1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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 will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, 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 openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

1 Naqueles dias saiu um decreto da parte de César Augusto, para que todo o mundo fosse recenseado.

2 Este primeiro recenseamento foi feito quando Quirínio era governador da Síria.

3 E todos iam alistar-se, cada um à sua própria cidade.

4 Subiu também José, da Galiléia, da cidade de Nazaré, à cidade de Davi, chamada Belém, porque era da casa e família de Davi,

5 a fim de alistar-se com Maria, sua esposa, que estava grávida.

6 Enquanto estavam ali, chegou o tempo em que ela havia de dar à luz,

7 e teve a seu filho primogênito; envolveu-o em faixas e o deitou em uma manjedoura, porque não havia lugar para eles na estalagem.

8 Ora, havia naquela mesma região pastores que estavam no campo, e guardavam durante as vigílias da noite o seu rebanho.

9 E um anjo do Senhor apareceu-lhes, e a glória do Senhor os cercou de resplendor; pelo que se encheram de grande temor.

10 O anjo, porém, lhes disse: Não temais, porquanto vos trago novas de grande alegria que o será para todo o povo:

11 É que vos nasceu hoje, na cidade de Davi, o Salvador, que é Cristo, o Senhor.

12 E isto vos será por sinal: Achareis um menino envolto em faixas, e deitado em uma manjedoura.

13 Então, de repente, apareceu junto ao anjo grande multidão da milícia celestial, louvando a Deus e dizendo:

14 Glória a Deus nas maiores alturas, e paz na terra entre os homens de boa vontade.

15 E logo que os anjos se retiraram deles para o céu, diziam os pastores uns aos outros: Vamos já até Belém, e vejamos isso que aconteceu e que o Senhor nos deu a conhecer.

16 Foram, pois, a toda a pressa, e acharam Maria e José, e o menino deitado na manjedoura;

17 e, vendo-o, divulgaram a palavra que acerca do menino lhes fora dita;

18 e todos os que a ouviram se admiravam do que os pastores lhes diziam.

19 Maria, porém, guardava todas estas coisas, meditando-as em seu coração.

20 E voltaram os pastores, glorificando e louvando a Deus por tudo o que tinham ouvido e visto, como lhes fora dito.

21 Quando se completaram os oito dias para ser circuncidado o menino, foi-lhe dado o nome de Jesus, que pelo anjo lhe fora posto antes de ser concebido.

22 Terminados os dias da purificação, segundo a lei de Moisés, levaram-no a Jerusalém, para apresentá-lo ao Senhor

23 {conforme está escrito na lei do Senhor: Todo primogênito será consagrado ao Senhor},

24 e para oferecerem um sacrifício segundo o disposto na lei do Senhor: um par de rolas, ou dois pombinhos.

25 Ora, havia em Jerusalém um homem cujo nome era Simeão; e este homem, justo e temente a Deus, esperava a consolação de Israel; e o Espírito Santo estava sobre ele.

26 E lhe fora revelado pelo Espírito Santo que ele não morreria antes de ver o Cristo do Senhor.

27 Assim pelo Espírito foi ao templo; e quando os pais trouxeram o menino Jesus, para fazerem por ele segundo o costume da lei,

28 Simeão o tomou em seus braços, e louvou a Deus, e disse:

29 Agora, Senhor, despedes em paz o teu servo, segundo a tua palavra;

30 pois os meus olhos já viram a tua salvação,

31 a qual tu preparaste ante a face de todos os povos;

32 luz para revelação aos gentios, e para glória do teu povo Israel.

33 Enquanto isso, seu pai e sua mãe se admiravam das coisas que deles se diziam.

34 E Simeão os abençoou, e disse a Maria, mãe do menino: Eis que este é posto para queda e para levantamento de muitos em Israel, e para ser alvo de contradição,

35 sim, e uma espada traspassará a tua própria alma, para que se manifestem os pensamentos de muitos corações.

36 Havia também uma profetisa, Ana, filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser. Era já avançada em idade, tendo vivido com o marido sete anos desde a sua virgindade;

37 e era viúva, de quase oitenta e quatro anos. Não se afastava do templo, servindo a Deus noite e dia em jejuns e orações.

38 Chegando ela na mesma hora, deu graças a Deus, e falou a respeito do menino a todos os que esperavam a redenção de Jerusalém.

39 Assim que cumpriram tudo segundo a lei do Senhor, voltaram à Galiléia, para sua cidade de Nazaré.

40 E o menino ia crescendo e fortalecendo-se, ficando cheio de sabedoria; e a graça de Deus estava sobre ele.

41 Ora, seus pais iam todos os anos a Jerusalém, à festa da páscoa.

42 Quando Jesus completou doze anos, subiram eles segundo o costume da festa;

43 e, terminados aqueles dias, ao regressarem, ficou o menino Jesus em Jerusalém sem o saberem seus pais;

44 julgando, porém, que estivesse entre os companheiros de viagem, andaram caminho de um dia, e o procuravam entre os parentes e conhecidos;

45 e não o achando, voltaram a Jerusalém em busca dele.

46 E aconteceu que, passados três dias, o acharam no templo, sentado no meio dos doutores, ouvindo-os, e interrogando-os.

47 E todos os que o ouviam se admiravam da sua inteligência e das suas respostas.

48 Quando o viram, ficaram maravilhados, e disse-lhe sua mãe: Filho, por que procedeste assim para conosco? Eis que teu pai e eu ansiosos te procurávamos.

49 Respondeu-lhes ele: Por que me procuráveis? Não sabíeis que eu devia estar na casa de meu Pai?

50 Eles, porém, não entenderam as palavras que lhes dissera.

51 Então, descendo com eles, foi para Nazaré, e era-lhes sujeito. E sua mãe guardava todas estas coisas em seu coração.

52 E crescia Jesus em sabedoria, em estatura e em graça diante de Deus e dos homens.