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.7 And she had her first son; and folding him in linen, she put him to rest in the place where the cattle had their food, because there was no room for them in the house.8 And in the same country there were keepers of sheep in the fields, watching over their flock by night.9 And an angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining round about them: and fear came on them.10 And the angel said, Have no fear; for truly, I give you good news of great joy which will be for all the people:11 For on this day, in the town of David, a Saviour has come to birth, who is Christ the Lord.12 And this is the sign to you: you will see a young child folded in linen, in the place where the cattle have their food.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a great band of spirits from heaven, giving praise to God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased.15 And when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the keepers of the sheep said to one another, Let us go now to Beth-lehem, and see this thing which has come about, which the Lord has made clear to us.16 And they came quickly, and saw Mary and Joseph, and the child in the place where the cattle had their food.17 And when they saw it, they gave them an account of the things which had been said to them about the child.18 And all those to whose ears it came were full of wonder at the things said by the keepers of the sheep.19 But Mary kept all these words in her heart, and gave much thought to them.20 Then the keepers of the sheep went back, giving glory and praise to God for all the things which had come to their ears and which they had seen, as it had been said to them.21 And when, after eight days, the time came for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name which the angel had given to him before his birth.22 And when the necessary days for making them clean by the law of Moses had come to an end, they took him to Jerusalem to give him to the Lord23 (As it says in the law of the Lord, Every mother's first male child is to be holy to the Lord),24 And to make an offering, as it is ordered in the law of the Lord, of two doves or other young birds.25 And there was then in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon; and he was an upright man, fearing God and waiting for the comfort of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was on him.26 And he had knowledge, through the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death till he had seen the Lord's Christ.27 And full of the Spirit he came into the Temple; and when the father and mother came in with the child Jesus, to do with him what was ordered by the law,28 Then he took him in his arms and gave praise to God and said,29 Now you are letting your servant go in peace, O Lord, as you have said;30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,31 Which you have made ready before the face of all nations;32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.33 And his father and mother were full of wonder at the things which were said about him.34 And Simeon gave them his blessing and said to Mary, his mother, See, this child will be the cause of the downfall and the lifting up of great numbers of people in Israel, and he will be a sign against which hard words will be said;35 (And a sword will go through your heart;) so that the secret thoughts of men may come to light.36 And there was one, Anna, a woman prophet, the daughter of Phanuel, of the family of Asher (she was very old, and after seven years of married life37 She had been a widow for eighty-four years); she was in the Temple at all times, worshipping with prayers and going without food, night and day.38 And coming up at that time, she gave praise to God, talking of him to all those who were waiting for the freeing of Jerusalem.39 And when they had done all the things which were ordered by the law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to Nazareth, the town where they were living.40 And the child became tall and strong and full of wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.41 And every year his father and mother went to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up, as their way was, to the feast;43 And when the days of the feast came to an end and they were going back, the boy Jesus was still in Jerusalem, but they had no knowledge of it:44 And in the belief that he was with some of their number, they went a day's journey; and after looking for him among their relations and friends,45 And seeing that he was not there, they went back to Jerusalem, to make search for him.46 And after three days they came across him in the Temple, seated among the wise men, giving ear to their words and putting questions to them.47 And all to whose ears it came were full of wonder at his knowledge and the answers which he gave.48 And when they saw him they were surprised, and his mother said to him, Son, why have you done this to us? see, your father and I have been looking for you with sorrow.49 And he said to them, Why were you looking for me? was it not clear to you that my right place was in my Father's house?50 And his words seemed strange to them.51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth; and did as he was ordered: and his mother kept all these words in her heart.52 And Jesus was increasing in wisdom and in years, and in grace before God and men.

