| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. | 1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. |
| 2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. | 2This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. |
| 3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. | 3Everyone went to his own town to be registered. |
| 4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, | 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. |
| 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. | 5He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. |
| 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. | 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. |
| 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. | 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. |
| 8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. | 8Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. |
| 9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. | 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. |
| 10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. | 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: |
| 11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. | 11Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. |
| 12And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” | 12This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." |
| 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: | 13Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, |
| 14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” | 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!" |
| 15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” | 15When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us." |
| 16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. | 16So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. |
| 17Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. | 17When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, |
| 18And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. | 18and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. |
| 19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. | 19But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. |
| 20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. | 20So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told. |
| 21And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. | 21At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. |
| 22Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord | 22Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord |
| 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD ” ), | 23(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord"), |
| 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” | 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons. |
| 25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. | 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. |
| 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. | 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. |
| 27So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, | 27So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, |
| 28he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: | 28Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, |
| 29“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; | 29"Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. |
| 30For my eyes have seen Your salvation | 30For my eyes have seen your salvation |
| 31Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, | 31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: |
| 32A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” | 32a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." |
| 33And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. | 33So the child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. |
| 34Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against | 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. |
| 35(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” | 35Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!" |
| 36Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; | 36There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. |
| 37and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. | 37She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. |
| 38And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. | 38At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. |
| 39So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. | 39So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. |
| 40And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. | 40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him. |
| 41His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. | 41Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover. |
| 42And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. | 42When he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. |
| 43When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; | 43But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, |
| 44but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. | 44but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) they went a day's journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. |
| 45So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. | 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. |
| 46Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. | 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. |
| 47And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. | 47And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers. |
| 48So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” | 48When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." |
| 49And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” | 49But he replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" |
| 50But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. | 50Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them. |
| 51Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. | 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart. |
| 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. | 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people. |
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