Luke 2:1-6 in English

¹ Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

⁵ to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.

⁶ And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

¹ Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

⁵ to enroll himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.

⁶ And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.

¹ About that time the Emperor Augustus commanded that ◄ his officials must write down the names/ a census be taken► of all the people who lived in countries controlled by the Roman government {that the Roman government controlled}, so that the government could collect taxes from them.

² That was the first time that they ◄wrote down the names/took a census► in Syria province, which included Judea district. They did this while Quirinius was the governor of the province.

³ Every person had to go to the town where his most famous ancestor had lived, so that the officials could write down their names.

⁴ So, because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he went up from Nazareth, the town in Galilee district where he lived, to the town of Bethlehem in Judea district. That was the town where King David grew up.

⁵ Joseph went with Mary, who was considered {whom people considered} to be his wife, who was now pregnant. They went so that they could put his name and Mary's name in the record book.

⁶ When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay in the house where travelers stay. So they stayed in a cattle shed. When the time for Mary to give birth arrived, she gave birth to her first son there. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a trough where people put food for the animals.

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ All went to enrol themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enrol himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

¹ Now it came about in those days that an order went out from Caesar Augustus that there was to be a numbering of all the world.

² This was the first numbering, which was made when Quirinius was ruler of Syria.

³ And all men went to be numbered, everyone to his town.

⁴ And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judaea, to Beth-lehem, the town of David, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ To be put on the list with Mary, his future wife, who was about to become a mother.

⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

¹ But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.

² The census itself first took place when Cyrenius had the government of Syria.

³ And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city:

⁴ and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David's city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him as his wife, she being great with child.

⁶ And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth to her child were fulfilled,

¹ And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled.

² This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.

³ And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph 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 family of David,

⁵ To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.

⁶ And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered.

¹ And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of all the empire.

² This census was the first one while Quirinius was governing Syria.

³ And all were traveling to be registered, each to his own city.

⁴ Joseph 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 family of David,

⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was pregnant.

⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to bear.

¹ Now it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole inhabited world should be enrolled.

² This first census took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

³ So everyone was traveling, each to his own town, to enroll himself.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of Natsareth town, into Judea to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because he was of David's ‘house’, that is, line of descent,

⁵ to enroll himself with Mary, the woman who had been betrothed to him, who was pregnant.

⁶ So it happened that when they got there the days for her to give birth were completed;

¹ It was the time when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that there should be a census of everyone in the Roman Empire.

² This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria.

³ So everybody went to their own city to be registered.

⁴ Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea.

⁵ He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby.

⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.

¹ And it came to passe in those dayes, that there came a decree from Augustus Cesar, that all the world should be taxed.

² (This first taxing was made when Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria.)

³ Therefore went all to be taxed, euery man to his owne Citie.

⁴ And Ioseph also went vp from Galile out of a citie called Nazareth, into Iudea, vnto the citie of Dauid, which is called Beth-leem (because he was of the house and linage of Dauid,)

⁵ To bee taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife, which was with childe.

⁶ And so it was, that while they were there, the daies were accomplished that shee shoulde be deliuered,

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

¹ And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be registered.

² (This registering was the first made while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be registered, each to his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

⁵ to be registered with Mary who had been betrothed to him, who was with child.

⁶ And it came to pass, while they were there, that the days for her delivery were completed.

¹ About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.

² (This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).

³ And everyone went to his own town to be registered.

⁴ Amongst others Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David, in Judea — because he belonged to the family and house of David —

⁵ To be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother.

⁶ While they were there her time came,

¹ About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.

² (This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).

³ And everyone went to his own town to be registered.

⁴ Among others Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David, in Judea — because he belonged to the family and house of David —

⁵ To be registered with Mary, his engaged wife, who was about to become a mother.

⁶ While they were there her time came,

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Ruler Augustus Revered, Esteemed, Venerable that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria Elevated.

