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 Neil päevil andis keiser Augustus käsu kirjutada üles kogu Rooma riigi rahvas. 2 See oli esimene üleskirjutus, mis toimus ajal, kui Küreenius oli Süüria maavalitseja. 3 Igaüks läks enda kirjapanekuks oma sünnilinna.

4 Nii läks ka Joosep Galileast Naatsareti linnast üles Juudamaale Taaveti linna, mida hüütakse Petlemmaks, sest ta oli Taaveti soost ja pärusmaalt. 5 Ta läks sinna, et end kirja panna koos Maarjaga, oma kihlatuga, kes ootas last. 6 Seal olles saabus lapse sündimise aeg ning Maarja 7 tõi ilmale oma esmasündinud poja. Ta mähkis lapse mähkmetesse ja asetas sõime, sest nende jaoks ei olnud majas enam kohta.

8 Seal olid karjased väljadel ja valvasid öösel oma karja. 9 Järsku ilmus neile Issanda ingel ja Issanda auhiilgus säras nende ümber ja nad olid hirmunud. 10 Kuid ingel ütles neile: „Ärge kartke! Ma kuulutan teile head sõnumit, mis toob palju rõõmu kogu rahvale! 11 Teile on täna sündinud Taaveti linnas Päästja, kes on Messias, Issand. 12 Ja see on teile tunnustäheks, et te leiate mähitud lapse sõimes magamas." 13 Ühtäkki oli ingliga koos suur taevane väehulk Jumalat kiitmas:

14 „Au olgu Jumalale kõrgeimas taevas

ja maa peal rahu nendele, kelle peal on tema soosing!"

15 Kui inglid olid nende juurest läinud tagasi taevasse, ütlesid karjased üksteisele: „Mingem siis Petlemma ja vaadakem seda, mis on sündinud, mida Issand on meile teatanud!"

16 Nad läksid rutates ja leidsid Maarja ja Joosepi ja sõimes lebava lapse. 17 Seda nähes nad jutustasid, mida neile oli lapse kohta öeldud. 18 Kõik, kes karjaste lugu kuulsid, panid seda imeks, 19 aga Maarja talletas kõik need lood ning mõtiskles nende üle oma südames. 20 Karjased pöördusid tagasi, ülistades ja kiites Jumalat kõige eest, mida nad olid kuulnud ja näinud. Kõik oli olnud nii, nagu neile oli räägitud.

21 Kaheksa päeva hiljem, kui laps ümber lõigati, pandi talle nimeks Jeesus – nimi, mille ingel oli andnud enne lapse eostamist.

22 Kui Moosese Seaduses nõutud puhastuspäevad*2:22 St. 40 päeva pärast sündi. täis said, viisid Joosep ja Maarja lapse Jeruusalemma, et teda Issanda ette seada, 23 nii nagu on Issanda Seaduses kirjutatud: „Iga esmasündinud poeg on pühitsetud Issandale." 24 Ka tuli neil ohverdada paar turteltuvi või kaks tuvipoega, nii nagu Issanda Seaduses on öeldud.

25 Jeruusalemmas oli mees nimega Siimeon. Ta oli õiglane ja vaga ning ootas Iisraeli lohutust, ja Püha Vaim oli tema peal. 26 Püha Vaim oli talle ilmutanud, et ta ei sure enne, kui on näinud Issanda Messiat. 27 Siimeon tuli Vaimu ajel templisse, ja kui Jeesuse vanemad tõid lapse sinna, et toimida temaga nii, nagu Seadus nõudis, 28 võttis ta lapse sülle, kiitis Jumalat ja ütles:

29 „Issand, nagu sa oled lubanud,

võid sa nüüd lasta oma sulasel rahus minna,

30 sest mu silmad on näinud sinu päästet,

31 mille sa oled valmistanud kõikidele rahvastele:

32 valgust, mis ilmub uskmatutele,

ja auhiilgust sinu Iisraeli rahvale."

33 Jeesuse isa ja ema panid imeks, mida lapse kohta räägiti. 34 Siimeon õnnistas neid ja ütles Maarjale, ta emale: „Vaata, see laps on seatud languseks ja tõusuks paljudele Iisraelis ja tunnustäheks, mille vastu räägitakse, 35 et saaksid avalikuks paljude südamete mõtted. Ja mõõk läbistab ka sinu enda hinge."

36 Seal oli ka prohvet Anna, Aaseri suguharust pärit Penueli tütar. Ta oli kõrges eas; ta oli elanud oma mehega seitse aastat pärast abiellumist 37 ja oli nüüd kaheksakümne nelja aastane lesk. Ta ei lahkunud kunagi templist, vaid ülistas Jumalat ööd ja päevad paastumise ja palvetamisega. 38 Just sel ajal tuli ta sinna ja kiitis Jumalat ning kõneles Jeesusest kõigile, kes ootasid Jeruusalemma lunastust.

39 Kui Joosep ja Maarja olid täitnud kõik, mida Issanda Seadus nõuab, pöördusid nad tagasi Galileasse, oma kodulinna Naatsaretti. 40 Laps kasvas, sai tugevaks ja täitus tarkusega. Jumala arm oli tema peal.

41 Jeesuse vanemad läksid igal aastal paasapühadeks Jeruusalemma. 42 Kui ta oli saanud kaheteistkümneaastaseks, läksid nad sinna pühadeaja kombe järgi üheskoos. 43 Pärast pühi, kui tema vanemad läksid tagasi koju, oli poiss Jeesus jäänud vanemate teadmata Jeruusalemma. 44 Arvates ta olevat teekaaslaste hulgas, käisid nad ära ühe päeva tee ning hakkasid alles siis teda sugulaste ja tuttavate juurest otsima. 45 Ja kui nad Jeesust ei leidnud, pöördusid nad teda otsides tagasi Jeruusalemma. 46 Kolme päeva pärast leidsid nad Jeesuse templis istumas õpetajate keskel neid kuulamas ja küsimusi esitamas. 47 Kõik, kes teda kuulsid, olid hämmastunud tema arusaamisest ja vastustest. 48 Jeesuse vanemad olid teda nähes jahmunud ning ta ema ütles talle: „Poeg, miks sa oled meile nõnda teinud? Su isa ja mina oleme sind suure ahastusega otsinud."

49 Kuid tema vastas neile: „Miks te olete mind otsinud? Kas te siis ei teadnud, et ma pean olema oma Isa majas?" 50 Kuid nad ei saanud aru, mida ta tahtis neile öelda. 51 Jeesus läks koos nendega alla Naatsaretti ning oli neile kuulekas. Kuid ta ema talletas kõik need lood oma südames. 52 Ja Jeesus kasvas tarkuses ja pikkuses ning leidis soosingut Jumala ja inimeste juures.