THE BIRTH
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)
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