Luke 2:4-41

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 family of David,

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

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

⁷And she bore her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸And shepherds were in the same country, living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by 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.

¹⁰Then the angel said to them, “Do not fear, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

¹²And this will be the sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

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

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

¹⁵So it was, when the angels had departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go then to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

¹⁷And when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

¹⁸And all those who heard it marveled about the things spoken by the shepherds to them.

¹⁹But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was spoken to them.

²¹And when eight days were completed, so they could circumcise Him, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

²²Now when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

²³(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what had been said 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.

²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he should see the Lord's Christ.

²⁷So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, that they might do for Him according to the custom of the law,

²⁸he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

²⁹“Lord, now You are releasing Your servant in peace, According to Your word;

³⁰For my eyes have seen Your salvation

³¹Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

³²A light for a revelation to the Gentiles, And a glory to Your people Israel.”

³³And Joseph and His mother were marveling at the things being spoken about Him.

³⁴Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

³⁵(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶Now there was one, Hannah, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

³⁷and she 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.

³⁸And coming in that instant she was giving thanks to the Lord, and was speaking about Him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem.

³⁹So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the Child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

⁴¹And His parents traveled to Jerusalem every year to the Feast of the Passover.