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

In those days it occurred that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman empire should be registered.

2 E ste primer censo se llevó a cabo cuando Quirino era gobernador de Siria,

This was the first enrollment, and it was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 p or lo que todos debían ir a su propio pueblo para inscribirse.

And all the people were going to be registered, each to his own city or town.

4 C omo 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,

And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

5 p ara inscribirse junto con María, que estaba desposada con él y se hallaba encinta.

To be enrolled with Mary, his espoused ( married) wife, who was about to become a mother.

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

And while they were there, the time came for her delivery,

7 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

And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.

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

And in that vicinity there were shepherds living in the field, watching over their flock by night.

9 A llí un ángel del Señor se les apareció, y el resplandor de la gloria del Señor los envolvió. Ellos se llenaron de temor,

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened.

10 p ero el ángel les dijo: «No teman, que les traigo una buena noticia, que será para todo el pueblo motivo de mucha alegría.

But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.

11 H oy, en la ciudad de David, les ha nacido un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor.

For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!

12 E sto les servirá de señal: Hallarán al niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre.»

And this will be a sign for you: you will find '> after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

13 E n ese momento apareció, junto con el ángel, una multitud de las huestes celestiales, que alababan a Dios y decían:

Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven ( a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,

14 « ¡Gloria a Dios en las alturas! ¡Paz en la tierra a todos los que gozan de su favor!»

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased '> men of goodwill, of His favor].

15 C uando 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.»

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing ( saying) that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

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

So they went with haste and '> by searching] found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.

17 A l ver al niño, contaron lo que se les había dicho acerca de él.

And when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child,

18 T odos los que estaban escuchando quedaron asombrados de lo que decían los pastores,

And all who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them.

19 p ero María guardaba todo esto en su corazón, y meditaba acerca de ello.

But Mary was keeping within herself all these things ( sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart.

20 A l 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

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

21 C uando 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.

And at the end of eight days, when was to be circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 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

And when the time for their purification came according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord—

23 y cumplir con lo que está escrito en la ley del Señor: «Todo primer hijo varón será consagrado al Señor»,

As it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be set apart and dedicated and called holy to the Lord—

24 y para ofrecer un sacrificio en cumplimiento de la ley del Señor, que pide «un par de tórtolas, o dos palominos».

And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

25 E n Jerusalén vivía un hombre justo y piadoso, llamado Simeón, que esperaba la salvación de Israel. El Espíritu Santo reposaba en él

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 y le había revelado que no moriría antes de que viera al Ungido del Señor.

And it had been divinely revealed (communicated) to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

27 S imón 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,

And prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple '> enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the little child Jesus to do for Him what was customary according to the Law,

28 é l tomó al niño en sus brazos y bendijo a Dios con estas palabras:

took Him up in his arms and praised and thanked God and said,

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

And now, Lord, You are releasing Your servant to depart (leave this world) in peace, according to Your word.

30 M is ojos han visto ya tu salvación,

For with my eyes I have seen Your Salvation,

31 q ue has preparado a la vista de todos los pueblos:

Which You have ordained and prepared before (in the presence of) all peoples,

32 l uz reveladora para las naciones, y gloria para tu pueblo Israel.»

A Light for revelation to the Gentiles and praise and honor and glory to Your people Israel.

33 J osé y la madre del niño estaban asombrados de todo lo que de él se decía.

And His father and mother were marveling at what was said about Him.

34 S imeón 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

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against—

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

And a sword will pierce through your own soul also—that the secret thoughts and purposes of many hearts may be brought out and disclosed.

36 T ambién 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,

And there was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband seven years from her maidenhood,

37 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.

And as a widow even for eighty-four years. She did not go out from the temple enclosure, but was worshiping night and day with fasting and prayer.

38 E n 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

And she too came up at that same hour, and she returned thanks to God and talked of to all who were looking for the redemption (deliverance) of Jerusalem.

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

And when they had done everything according to the Law of the Lord, they went back into Galilee to their own town, Nazareth.

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

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.

41 T odos los años, los padres de Jesús iban a Jerusalén durante la fiesta de la pascua,

Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year to the Passover Feast.

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

And when He was twelve years, they went up, as was their custom.

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

And when the Feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this,

44 C omo 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.

But, supposing Him to be in the caravan, they traveled on a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.

45 C omo no lo hallaron, volvieron a Jerusalén para buscarlo allí.

And when they failed to find Him, they went back to Jerusalem, looking for Him all the way.

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

After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

47 T odos los que lo oían se asombraban de su inteligencia y de sus respuestas.

And all who heard Him were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His intelligence and understanding and His replies.

48 C uando 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!»

And when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, Child, why have You treated us like this? Here Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.

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

And He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house and about My Father’s business?

50 E llos no comprendieron lo que Jesús les dijo,

But they did not comprehend what He was saying to them.

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

And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them; and his mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart.

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

And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.