In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the
world
should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when
Quirin'i-us
was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his
own
city. And 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 lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary,
his
betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the
time
came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her
first-born son
and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger,
because
there was no place for them in the inn.
And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping
watch
over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord shone around
them,
and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be
not
afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which
will come
to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of
David a
Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for
you: you
Will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a
manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host
praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with
whom he is pleased!"
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds
said to
one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that
has
happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went
with
haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.
And
when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told
them
concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the
shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering
them
in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God
for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was
called
Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the
womb.
And when the time came for their purification according to the
law of
Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the
Lord (as
it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the
womb
shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice
according to
what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or
two
young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was
Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the
consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it
had
been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see
death
before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit
he
came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child
Jesus,
to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up
in his
arms and blessed God and said,
"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant
depart in peace,
according to thy word;
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
which thou hast prepared in the presence
of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory for thy people Israel."
And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about
him; and
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is set for the fall
and rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign that is spoken against
(and a sword will pierce through your
own soul also),
that thoughts out of many hearts may
be revealed."
And there was prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the
tribe
of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband
seven
years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was
eighty-four. She
did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and
prayer
night and day. And coming up at that very hours she gave thanks
to God,
and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of
Jerusalem.
And when they had performed everything according to the law of
the Lord,
they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the
child
grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God
was
upon him.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the
Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up
according to
custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the
boy
Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
but
supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and
they
sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they
did
not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After
three days
they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers,
listening to
them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed
at his
understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were
astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you
treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for
you anxiously." And he
said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know
that I
must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the
saying
which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to
Nazareth,
and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in
her
heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with
God and
man.
LUKE 2 (RSV)
_______________________________________________
Libnw mailing list
Libnw@immosys.com
List info and subscriber options: http://immosys.com/mailman/listinfo/libnw
Archives: http://immosys.com/mailman//pipermail/libnw
