1 But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.

2 The census itself first took place when Cyrenius had the government of Syria.

3 And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city:

4 and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David's city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

5 to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him {as his} wife, she being great with child.

6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth {to her child} were fulfilled,

7 and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were shepherds in that country abiding without, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

9 And lo, an angel of {the} Lord was there by them, and {the} glory of {the} Lord shone around them, and they feared {with} great fear.

10 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people;

11 for to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ {the} Lord.

12 And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger.

13 And 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, good pleasure in men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger;

17 and having seen {it} they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child.

18 And all who heard {it} wondered at the things said to them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things {in her mind}, pondering {them} in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.

21 And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was the name given by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days were fulfilled for their purifying according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem to present {him} to the Lord

23 (as it is written in the law of {the} Lord: Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),

24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of {the} Lord: A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and pious, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and {the} Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 And it was divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he should see {the} Lord's Christ.

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and as the parents brought in the child Jesus that they might do for him according to the custom of the law,

28 *he* received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now thou lettest thy bondman go, according to thy word, in peace;

30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 a light for revelation of {the} Gentiles and {the} glory of thy people Israel.

33 And his father and mother wondered at the things which were said concerning him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Lo, this {child} is set for the fall and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against;

35 (and even a sword shall go through thine own soul;) so that {the} thoughts may be revealed from many hearts.

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of {the} tribe of Asher, who was far advanced in years, having lived with {her} husband seven years from her virginity,

37 and herself a widow up to eighty-four years; who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers;

38 and she coming up the same hour gave praise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 And when they had completed all things according to the law of {the} Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth.

40 And the child grew and waxed strong {in spirit}, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was upon him.

41 And his parents went yearly to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, and they went up {to Jerusalem} according to the custom of the feast

43 and had completed the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents knew not {of it};

44 but, supposing him to be in the company that journeyed together, they went a day's journey, and sought him among their relations and acquaintances:

45 and not having found him they returned to Jerusalem seeking him.

46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and hearing them and asking them questions.

47 And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48 And when they saw him they were amazed: and his mother said to him, Child, why hast thou dealt thus with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee distressed.

49 And he said to them, Why {is it} that ye have sought me? did ye not know that I ought to be {occupied} in my Father's business?

50 And they understood not the thing that he said to them.

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was in subjection to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

1 那时, 有谕旨从凯撒奥古士督颁发下来, 叫普天下的人登记户口。

2 这是第一次户口登记, 是在居里纽作叙利亚总督的时候举行的。

3 众人各归各城去登记户口。

4 约瑟本是大卫家族的人, 也从加利利的拿撒勒上犹太去, 到了大卫的城伯利恒,

5 与所聘之妻马利亚一同登记户口。那时马利亚的身孕已经重了。

6 他们在那里的时候, 马利亚的产期到了,

7 生了头胎儿子, 用布包着, 放在马槽里, 因为客店里没有地方。

8 在伯利恒的郊外, 有一些牧人在夜间看守羊群。

9 主的一位使者站在他们旁边, 主的荣光四面照着他们, 他们就非常害怕。

10 天使说: "不要怕! 看哪! 我报给你们大喜的信息, 是关于万民的:

11 今天在大卫的城里, 为你们生了救主, 就是主基督。

12 你们要找到一个婴孩, 包着布, 卧在马槽里, 那就是记号了。"

13 忽然有一大队天兵, 同那天使一起赞美 神说:

14 "在至高之处, 荣耀归与 神! 在地上, 平安归与他所喜悦的人! "

15 众天使离开他们升天去了, 那些牧人彼此说: "我们往伯利恒去, 看看主所指示我们已经成就的事。"

16 他们急忙去了, 找到马利亚、约瑟和那卧在马槽里的婴孩。

17 他们见过以后, 就把天使对他们论这孩子的话传开了。

18 听见的人, 都希奇牧人所说的事。

19 马利亚把这一切放在心里, 反复思想。

20 牧人因为听见的和看见的, 正像天使对他们所说的一样, 就回去了, 把荣耀赞美归与 神。

21 满了八天, 替孩子行割礼的时候, 就给他起名叫耶稣, 就是他成胎之前, 天使所起的。

22 满了洁净的日子, 他们就按着摩西的律法, 带孩子上耶路撒冷去, 奉献给主。

23 正如主的律法所记: "所有头生的男孩, 都当称为圣归给主。"

24 又照着主的律法所说的献上祭物, 就是一对斑鸠或两只雏鸽。

25 在耶路撒冷有一个人, 名叫西面, 这人公义虔诚, 一向期待以色列的安慰者来到, 又有圣灵在他身上。

26 圣灵启示他, 在死前必得见主所应许的基督,

27 他又受圣灵感动进了圣殿。那时, 耶稣的父母抱着孩子进来, 要按着律法的规矩为他行礼。

28 西面就把他接到手上, 称颂 神说:

29 "主啊, 现在照你的话, 释放仆人平平安安地去吧!

30 因我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩,

31 就是你在万民面前所预备的,

32 为要作外族人启示的光, 和你民以色列的荣耀。"

33 他父母因论到他的这些话而希奇。

34 西面给他们祝福, 对他母亲马利亚说: "看哪! 这孩子被立, 要叫以色列中许多人跌倒, 许多人兴起, 又要成为反对的目标,

35 (你自己的心也会被刀刺透, )这样, 许多人心中的意念就要被揭露出来。"

36 又有一个女先知, 就是亚拿, 是亚设支派法内利的女儿。她已经上了年纪, 从童女出嫁, 和丈夫住了七年,

37 就寡居了, 直到八十四岁("就寡居了, 直到八十四岁"或译: "就寡居了八十四年")。她没有离开过圣殿, 以禁食和祷告昼夜事奉主。

38 就在那时候, 她前来称谢 神, 并且向期待耶路撒冷蒙救赎的众人, 讲论孩子的事。

39 他们按着主的律法办完一切, 就回加利利, 到自己的城拿撒勒去了。

40 孩子渐渐长大, 强壮起来, 充满智慧, 有 神的恩典在他身上。

41 每年逾越节, 他父母都上耶路撒冷去。

42 当他十二岁时, 他们按着节期的惯例, 照常上去。

43 过完了节, 他们回去的时候, 孩童耶稣仍留在耶路撒冷, 他父母却不知道,

44 还以为他在同行的人中间。走了一天, 就在亲戚和熟人中找他,

45 没有找到, 就转回耶路撒冷找他。

46 过了三天, 才发现他在圣殿里, 坐在教师中间, 一面听, 一面问。

47 所有听见他的人, 都希奇他的聪明和应对。

48 他父母见了, 非常惊奇, 他母亲说: "孩子, 为什么这样对待我们呢?你看, 你父亲和我都很担心地在找你呢! "

49 他说: "为什么找我呢?你们不知道我必须在我父的家里吗?("在我父的家里吗?"或译: "以我父的事为念吗?")"

50 但他们不明白他所说的话。

51 他就同他们下去, 回到拿撒勒, 并且顺从他们。他母亲把这一切事, 都存在心里。

52 耶稣的智慧和身量, 以及 神和人对他的喜爱, 都不断增长。