English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

1Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered.

2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

2This was the first registration taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

3So all the people went to their hometowns to be registered.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

4Joseph, too, went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the City of David (called Bethlehem), because he was a descendant of the household and family of David.

5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

5He went there to be registered with Mary, who had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.

6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

6While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby,

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

7and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters.

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

8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night.

9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

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

10Then the angel told them, "Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.

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

11Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah, was born in the City of David.

12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

12And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

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

13Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

14"Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!"

15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

15When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about."

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

16So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in the feeding trough.

17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

17When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child.

18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

18All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

19However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them.

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

20Then the shepherds returned to their flock, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

21After eight days had passed, the infant was circumcised and named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

22When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,

23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)

23as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn son is to be designated as holy to the Lord."

24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

24They also offered a sacrifice according to what is specified in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

25Now 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.

25Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit 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 die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.

27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,

27Led by the Spirit, he went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law,

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

28Simeon took the infant in his arms and praised God, saying,

29“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;

29"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your promise,

30for my eyes have seen your salvation

30because my eyes have seen your salvation,

31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

31which you prepared for all people to see—

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

32a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel."

33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

33Jesus' father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him.

34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed

34Then Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, "This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. Also, he will be a sign that will be opposed.

35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

35Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed."

36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,

36Now Anna, a prophetess, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,

37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

37and then as a widow for 84 years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer.

38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

38Just then she came forward and began to thank God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

39After doing everything required by the Law of the Lord, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee.

40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

40Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor rested upon him.

41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

41Every year Jesus' parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.

42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.

42When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual.

43And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,

43When the days of the festival were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,

44They thought that he was in their group of travelers. After traveling for a day, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching desperately for him.

46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

46Three days later, they found him in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and posing questions to them.

47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

47All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.

48And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

48When Jesus' parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!"

49And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

49He asked them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"

50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

50But they did not understand what he told them.

51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

51Then he went back with them, returning to Nazareth and remaining in submission to them. His mother continued to treasure all these things in her heart.

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

52Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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