English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.

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

2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

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

3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.

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,

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.

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

5He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

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

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 swaddling cloths 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

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

8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.

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.

9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. 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 reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

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

11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, 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 you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host 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 those 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 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 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.”

16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and 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.

17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning 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 wondered at what the shepherds told them.

18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,

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

19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

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 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

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.

21Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even 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

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(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy 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 said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, 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, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation 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

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 had revealed to him 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,

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,

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

28Simeon was there. He took the child 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, 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!”

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

33Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was 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 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.

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

35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” The Prophecy of Anna

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into 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 his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

41Every year Jesus’ parents went 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 attended 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,

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 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,

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.

45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching 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, 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 him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

47All 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.”

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.”

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 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

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

50But they didn’t understand what he meant.

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 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 man.

52Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.