| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. | 1Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered. |
| 2This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. | 2This was the first registration taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. |
| 3So everyone 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 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, | 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 along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. | 5He went there to be registered with Mary, who had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant. |
| 6While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. | 6While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 8In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. | 8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night. |
| 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. | 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. |
| 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: | 10Then the angel told them, "Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. |
| 11Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. | 11Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah, was born in the City of David. |
| 12This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough." | 12And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough." |
| 13Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: | 13Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by saying, |
| 14Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! | 14"Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!" |
| 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." | 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." |
| 16They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. | 16So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in the feeding trough. |
| 17After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, | 17When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child. |
| 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. | 18All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. |
| 19But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. | 19However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them. |
| 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told. | 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. |
| 21When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus--the name given by the angel before He was conceived. | 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 days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, 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(just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male will be dedicated 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 stated 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah. | 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. |
| 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, | 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, |
| 28Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: | 28Simeon took the infant in his arms and praised God, saying, |
| 29Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised. | 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, |
| 31You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples-- | 31which you prepared for all people to see— |
| 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel. | 32a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel." |
| 33His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him. | 33Jesus' father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him. |
| 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-- | 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. |
| 35and a sword will pierce your own soul--that the thoughts of 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." |
| 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, | 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 was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 39When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to 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. |
| 40The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on Him. | 40Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor rested upon him. |
| 41Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. | 41Every year Jesus' parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. |
| 42When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. | 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual. |
| 43After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but 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. |
| 44Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. | 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. |
| 45When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search 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 complex 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 those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. | 47All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers. |
| 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." | 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!" |
| 49"Why were you searching for Me?" He asked them. "Didn't you know that I had to 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?" |
| 50But they did not understand what He said to them. | 50But they did not understand what he told them. |
| 51Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept 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 stature, and in favor with God and with people. | 52Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man. |
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