| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. | 1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. |
| 2This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. | 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) |
| 3Everyone went to his own town to be registered. | 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. |
| 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. | 4And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. |
| 5He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. | 5He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. |
| 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. | 6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. |
| 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. | 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. The Shepherds and Angels |
| 8Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. | 8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. |
| 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. | 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, |
| 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: | 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. |
| 11Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. | 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! |
| 12This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." | 12And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” |
| 13Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, | 13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, |
| 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!" | 14“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” |
| 15When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us." | 15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” |
| 16So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. | 16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. |
| 17When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, | 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. |
| 18and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. | 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, |
| 19But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. | 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. |
| 20So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told. | 20The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Jesus Is Presented in the Temple |
| 21At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. | 21Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. |
| 22Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord | 22Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him 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 set apart to the Lord"), | 23The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD.” |
| 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons. | 24So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” The Prophecy of Simeon |
| 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. | 25At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him |
| 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. | 26and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. |
| 27So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, | 27That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, |
| 28Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, | 28Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, |
| 29"Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. | 29“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. |
| 30For my eyes have seen your salvation | 30I have seen your salvation, |
| 31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: | 31which you have prepared for all people. |
| 32a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." | 32He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” |
| 33So the child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. | 33Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. |
| 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. | 34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. |
| 35Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!" | 35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” The Prophecy of Anna |
| 36There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. | 36Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. |
| 37She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. | 37Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. |
| 38At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. | 38She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. |
| 39So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. | 39When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. |
| 40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him. | 40There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. Jesus Speaks with the Teachers |
| 41Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover. | 41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. |
| 42When he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. | 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. |
| 43But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, | 43After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, |
| 44but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) they went a day's journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. | 44because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. |
| 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. | 45When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. |
| 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. | 46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. |
| 47And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers. | 47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. |
| 48When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." | 48His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” |
| 49But he replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" | 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” |
| 50Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them. | 50But they didn’t understand what he meant. |
| 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart. | 51Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. |
| 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people. | 52Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. |
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