³ All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph May he add also went up from Galilee District, Circuit, out of the city of Nazareth Branch, Separated one, into Judea Praise, to David Beloved’s city, which is called Bethlehem House of Bread, because he was of the house and family of David Beloved;

⁵ to enroll himself with Mary Rebellion, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

¹ At that time the biggest boss of all those countries was called Augustus. He sent a message to everyone in every country. He said, “The government bosses in every town have to write down everyone’s name on a big list and make them pay tax money.” So everyone had to go back to their home town and put their names on the list there. (A man called Quirinius was the government boss of Syria country at that time.)

⁴ Joseph belonged to David’s family. A long time ago David grew up in the town called Bethlehem, in Judea country, but Joseph lived in a town called Nazareth, in Galilee country. So he had to get up and go south to Bethlehem, to put his name on the right list.

⁵ Joseph took Mary with him. She was his promised wife, and she was carrying a baby inside her at that time.

⁶ At Bethlehem they couldn’t find any room to stay in, so they had to sleep in the place where the animals ate their food. Then the time came for Mary to have her baby. She had her baby right there, and she wrapped him up in some strips of cloth and put him down to sleep in an animal’s feed box.

¹ And it chaunced in thoose dayes: that ther went oute a commaundment from Auguste the Emperour that all the woorlde shuld be taxed.

² And this taxynge was the fyrst and executed when Syrenius was leftenaut in Syria.

³ And every man went vnto his awne citie to be taxed.

⁴ And Ioseph also ascended from Galile oute of a cite called Nazareth into Iurie: vnto the cite of David which is called Bethleem because he was of the housse and linage of David

⁵ to be taxed with Mary his spoused wyfe which was with chylde.

⁶ And it fortuned whyll they were there her tyme was come that she shuld be delyvered.

¹ Now in those days, it came about that Caesar Augustus sent out a decree ordering that a census be taken of all the people living in the world.

² This was the first census made while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ So everyone went to his own city to be registered for the census.

⁴ Joseph 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 line of David.

⁵ He went there to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

⁶ Now it came about that while they were there, the time came for her to deliver her baby.

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ All went to enrol themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enrol himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph 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)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enroll himself with Miriam, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

¹ Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

² This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

³ All went to enrol themselves, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enrol himself with Miriam, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶ While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

¹ And it was done in those days, a commandment went out from the emperor or Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be described.

² This first describing was made of Cyrenius, justice, or keeper, of Syria.

³ And all men went to make profession, or acknowledging, each into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea, into a city of David, that is called Bethlehem, for that he was of the house and of the meine of David,

⁵ that he should acknowledge with Mary, his wife, that was wedded to him, and was great with child.

⁶ And it was done, while they were there, the days were fulfilled, that she should bear child.

¹ And it was done in those days, a commandment went out from the emperor Augustus or a commandment went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be described (or that a census should be taken throughout the Empire).

² This first describing was made of Cyrenius, (the) justice, or (the) keeper, of Syria. (This first census was made when Quirinius was the Governor of Syria.)

³ And all men went to make profession, or acknowledging, each into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea, into a city of David, that is called Bethlehem, for that he was of the house and of the family of David,

⁵ (so) that he should acknowledge with Mary, his wife, that was wedded to him, and was great with child.

⁶ And it was done, while they were there, the days were fulfilled, that she should bear (the) child.

¹ And it was don in tho daies, a maundement wente out fro the emperour August, that al the world schulde be discryued.

² This firste discryuyng was maad of Cyryn, iustice of Sirie.

³ And alle men wenten to make professioun, ech in to his owne citee.

⁴ And Joseph wente vp fro Galilee, fro the citee Nazareth, in to Judee, in to a citee of Dauid, that is clepid Bethleem, for that he was of the hous and of the meyne of Dauid,

⁵ that he schulde knouleche with Marie, his wijf, that was weddid to hym, and was greet with child.

⁶ And it was don, while thei weren there, the daies weren fulfillid, that sche schulde bere child.

¹ And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled —

² this enrolment first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria —

³ and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city,

⁴ and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David,

⁵ to enrol himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with child.

⁶ And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth,