| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. | 1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. |
| 2This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. | 2This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. |
| 3And everyone went to his own town to register. | 3So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. |
| 4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. | 4And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, |
| 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. | 5to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. |
| 6While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. | 6While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. |
| 7And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. | 7Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough--because there was no room for them at the lodging place. |
| 8And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. | 8In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. |
| 9Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. | 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. |
| 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: | 10But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: |
| 11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! | 11Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. |
| 12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” | 12This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough." |
| 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: | 13Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: |
| 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!” | 14Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! |
| 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” | 15When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." |
| 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. | 16They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. |
| 17After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. | 17After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, |
| 18And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. | 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. |
| 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. | 19But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. |
| 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them. | 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told. |
| 21When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived. | 21When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus--the name given by the angel before He was conceived. |
| 22And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord | 22And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord |
| 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”), | 23(just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) |
| 24and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” | 24and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons). |
| 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. | 25There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. |
| 26The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. | 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah. |
| 27Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, | 27Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, |
| 28Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: | 28Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: |
| 29“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. | 29Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised. |
| 30For my eyes have seen Your salvation, | 30For my eyes have seen Your salvation. |
| 31which You have prepared in the sight of all people, | 31You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples-- |
| 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” | 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel. |
| 33The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. | 33His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him. |
| 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, | 34Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: "Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed-- |
| 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.” | 35and a sword will pierce your own soul--that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." |
| 36There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, | 36There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, |
| 37and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. | 37and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. |
| 38Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. | 38At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. |
| 39When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. | 39When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. |
| 40And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. | 40The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on Him. |
| 41Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. | 41Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. |
| 42And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast. | 42When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. |
| 43When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. | 43After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. |
| 44Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. | 44Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. |
| 45When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. | 45When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. |
| 46Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. | 46After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. |
| 47And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. | 47And all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. |
| 48When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” | 48When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You." |
| 49“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” | 49"Why were you searching for Me?" He asked them. "Didn't you know that I had to be in My Father's house?" |
| 50But they did not understand the statement He was making to them. | 50But they did not understand what He said to them. |
| 51Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. | 51Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. |
| 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. | 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. |
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