1 NOW it was in those days that there went forth a mandate from Augustus Caesar to enrol the people of his dominion.

2 This enrolment was first made under the government of Qurinos in Suria.

3 And every man went to be enrolled in his city.

4 And Jauseph also went up from Natsrath of Galila, unto Jehud, to the city of David, which is called Beth-lechem, because he was of the house and of the family of David,

5 with Mariam his espoused while with child, there to be enrolled.

6 And it was that while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should give birth:

7 and she brought forth her son, the first-born, and wrapped him in bandages, and laid him in the manger; because there was no place for them where they stayed.

8 But there were shepherds in the country who were staying there, and keeping watch by night over their flocks.

9 And, behold, the angel of Aloha came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone upon them; and they feared with great fear.

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

11 for there is born for you to-day the Redeemer, who is the Lord the Meshicha, in the city of David.

12 And this is to you the sign, You shall find the infant wrapped in bandages, and laid in a manger.

13 And instantly there were seen with the angel many hosts of the heavens, glorifying Aloha,

14 and saying, Glory to Aloha in the heights, and upon earth peace and good hope for the sons of men.

15 And when the angels were gone from them into heaven, the shepherds spake one with another, and said, Let us go unto Beth-lechem, and see the thing which the Lord hath made known to us.

16 And they came with speed, and found Mariam, and Jauseph, and the infant who was laid in the manger;

17 and when they saw, they showed the word which had been spoken to them concerning the child.

18 And all who heard wondered at those (things) which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mariam kept all these words, and compared them in her heart.

20 And those shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Aloha for all that they had seen and heard as they had been spoken to them.

21 AND when the eight days completed to circumcise the child, his name was called Jeshu, for he was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb

22 And when were completed, the days of their purification according to the law of Musha, they carried him up to Urishlem, to present him before the Lord:

23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, That every male openeth the matrix the holy to the Lord shall be called:)

24 and to offer the sacrifice as it is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two of the young of pigeons.

25 But there was a certain man in Urishlem, whose name was Shemun; and this man was just and righteous, and he had waited for the consolation of Isroel, and the Spirit of Holiness was upon him.

26 And it was said to him from the Spirit of Holiness, that he should not see death, until he had seen the Meshicha of the Lord.

27 Behold, this man came in the Spirit to the temple, and when his parents brought in Jeshu the child, to do for him as it is commanded in the law,

28 he took him upon his arms and blessed Aloha, and said,

29 Now dismiss thy servant, my Lord, according to thy word, in peace;

30 For lo, mine eyes have seen thy grace,

31 Which thou hast prepared in the face of all the nations;

32 A light for the revelation of the peoples, And the glory of thy people Isroel.

33 But Jauseph and his mother wondered at these words which were spoken concerning him.

34 And Shemun blessed them, and said to Mariam his mother, Behold, this child is set for the ruin and uprising of many in Isroel, for the sign of contention.

35 And through thine own soul shall pass a spear, that may be revealed the reasonings of the hearts of many.

36 NOW Chana, the prophetess, (was) the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was aged also in her days, and seven years with her husband had lived from her virginity.

37 And she was a widow as of years eighty and four, and she removed not from the temple, and with fasting and with prayer she worshipped in the day and in the night.

38 And she also arose in that hour and confessed the Lord, and discoursed concerning him with all who were expecting the redemption of Urishlem.

39 And when they had fulfilled every thing according to the law of the Lord, they returned unto Galila, to Natsrath their city.

40 But the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and was filled with wisdom; and the grace of Aloha was upon him.

41 And his relatives every year went unto Urishlem at the feast of Petscha.

42 AND when he was a son of twelve years, they went up, as they were used, to the festival.

43 And when the days (were) fulfilled, they returned. But Jeshu, the child, remained in Urishlem, and Jauseph and his mother knew not.

44 For they thought that he was with the sons of the company; and when they had gone the journey of one day, they sought him with the men and with any who knew him.

45 And they found him not: and they returned again to Urishlem, and sought him.

46 And after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and questioning them.

47 And all of them were astonished, as they heard him, at his wisdom and at his answers.

48 And when they saw him, they wondered; and his mother said to him, My son, why hast thou done with us thus? for, behold, I and thy father with great anxiety have sought thee.

49 He saith to them, Why have you sought me (elsewhere)? Knew you not that (in) the house of my Father it behoveth me to be?

50 But they did not comprehend the word that he spake to them.

51 And he went down with them, and came to Natsrath, and was subject to them. But his mother kept all these words in her heart.

52 But Jeshu increased in his stature, and in his wisdom, and in favour with Aloha and men.