre e la madre di Gesù restavano meravigliati delle cose che si dicevano di lui.

Joseph and the mother of Jesus were surprised and wondered about these words which were said about Jesus.

34 E Simeone li benedisse, dicendo a Maria, madre di lui: «Ecco, egli è posto a caduta e a rialzamento di molti in Israele, come segno di contraddizione

Simeon 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.

35 ( e a te stessa una spada trafiggerà l’anima), affinché i pensieri di molti cuori siano svelati».

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

36 V i era anche Anna, profetessa, figlia di Penuel, della tribù di Ascer. Era molto avanti negli anni; dopo essere vissuta con il marito sette anni dalla sua verginità, era rimasta vedova e aveva raggiunto gli ottantaquattro anni.

Anna 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.

37 N on si allontanava mai dal tempio e serviva Dio notte e giorno con digiuni e preghiere.

Her 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.

38 S opraggiunta in quella stessa ora, anche lei lodava Dio e parlava del bambino a tutti quelli che aspettavano la redenzione di Gerusalemme. Ritorno a Nazaret

At 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

39 C ome ebbero adempiuto tutte le prescrizioni della legge del Signore, tornarono in Galilea, a Nazaret, loro città.

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

40 E il bambino cresceva e si fortificava; era pieno di sapienza e la grazia di Dio era su di lui. Gesù dodicenne al tempio

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

41 I suoi genitori andavano ogni anno a Gerusalemme per la festa di Pasqua.

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

42 Q uando giunse all’età di dodici anni, salirono, secondo l’usanza della festa.

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

43 P assati i giorni della festa, mentre tornavano, il bambino Gesù rimase in Gerusalemme all’insaputa dei genitori,

When 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.

44 i quali, pensando che egli fosse nella comitiva, camminarono una giornata, poi si misero a cercarlo tra i parenti e i conoscenti;

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

45 e , non avendolo trovato, tornarono a Gerusalemme cercandolo.

When they could not find Jesus, they turned back to Jerusalem to look for Him.

46 T re giorni dopo lo trovarono nel tempio, seduto in mezzo ai maestri: li ascoltava e faceva loro delle domande;

Three 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.

47 e tutti quelli che l’udivano si stupivano del suo senno e delle sue risposte.

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

48 Q uando i suoi genitori lo videro, rimasero stupiti, e sua madre gli disse: «Figlio, perché ci hai fatto così? Ecco, tuo padre e io ti cercavamo, stando in gran pena».

When 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.”

49 E d egli disse loro: «Perché mi cercavate? Non sapevate che io dovevo trovarmi nella casa del Padre mio ?»

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

50 E d essi non capirono le parole che egli aveva dette loro.

They did not understand the things He said to them.

51 P oi discese con loro, andò a Nazaret e stava loro sottomesso. Sua madre serbava tutte queste cose nel suo cuore.

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

52 E Gesù cresceva in sapienza, in statura e in grazia davanti a Dio e agli uomini.

Jesus grew strong in mind and body. He grew in favor with God and men.