Luke 2:4-41

⁴and 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,

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

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

⁷and she brought forth her son — the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber.

⁸And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the field, and keeping the night-watches over their flock,

⁹and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a great fear.

¹⁰And the messenger said to them, 'Fear not, for lo, I bring you good news of great joy, that shall be to all the people —

¹¹because there was born to you to-day a Saviour — who is Christ the Lord — in the city of David,

¹²and this is to you the sign: Ye shall find a babe wrapped up, lying in the manger.'

¹³And suddenly there came with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,

¹⁴'Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men — good will.'

¹⁵And it came to pass, when the messengers were gone away from them to the heavens, that the men, the shepherds, said unto one another, 'We may go over indeed unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that hath come to pass, that the Lord did make known to us.'

¹⁶And they came, having hasted, and found both Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger,

¹⁷and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the child.

¹⁸And all who heard, did wonder concerning the things spoken by the shepherds unto them;

¹⁹and Mary was preserving all these things, pondering in her heart;

²⁰and the shepherds turned back, glorifying and praising God, for all those things they heard and saw, as it was spoken unto them.

²¹And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child, then was his name called Jesus, having been so called by the messenger before his being conceived in the womb.

²²And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present to the Lord,

²³as it hath been written in the Law of the Lord, — 'Every male opening a womb shall be called holy to the Lord,'

²⁴and to give a sacrifice, according to that said in the Law of the Lord, 'A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.'

²⁵And lo, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name is Simeon, and this man is righteous and devout, looking for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him,

²⁶and it hath been divinely told him by the Holy Spirit — not to see death before he may see the Christ of the Lord.

²⁷And he came in the Spirit to the temple, and in the parents bringing in the child Jesus, for their doing according to the custom of the law regarding him,

²⁸then he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and he said,

²⁹'Now Thou dost send away Thy servant, Lord, according to Thy word, in peace,

³⁰because mine eyes did see Thy salvation,

³¹which Thou didst prepare before the face of all the peoples,

³²a light to the uncovering of nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel.'

³³And Joseph and his mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning him,

³⁴and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, 'Lo, this one is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against —

³⁵(and also thine own soul shall a sword pass through) — that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.'

³⁶And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with an husband seven years from her virginity,

³⁷and she is a widow of about eighty-four years, who did depart not from the temple, with fasts and supplications serving, night and day,

³⁸and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the Lord, and was speaking concerning him, to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

³⁹And when they finished all things, according to the Law of the Lord, they turned back to Galilee, to their city Nazareth;

⁴⁰and the child grew and was strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴¹And his parents were going yearly to Jerusalem, at the feast of the passover,