1 Por esse tempo, César Augusto, o imperador romano, mandou que se fizesse um registo geral dos habitantes de todo o império romano.
2 Este recenseamento foi feito sendo Cirénio governador da Síria.
3 Todos tinham que voltar à terra natal para registarem os seus nomes.
4 E como José era da descendência real, teve que ir a Belém, na Judeia, a terra natal do rei David, desde a cidade de Nazaré na Galileia. Levou consigo Maria, sua noiva, cuja gravidez estava já avançada nessa altura.
6 Enquanto ali se encontravam, chegou a hora de dar à luz; e nasceu-lhe o seu primeiro filho, que envolveu em panos e deitou na manjedoura de um estábulo, onde se viram obrigados a recolher, por não haver para eles lugar na hospedaria da povoação.
8 Naquela noite, encontravam-se nos campos fora da vila alguns pastores que guardavam os seus rebanhos.
9 Eis que de súbito apareceu entre eles um anjo, e o campo ficou iluminado com a glória do Senhor. Sentiram muito medo,
10 mas o anjo sossegou-os: Não tenham medo; trago-vos a notícia mais feliz e que se destina a toda a gente!
11 Esta noite, em Belém, a cidade de David, nasceu o Salvador - sim, o Cristo, o Senhor.
12 É assim que o reconhecerão: encontrarão a criancinha envolvida em panos e deitada numa manjedoura.
13 E eis que, de repente, se juntou outro grande grupo de anjos, louvando Deus:
14 Glória ao Senhor, no mais alto dos céus, paz na Terra aos homens a quem Deus quer bem.
15 Depois deste grande número de anjos ter voltado para os céus, os pastores disseram uns aos outros: Vamos a Belém ver esta coisa maravilhosa que acontece e de que o Senhor nos falou.
16 Correndo à aldeia, encontraram Maria e José, com a criança deitada na manjedoura de um estábulo.
17 Os pastores falavam a toda a gente no que tinha acontecido e no que o anjo dissera acerca daquele menino.
18 Todos os que ouviam a história dos pastores mostravam-se espantados.
19 Maria, porém, guardava estas coisas no seu coração, pensando cuidadosamente nelas.
20 Por fim, os pastores voltaram para os campos e rebanhos, louvando Deus pela visita dos anjos e por terem visto o menino tal como o anjo lhes dissera.
21 Passados oito dias, na cerimónia da sua circuncisão, puseram ao menino o nome de Jesus, nome esse que o anjo lhe dera antes mesmo de ter sido gerado.
22 Quando chegou a altura de ser levada ao templo a oferta da cerimónia de purificação de Maria, como as leis de Moisés exigiam, seus pais levaram-no a Jerusalém para o apresentar ao Senhor, porque nessas mesmas leis Deus tinha dito: Se o primeiro filho de uma mulher for rapaz, será dedicado ao Senhor. Nessa mesma ocasião, os pais de Jesus ofereceram também o seu sacrifício pela purificação, um par de rolas ou dois pombinhos, de acordo com a lei.
25 Naquele dia, estava justamente no templo um homem chamado Simeão, morador em Jerusalém, um crente dedicado ao Senhor, cheio do Espírito Santo e que vivia constantemente na esperança do breve aparecimento do Enviado de Deus , pois o Espírito Santo tinha-lhe revelado que não morreria sem ver primeiro aquele que tinha sido designado por Deus.
27 O Espírito Santo inspirou-o a ir ao templo naquele dia, e assim, quando Maria e José chegaram para apresentar o menino Jesus ao Senhor em obediência à lei, Simeão estava lá. E tomando a criança nos braços louvou Deus:
33 José e Maria admiravam-se do que se dizia a respeito de Jesus. Simeão abençoou-os, mas depois disse a Maria: Uma espada atravessará a tua alma, porque esta criança será rejeitada por muitos em Israel, mas para ruína deles. Para muitos outros, porém, será uma grande alegria. E por ele serão revelados os pensamentos mais profundos de muitos corações.
36 No mesmo dia estava também no templo uma profetisa de Deus chamada Ana, filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser, de oitenta e quatro anos de idade. Era viúva, pois o seu marido tinha morrido após sete anos de casados. Nunca saía do templo, antes permanecia ali dia e noite, adorando Deus em jejuns e oração. Enquanto Simeão falava com Maria e José, ela aproximou-se e começou também a dar graças a Deus e a anunciar publicamente, a todos quantos em Jerusalém esperavam a chegada do Salvador, que o Messias tinha finalmente chegado.
39 Depois de terem cumprido todas as exigências da lei de Deus, os pais de Jesus voltaram para Nazaré da Galileia. Ali o menino foi crescendo, fortalecendo-se física e mentalmente. Enchia-se de sabedoria e Deus derramava sobre ele as suas bênçãos.
41 Tinha Jesus doze anos, acompanhou os pais a Jerusalém para a festa anual da Páscoa, à qual assistiam sempre. Terminada a comemoração, tomaram o caminho de volta para Nazaré, mas Jesus ficou para trás em Jerusalém. No primeiro dia os pais não deram pela sua falta, porque julgavam que estivesse com amigos entre os outros viajantes. Mas, quando não apareceu naquela noite, começaram a buscá-lo entre os parentes e amigos, e, não o encontrando, voltaram a Jerusalém para ali continuarem a procurá-lo.
46 Três dias depois, conseguiram descobri-lo. Achava-se no templo, sentado entre os mestres da lei, ouvindo-os e fazendo-lhes perguntas, deixando toda a gente admirada com a sua inteligência e respostas.
48 Os pais não sabiam que pensar quando o viram sentado ali. Filho, disse-lhe a mãe, porque nos fizeste isto? Teu pai e eu estávamos desesperados, à tua procura.
49 Mas que necessidade havia de me procurarem?, disse ele. Não calcularam que eu estaria aqui no templo, na casa de meu Pai, pois que me é necessário tratar dos seus assuntos?
50 Mas eles não entenderam o que dizia.
51 Depois ele voltou com os pais para Nazaré; e era-lhes obediente. A sua mãe guardava todas estas coisas no coração.
52 Assim foi Jesus crescendo, tanto em tamanho como em sabedoria, amado por Deus e pelos homens.
1 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to enroll themselves, each to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5 to enroll himself with Mary, his wife, being pregnant.
6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds in the same country living in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 And an angel of Yahweh stood by them, and the glory of Yahweh shone around them: and they were greatly afraid.
10 And the angel said to them, Don't be afraid; for look, I bring you{+} good news of great joy which will be to all the people:
11 for there is born to you{+} this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this [will be] the sign to you{+}: You{+} will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.
15 And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.
16 And they came in a hurry, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18 And 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 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken to them.
21 And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And 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 Yahweh, Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of Yahweh, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 And look, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen Yahweh's Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,
28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Now let your slave depart, O Sovereign Yahweh, 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 Gentiles, And the glory of your people Israel.
33 And his father and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him;
34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Look, this [child] is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;
35 and a sword will pierce through your own soul also; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.
36 And 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 even to eighty-four years), who did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasts and supplications night and day.
38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of Yahweh, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was on him.
41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast;
43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents didn't know it;
44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances:
45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.
46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:
47 and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, Child, why have you thus dealt with us? Look, your father and I sought you sorrowing.
49 And he said to them, How is it that you{+} sought me? Did you{+} not know that I must be in my Father's house?
50 And they didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject to them: and his mother kept all [these] sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.