| New Living Translation | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. | 1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. |
| 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) | 2This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. |
| 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. | 3So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. |
| 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. | 4Joseph 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, |
| 5He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. | 5to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. |
| 6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. | 6While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. |
| 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 | 7Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. |
| 8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. | 8In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. |
| 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, | 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. |
| 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. | 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: |
| 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! | 11Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. |
| 12And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” | 12This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger." |
| 13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, | 13Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: |
| 14“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” | 14Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors! |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. | 16They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. |
| 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. | 17After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, |
| 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, | 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. |
| 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. | 19But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on 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 | 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told. |
| 21Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. | 21When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus--the name given by the angel before he was conceived. |
| 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. | 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 |
| 23The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD.” | 23(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord ) |
| 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 | 24and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons ). |
| 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 | 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. |
| 26and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. | 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah. |
| 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, | 27Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, |
| 28Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, | 28Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, |
| 29“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. | 29Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. |
| 30I have seen your salvation, | 30For my eyes have seen your salvation. |
| 31which you have prepared for all people. | 31You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples-- |
| 32He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” | 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel. |
| 33Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. | 33His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. |
| 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. | 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-- |
| 35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” The Prophecy of Anna | 35and a sword will pierce your own soul--that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." |
| 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. | 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, |
| 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. | 37and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 39When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. | 39When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. |
| 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 | 40The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on him. |
| 41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. | 41Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. |
| 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. | 42When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. |
| 43After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, | 43After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. |
| 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. | 44Assuming he was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. |
| 45When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. | 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. |
| 46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. | 46After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. |
| 47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. | 47And all those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” | 49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked them. "Didn't you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father's house?" |
| 50But they didn’t understand what he meant. | 50But they did not understand what he said to them. |
| 51Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. | 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. |
| 52Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. | 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. |
| 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. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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