| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. | 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. |
| 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. | 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) |
| 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. | 3And everyone went to their own town to register. |
| 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, | 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. |
| 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. | 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. |
| 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. | 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, |
| 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, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. |
| 8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. | 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at 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. | 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause 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 in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. |
| 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” | 12This will be a sign to 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, | 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." |
| 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 into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which 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 hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying 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 him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, |
| 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. | 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. |
| 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. | 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered 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 returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. |
| 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. | 21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. |
| 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 the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him 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 is to be consecrated 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 in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves 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 there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on 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 before 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, | 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, |
| 28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, | 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: |
| 29“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; | 29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. |
| 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 sight of all nations: |
| 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” | 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." |
| 33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. | 33The child's father and mother marveled at what was 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 said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, |
| 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” | 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." |
| 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, | 36There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she 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 was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. |
| 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. | 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to 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 Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. |
| 40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. | 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. |
| 41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. | 41Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. |
| 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. | 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. |
| 43And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, | 43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they 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, | 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began 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 went back to Jerusalem to look for him. |
| 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. | 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. |
| 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. | 47Everyone who heard him was 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 his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching 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?” | 49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know 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 was saying 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. | 51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But 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 grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and 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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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