Luke 2

¹And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world.

²This registration first came to pass in the governing of Syria of Quirinius.

³And all were going to be registered, each to his own city.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the City of David, which is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David,

⁵to register with Mary, the one betrothed to him, she being pregnant.

⁶And it came to pass, in their being there, that the days of her giving birth were fulfilled.

⁷And she gave birth to her Son, the firstborn, and she wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the fields and keeping watch by night over their flock.

⁹And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared with great fear.

¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy that will be to all the people.

¹¹For today in the City of David a Savior was born to you, who is Christ the Lord.

¹²And this is the sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³And 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 with whom He is well pleased!”

¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels went away from them into heaven, that the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let us go through indeed as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this saying that has come to pass, which the Lord made known to us.”

¹⁶And having hurried, they came and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

¹⁷And having seen, they made known concerning the saying having been spoken to them concerning this Child.

¹⁸And all those having heard marveled concerning the things having been spoken to them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary was preserving all these matters, pondering in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things that they heard and saw, just as it was said to them.

²¹And when eight days to circumcise Him were fulfilled, then His name was called Jesus, which He had been called by the angel before His being conceived in the womb.

²²And when the days of their purification were fulfilled according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present to the Lord

²³(just as it has been written in the Law of the Lord: “Every male opening a womb will be called holy to the Lord”),

²⁴and to give a sacrifice according to that 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 this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

²⁶And it was divinely revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he should see the Christ of the Lord.

²⁷And he went in the Spirit into the temple. And in the parents bringing in the child Jesus for them to do according to that having become customary by the Law concerning Him,

²⁸then he took Him into the arms and blessed God, and he said:

²⁹“Now, Lord, You dismiss Your servant in peace, according to Your word.

³⁰For my eyes saw Your salvation,

³¹which You prepared before the face of all the peoples,

³²a light to the uncovering of the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

³³And His father and mother were marveling at the things having been spoken concerning Him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed for the falling and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against—

³⁵and a sword will also pass through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was advanced in many days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

³⁷and she was a widow until eighty-four years, who did not depart the temple, serving with fastings and petitions night and day.

³⁸And having come up at that hour, she was giving praise to God and was speaking concerning Him to all those waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹And when they accomplished everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city, Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the Child continued to grow and become strong, being filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon Him.

⁴¹And His parents were going every year to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

⁴²And when He was twelve years old, on their having gone up according to the custom of the Feast

⁴³and having completed the days, in their returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and His parents did not know.

⁴⁴And having supposed Him to be in their company, they went a day’s journey and began seeking Him among the relatives and the acquaintances.

⁴⁵And not having found Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

⁴⁶And it came to pass after three days that they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them.

⁴⁷And all those hearing Him were amazed at His understanding and answers.

⁴⁸And having seen Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Child, why did You do thus to us? Behold, Your father and I, being distressed, were seeking You.”

⁴⁹And He said to them, “Why is it that you were seeking Me? Did you not know that it is necessary for Me to be in the house of My Father?”

⁵⁰And they did not understand the word that He spoke to them.

⁵¹And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them. And His mother was keeping all these matters in her heart.

⁵²And Jesus continued to advance in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.