1 Now it came about in those days that an order went out from Caesar Augustus that there was to be a numbering of all the world.

2 This was the first numbering, which was made when Quirinius was ruler of Syria.

3 And all men went to be numbered, everyone to his town.

4 And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judaea, to Beth-lehem, the town of David, because he was of the house and family of David,

5 To be put on the list with Mary, his future wife, who was about to become a mother.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she had her first son; and folding him in linen, she put him to rest in the place where the cattle had their food, because there was no room for them in the house.

8 And in the same country there were keepers of sheep in the fields, watching over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining round about them: and fear came on them.

10 And the angel said, Have no fear; for truly, I give you good news of great joy which will be for all the people:

11 For on this day, in the town of David, a Saviour has come to birth, who is Christ the Lord.

12 And this is the sign to you: you will see a young child folded in linen, in the place where the cattle have their food.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a great band of spirits from heaven, giving praise to God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased.

15 And when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the keepers of the sheep said to one another, Let us go now to Beth-lehem, and see this thing which has come about, which the Lord has made clear to us.

16 And they came quickly, and saw Mary and Joseph, and the child in the place where the cattle had their food.

17 And when they saw it, they gave them an account of the things which had been said to them about the child.

18 And all those to whose ears it came were full of wonder at the things said by the keepers of the sheep.

19 But Mary kept all these words in her heart, and gave much thought to them.

20 Then the keepers of the sheep went back, giving glory and praise to God for all the things which had come to their ears and which they had seen, as it had been said to them.

21 And when, after eight days, the time came for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name which the angel had given to him before his birth.

22 And when the necessary days for making them clean by the law of Moses had come to an end, they took him to Jerusalem to give him to the Lord

23 (As it says in the law of the Lord, Every mother's first male child is to be holy to the Lord),

24 And to make an offering, as it is ordered in the law of the Lord, of two doves or other young birds.

25 And there was then in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon; and he was an upright man, fearing God and waiting for the comfort of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was on him.

26 And he had knowledge, through the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death till he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 And full of the Spirit he came into the Temple; and when the father and mother came in with the child Jesus, to do with him what was ordered by the law,

28 Then he took him in his arms and gave praise to God and said,

29 Now you are letting your servant go in peace, O Lord, as you have said;

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 Which you have made ready before the face of all nations;

32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.

33 And his father and mother were full of wonder at the things which were said about him.

34 And Simeon gave them his blessing and said to Mary, his mother, See, this child will be the cause of the downfall and the lifting up of great numbers of people in Israel, and he will be a sign against which hard words will be said;

35 (And a sword will go through your heart;) so that the secret thoughts of men may come to light.

36 And there was one, Anna, a woman prophet, the daughter of Phanuel, of the family of Asher (she was very old, and after seven years of married life

37 She had been a widow for eighty-four years); she was in the Temple at all times, worshipping with prayers and going without food, night and day.

38 And coming up at that time, she gave praise to God, talking of him to all those who were waiting for the freeing of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had done all the things which were ordered by the law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to Nazareth, the town where they were living.

40 And the child became tall and strong and full of wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

41 And every year his father and mother went to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up, as their way was, to the feast;

43 And when the days of the feast came to an end and they were going back, the boy Jesus was still in Jerusalem, but they had no knowledge of it:

44 And in the belief that he was with some of their number, they went a day's journey; and after looking for him among their relations and friends,

45 And seeing that he was not there, they went back to Jerusalem, to make search for him.

46 And after three days they came across him in the Temple, seated among the wise men, giving ear to their words and putting questions to them.

47 And all to whose ears it came were full of wonder at his knowledge and the answers which he gave.

48 And when they saw him they were surprised, and his mother said to him, Son, why have you done this to us? see, your father and I have been looking for you with sorrow.

49 And he said to them, Why were you looking for me? was it not clear to you that my right place was in my Father's house?

50 And his words seemed strange to them.

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth; and did as he was ordered: and his mother kept all these words in her heart.

52 And Jesus was increasing in wisdom and in years, and in grace before God and men.

1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, "Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough." 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

on earth peace, good will toward men."

15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Master,

according to your word, in peace;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 a light for revelation to the nations,

and the glory of your people Israel."

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him. 34 Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."

49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?" 50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.