Luke 2

¹And it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

²This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.

³And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.

⁴And 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.

⁵To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.

⁶And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock.

⁹And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear.

¹⁰And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people:

¹¹For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.

¹²And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying:

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.

¹⁵And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.

¹⁶And they came with haste: and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

¹⁷And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.

¹⁸And all that heard wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

²¹And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²²And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:

²³As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:

²⁴And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons:

²⁵And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was in him.

²⁶And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,

²⁸He also took him into his arms and blessed God and said

²⁹Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace:

³⁰Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

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

³³And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted.

³⁵And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.

³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was far advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.

³⁷And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

³⁸Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.

³⁹And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in him.

⁴¹And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch.

⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,

⁴³And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not.

⁴⁴And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.

⁴⁵And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

⁴⁶And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions.

⁴⁷And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers.

⁴⁸And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

⁴⁹And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?

⁵⁰And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them.

⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.

⁵²And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace with God and men.

Luke 2

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²²And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

²³(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

²⁴And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

³³And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

³⁵(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

³⁷And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

³⁸And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

³⁹And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴¹Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

⁴³And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

⁴⁴But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

⁴⁵And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

⁴⁶And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

⁴⁷And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

⁴⁸And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

⁴⁹And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

⁵⁰And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

⁵¹And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.