1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment, made when Quirinius was governing Syria.
3 And everyone went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and family line of David,
5 to be enrolled together with Mary, the wife pledged to him, who was pregnant.
6 While they were there, the days came for her to give birth.
7 She gave birth to her firstborn son; she wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the lodging.
8 In that same countryside there were shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping the night watches over their flock.
9 Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them, and they were terribly afraid.
10 But the angel said to them, "Stop being afraid. Listen, I am announcing to you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people:
11 today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born for you, who is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be your sign: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in the manger."
13 All at once there appeared with the angel a great company of the heavenly army, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!"
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come, let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 They went in a hurry and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
17 When they saw it, they spread the word they had been told about this child.
18 And everyone who heard was amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these words, turning them over in her heart.
20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.
21 When eight days had passed and it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification under the law of Moses were fulfilled, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 just as it stands written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that first opens the womb is to be called holy to the Lord,"
24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord's Anointed.
27 Led by the Spirit, he came into the temple; and as the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law,
28 Simeon took him into his arms, praised God, and said,
29 "Now, Master, you are releasing your servant in peace, as you promised,
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have made ready in the sight of all the peoples,
32 a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."
33 Joseph and his mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Look, this child is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign that people will speak against
35 (yes, a sword will go through your own soul too), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare."
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her virginity,
37 and she was a widow of about eighty-four years. She never left the temple, but served there night and day with fasting and prayer.
38 Coming up at that very moment, she began giving thanks to the Lord and speaking about him to all who were waiting for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 When they had carried out everything required by the law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to Nazareth, their town.
40 The child kept growing and gaining strength in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on him.
41 Each year his parents used to travel to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
42 When he was twelve, they went up to Jerusalem as the feast's custom was.
43 After the days were over, as they were going back, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother were unaware of it.
44 Thinking he was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey and then began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
45 Not finding him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, seated among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them.
47 All who heard him were astounded at his understanding and at his answers.
48 When they saw him they were amazed, and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you, anxious and in pain."
49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?"
50 Yet they did not grasp the word he had spoken to them.
51 Then he went down with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. And his mother treasured all these words in her heart.
52 And Jesus kept advancing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.