Luke 2

¹And it came to passe in those dayes, that there came a decree from Augustus Cesar, that all the world should be taxed.

²(This first taxing was made when Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria.)

³Therefore went all to be taxed, euery man to his owne Citie.

⁴And Ioseph also went vp from Galile out of a citie called Nazareth, into Iudea, vnto the citie of Dauid, which is called Beth-leem (because he was of the house and linage of Dauid,)

⁵To bee taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife, which was with childe.

⁶And so it was, that while they were there, the daies were accomplished that shee shoulde be deliuered,

⁷And she brought foorth her first begotten sonne, and wrapped him in swadling clothes, and laide him in a cratch, because there was no roome for them in the ynne.

⁸And there were in the same countrey shepheards, abiding in the fielde, and keeping watch by night ouer their flocke.

⁹And loe, the Angel of the Lord came vpon them, and the glorie of the Lord shone about them, and they were sore afraide.

¹⁰Then the Angel saide vnto them, Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great ioy, that shalbe to all the people,

¹¹That is, that vnto you is borne this day in the citie of Dauid, a Sauiour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹²And this shalbe a signe to you, Yee shall finde the babe swadled, and laid in a cratch.

¹³And straightway there was with the Angel a multitude of heauenly souldiers, praising God, and saying,

¹⁴Glory be to God in the high heauens, and peace in earth, and towards men good will.

¹⁵And it came to passe whe the Angels were gone away from them into heauen, that the shepheards sayde one to another, Let vs goe then vnto Beth-leem, and see this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs.

¹⁶So they came with haste, and founde both Marie and Ioseph, and the babe laid in the cratch.

¹⁷And when they had seene it, they published abroade the thing, that was tolde them of that childe.

¹⁸And all that heard it, wondred at ye things which were tolde them of the shepheards.

¹⁹But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondred them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepheardes returned glorifiyng and praising God, for all that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them.

²¹And when the eight daies were accomplished, that they shoulde circumcise the childe, his name was then called Iesus, which was named of the Angell, before he was conceiued in the wombe.

²²And when the daies of her purification after the Lawe of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Hierusalem, to present him to the Lord,

²³(As it is written in the Lawe of the Lord, Euery man childe that first openeth ye wombe, shalbe called holy to the Lord)

²⁴And to giue an oblation, as it is commanded in the Lawe of the Lord, a paire of turtle doues, or two yong pigeons.

²⁵And behold, there was a man in Hierusalem, whose name was Simeon: this man was iust, and feared God, and waited for the consolation of Israel, and the holy Ghost was vpon him.

²⁶And it was declared to him from God by the holy Ghost, that he shoulde not see death, before he had seene that Anointed of the Lord.

²⁷And he came by the motion of the spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought in the babe Iesus, to do for him after the custome of the Lawe,

²⁸Then hee tooke him in his armes, and praised God, and sayd,

²⁹Lord, nowe lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace, according to thy woorde,

³⁰For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation,

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

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

³³And Ioseph and his mother marueiled at those things, which were spoken touching him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and saide vnto Mary his mother, Beholde, this childe is appointed for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel, and for a signe which shalbe spoken against,

³⁵(Yea and a sworde shall pearce through thy soule) that the thoughts of many heartes may be opened.

³⁶And there was a Prophetesse, one Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, which was of a great age, after she had liued with an husband seuen yeeres from her virginitie:

³⁷And she was widowe about foure score and foure yeeres, and went not out of the Temple, but serued God with fastings and prayers, night and day.

³⁸She then coming at the same instant vpon them, confessed likewise the Lord, and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Hierusalem.

³⁹And when they had performed all thinges according to the lawe of the Lord, they returned into Galile to their owne citie Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the childe grewe, and waxed strong in Spirit, and was filled with wisedome, and the grace of God was with him.

⁴¹Nowe his parents went to Hierusalem euery yeere, at the feast of the Passeouer.

⁴²And when hee was twelue yeere olde, and they were come vp to Hierusalem, after the custome of the feast,

⁴³And had finished the dayes thereof, as they returned, the childe Iesus remained in Hierusalem, and Ioseph knew not, nor his mother,

⁴⁴But they supposing, that he had bene in the company, went a dayes iourney, and sought him among their kinsfolke, and acquaintance.

⁴⁵And when they found him not, they turned backe to Hierusalem, and sought him.

⁴⁶And it came to passe three dayes after, that they found him in the Temple, sitting in the mids of the doctours, both hearing them, and asking them questions:

⁴⁷And all that heard him, were astonied at his vnderstanding and answeres.

⁴⁸So when they sawe him, they were amased, and his mother said vnto him, Sonne, why hast thou thus dealt with vs? beholde, thy father and I haue sought thee with very heauie hearts.

⁴⁹Then said he vnto them, Howe is it that ye sought me? knewe ye not that I must goe about my Fathers busines?

⁵⁰But they vnderstoode not the word that he spake to them.

⁵¹Then hee went downe with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subiect to them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

⁵²And Iesus increased in wisedome, and stature, and in fauour 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.