1 Factum est autem in diebus illis, exiit edictum a Csare Augusto ut describeretur universus orbis. 2 Hc descriptio prima facta est a prside Syri Cyrino : 3 et ibant omnes ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem. 4 Ascendit autem et Joseph a Galila de civitate Nazareth in Judam, in civitatem David, qu vocatur Bethlehem : eo quod esset de domo et familia David, 5 ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore prgnante. 6 Factum est autem, cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret. 7 Et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit, et reclinavit eum in prsepio : quia non erat eis locus in diversorio. 8 Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum. 9 Et ecce angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. 10 Et dixit illis angelus : Nolite timere : ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo : 11 quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David. 12 Et hoc vobis signum : invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in prsepio. 13 Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militi clestis laudantium Deum, et dicentium : 14 [Gloria in altissimis Deo,et in terra pax hominibus bon voluntatis.] 15 Et factum est, ut discesserunt ab eis angeli in clum : pastores loquebantur ad invicem : Transeamus usque Bethlehem, et videamus hoc verbum, quod factum est, quod Dominus ostendit nobis. 16 Et venerunt festinantes : et invenerunt Mariam, et Joseph, et infantem positum in prsepio. 17 Videntes autem cognoverunt de verbo, quod dictum erat illis de puero hoc. 18 Et omnes qui audierunt, mirati sunt : et de his qu dicta erant a pastoribus ad ipsos. 19 Maria autem conservabat omnia verba hc, conferens in corde suo. 20 Et reversi sunt pastores glorificantes et laudantes Deum in omnibus qu audierant et viderant, sicut dictum est ad illos.21 Et postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur puer, vocatum est nomen ejus Jesus, quod vocatum est ab angelo priusquam in utero conciperetur. 22 Et postquam impleti sunt dies purgationis ejus secundum legem Moysi, tulerunt illum in Jerusalem, ut sisterent eum Domino, 23 sicut scriptum est in lege Domini : Quia omne masculinum adaperiens vulvam, sanctum Domino vocabitur : 24 et ut darent hostiam secundum quod dictum est in lege Domini, par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum. 25 Et ecce homo erat in Jerusalem, cui nomen Simeon, et homo iste justus, et timoratus, exspectans consolationem Isral : et Spiritus Sanctus erat in eo. 26 Et responsum acceperat a Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi prius videret Christum Domini. 27 Et venit in spiritu in templum. Et cum inducerent puerum Jesum parentes ejus, ut facerent secundum consuetudinem legis pro eo, 28 et ipse accepit eum in ulnas suas : et benedixit Deum, et dixit : 29 [Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine,secundum verbum tuum in pace :30 quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum,31 quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum :32 lumen ad revelationem gentium,et gloriam plebis tu Isral.] 33 Et erat pater ejus et mater mirantes super his qu dicebantur de illo. 34 Et benedixit illis Simeon, et dixit ad Mariam matrem ejus : Ecce positus est hic in ruinam et in resurrectionem multorum in Isral, et in signum cui contradicetur : 35 et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit gladius ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes. 36 Et erat Anna prophetissa, filia Phanuel, de tribu Aser : hc processerat in diebus multis, et vixerat cum viro suo annis septem a virginitate sua. 37 Et hc vidua usque ad annos octoginta quatuor : qu non discedebat de templo, jejuniis et obsecrationibus serviens nocte ac die. 38 Et hc, ipsa hora superveniens, confitebatur Domino : et loquebatur de illo omnibus, qui exspectabant redemptionem Isral. 39 Et ut perfecerunt omnia secundum legem Domini, reversi sunt in Galilam in civitatem suam Nazareth.40 Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur plenus sapientia : et gratia Dei erat in illo. 41 Et ibant parentes ejus per omnes annos in Jerusalem, in die solemni Pasch. 42 Et cum factus esset annorum duodecim, ascendentibus illis Jerosolymam secundum consuetudinem diei festi, 43 consummatisque diebus, cum redirent, remansit puer Jesus in Jerusalem, et non cognoverunt parentes ejus. 44 Existimantes autem illum esse in comitatu, venerunt iter diei, et requirebant eum inter cognatos et notos. 45 Et non invenientes, regressi sunt in Jerusalem, requirentes eum. 46 Et factum est, post triduum invenerunt illum in templo sedentem in medio doctorum, audientem illos, et interrogantem eos. 47 Stupebant autem omnes qui eum audiebant, super prudentia et responsis ejus. 48 Et videntes admirati sunt. Et dixit mater ejus ad illum : Fili, quid fecisti nobis sic ? ecce pater tuus et ego dolentes qurebamus te. 49 Et ait ad illos : Quid est quod me qurebatis ? nesciebatis quia in his qu Patris mei sunt, oportet me esse ? 50 Et ipsi non intellexerunt verbum quod locutus est ad eos. 51 Et descendit cum eis, et venit Nazareth : et erat subditus illis. Et mater ejus conservabat omnia verba hc in corde suo. 52 Et Jesus proficiebat sapientia, et tate, et gratia apud Deum et homines.