International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole 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 taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

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

3So all the people went to their hometowns to be registered.

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

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.

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,

5He went there to be registered with Mary, who had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.

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

6While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby,

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

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.

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.

8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night.

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

9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

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

10Then the angel told them, "Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy 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;

11Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah, was born in the City of David.

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 strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

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

13Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by 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 peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!"

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

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."

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."

16So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in the feeding trough.

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

17When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child.

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

18All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

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

19However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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,

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

23as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn son is to be designated as 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 "),

24They also offered a sacrifice according to what is specified 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 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.

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.

26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.

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.

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,

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,

28Simeon took the infant in his arms and praised God, saying,

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

29"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your promise,

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

30because my eyes have seen your salvation,

30For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31which you prepared for all people to see—

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

32a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel."

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

33Jesus' father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him.

33And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

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.

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--

35Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed."

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

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,

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 for 84 years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer.

37and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

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.

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.

39After doing everything required by the Law of the Lord, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee.

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

40Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor rested upon him.

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

41Every year Jesus' parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.

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

42When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual.

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

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.

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,

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.

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.

45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching desperately for him.

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

46Three days later, they found him in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and posing questions to them.

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.

47All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.

47And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

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!"

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."

49He asked them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to 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?"

50But they did not understand what he told them.

50But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

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.

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.

52Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man.

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org