2:1  Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that the Roman government take a census of all the inhabited earth.

2:2  This constituted the first census taken while Quirinius served as governor of Syria.

2:3  And everyone proceeded on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

2:4  Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which we call Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and family of David,

2:5  in order to register along with Mary, who had agreed to marry him, and had become pregnant.

2:6  While they stayed there, the days arrived for her to give birth.

2:7  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because the inn had no room for them.

2:8  In the same region some shepherds had stayed out in the fields and kept watch over their flock by night.

2:9  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they felt terribly frightened.

2:10  But the angel said to them, "Do not fear; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will occur for all the people;

2:11  for today in the city of David there has arrived into the world for you a Savior, who we acknowledge as Christ the Lord.

2:12  "This will constitute a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

2:13  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

2:14  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He feels pleased."

2:15  When 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."

2:16  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

2:17  When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had they had heard about this Child.

2:18  And all who heard it wondered at the things which they had heard from the shepherds.

2:19  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

2:20  The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as they had heard.

2:21  And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, people called His name Jesus, the name given by the angel before Mary had conceived Him in the womb.

2:22  And 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

2:23  (as the scriptures stated in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB WE SHALL CALL HOLY TO THE LORD"),

2:24  and to offer a sacrifice according to what the scriptures said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."

2:25  And a man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem; and this man behaved with righteousness and devoutness, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit came upon him.

2:26  And the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

2:27  And 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,

2:28  then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

2:29  "Now Lord, You can release Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word;

2:30  For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

2:31  Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

2:32  A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, and the glory of Your people Israel."

2:33  And His father and mother felt amazed at the things which people said about Him.

2:34  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child has received appointment for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign which people will oppose--

2:35  and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may reveal themselves."

2:36  And there lived a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She had advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

2:37  and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

2:38  At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who looked for the redemption of Jerusalem.

2:39  When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

2:40  The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God rested upon Him.

2:41  Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

2:42  And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

2:43  and as they returned, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents did not have any awareness of it,

2:44  but supposed Him to travel in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

2:45  When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.

2:46  Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

2:47  And all who heard Him showed amazement at His understanding and His answers.

2:48  When they saw Him, they felt astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have anxiously looked for You."

2:49  And He said to them, "Why did you look for Me? Did you not know that I had to spend time in My Father's house?"

2:50  But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

2:51  And 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.

2:52  And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.