| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. | 1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. |
| 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) | 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. |
| 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. | 3And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. |
| 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 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 took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. | 5in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. |
| 6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. | 6While they were there, the days were completed 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 | 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. |
| 8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. | 8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. |
| 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. 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. |
| 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, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; |
| 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, 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 you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” | 12"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." |
| 13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, | 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, |
| 14“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” | 14"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." |
| 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 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." |
| 16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. | 16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. |
| 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. | 17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. |
| 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, | 18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. |
| 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. | 19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. |
| 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 went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. |
| 21Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. | 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. |
| 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 for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, 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(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY 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 was said 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 | 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. |
| 26and had revealed to him 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. |
| 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, | 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 was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, | 28then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, |
| 29“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. | 29"Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; |
| 30I have seen your salvation, | 30For my eyes have seen Your salvation, |
| 31which you have prepared for all people. | 31Which You have prepared 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 OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel." |
| 33Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was 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 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. | 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-- |
| 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 even your own soul-- to the end that thoughts from 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. | 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, |
| 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 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings 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 giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for 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 performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city 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 Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. |
| 41Every year Jesus’ parents went 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 attended the festival as usual. | 42And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; |
| 43After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, | 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, |
| 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. | 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 couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. | 45When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. |
| 46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. | 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 understanding and his answers. | 47And all who heard Him were amazed 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 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." |
| 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must 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 didn’t understand what he meant. | 50But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. |
| 51Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored 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. |
| 52Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. | 52And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. |
| 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. | 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 |
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