English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

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

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

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

3And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

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 also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

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

5in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

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

6While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

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 firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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

8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by 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.

9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

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.

10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

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

11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

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

12"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

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

13And suddenly there appeared 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 those with whom he is pleased!”

14"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

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 gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."

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

16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

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

17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

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

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

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

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

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

20The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told 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.

21And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given 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

22And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him 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”)

23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED 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.”

24and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said 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.

25And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of 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.

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.

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,

27And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,

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

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

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

29"Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;

30for my eyes have seen your salvation

30For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

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

31Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

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

32A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel."

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

33And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were 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

34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed--

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

35and a sword will pierce even your own soul-- to the end that thoughts from many hearts may 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,

36And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband 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 to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

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.

38At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking 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.

39When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

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

40The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

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

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

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

42And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

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

43and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of 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,

44but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

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

45When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.

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

46Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

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

47And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding 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 they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously 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?”

49And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not 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 the statement which He had made to 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.

51And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

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

52And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

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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