1 Naqueles dias, foi publicado um decreto de César Augusto, convocando toda a população do Império para recensear-se. 2 Este, o primeiro recenseamento, foi feito quando Quirino era governador da Síria. 3 Todos iam alistar-se, cada um à sua própria cidade. 4 José também saiu da Galileia, da cidade de Nazaré, e foi para a Judeia, até a cidade de Davi, chamada Belém, por ser ele da casa e família de Davi, 5 a fim de alistar-se com Maria, sua esposa, que estava grávida. 6 E aconteceu que, estando eles ali, chegou o tempo de ela ter a criança. 7 Então Maria deu à luz o seu filho primogênito, enfaixou o menino e o deitou numa manjedoura, porque não havia lugar para eles na hospedaria.
8 Havia, naquela mesma região, pastores que viviam nos campos e guardavam os seus rebanhos durante as vigílias da noite. 9 E um anjo do Senhor desceu aonde eles estavam, e a glória do Senhor brilhou ao redor deles; e ficaram tomados de grande temor. 10 O anjo, porém, lhes disse:
— Não tenham medo! Estou aqui para lhes trazer boa-nova de grande alegria, que será para todo o povo: 11 é que hoje, na cidade de Davi, lhes nasceu o Salvador, que é Cristo, o Senhor. 12 E isto servirá a vocês de sinal: vocês encontrarão uma criança envolta em faixas e deitada em manjedoura.
13 E, de repente, apareceu com o anjo uma multidão do exército celestial, louvando a Deus e dizendo:
14 "Glória a Deus
nas maiores alturas,
e paz na terra entre os homens,
a quem ele quer bem."
15 Quando os anjos se afastaram deles e voltaram para o céu, os pastores disseram uns aos outros:
— Vamos até Belém e vejamos os acontecimentos que o Senhor nos deu a conhecer.
16 Foram depressa e encontraram Maria e José, e a criança deitada na manjedoura. 17 E, vendo isso, divulgaram o que lhes tinha sido dito a respeito deste menino. 18 Todos os que ouviram se admiraram das coisas relatadas pelos pastores. 19 Maria, porém, guardava todas estas palavras, meditando-as no coração. 20 E os pastores voltaram, glorificando e louvando a Deus por tudo o que tinham ouvido e visto, como lhes tinha sido anunciado.
21 E ao se completarem oito dias, quando o menino foi circuncidado, deram-lhe o nome de Jesus. Esse nome tinha sido dado pelo anjo, antes de o menino ser concebido.
22 Passados os dias da purificação deles segundo a Lei de Moisés, levaram o menino a Jerusalém para o apresentar ao Senhor, 23 conforme o que está escrito na Lei do Senhor: "Todo primogênito será consagrado ao Senhor." 24 E também foram para oferecer um sacrifício, segundo o que está escrito na referida Lei: "Um par de rolinhas ou dois pombinhos."
25 Em Jerusalém havia um homem chamado Simeão. Este homem era justo e piedoso e esperava a consolação de Israel; e o Espírito Santo estava sobre ele. 26 Ele tinha recebido uma revelação do Espírito Santo de que não morreria antes de ver o Cristo do Senhor. 27 Movido pelo Espírito, ele foi ao templo. Quando os pais trouxeram o menino Jesus para fazerem com ele o que a Lei ordenava, 28 Simeão o tomou nos braços e louvou a Deus, dizendo:
29 "Agora, Senhor,
podes despedir
em paz o teu servo,
segundo a tua palavra;
30 porque os meus olhos já viram
a tua salvação,
31 a qual preparaste
diante de todos os povos:
32 luz para revelação aos gentios,
e para glória do teu povo
de Israel."
33 E o pai e a mãe do menino estavam admirados com o que se dizia a respeito dele. 34 Simeão os abençoou e disse a Maria, mãe do menino:
— Eis que este menino está destinado tanto para ruína como para elevação de muitos em Israel e para ser alvo de contradição, 35 para que se manifestem os pensamentos de muitos corações. Quanto a você, Maria, uma espada atravessará a sua alma.
36 Havia uma profetisa, chamada Ana, filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser. Ela era bem idosa, tendo vivido com o marido sete anos desde que tinha se casado. 37 Agora era viúva de oitenta e quatro anos. Ela não deixava o templo, mas adorava noite e dia, com jejuns e orações. 38 E, chegando naquela hora, dava graças a Deus e falava a respeito do menino a todos os que esperavam a redenção de Jerusalém.
39 Depois de terem cumprido tudo conforme a Lei do Senhor, voltaram para a Galileia, para a sua cidade de Nazaré. 40 O menino crescia e se fortalecia, enchendo-se de sabedoria; e a graça de Deus estava sobre ele.
41 Todos os anos os pais de Jesus iam a Jerusalém, para a Festa da Páscoa. 42 Quando ele atingiu os doze anos, foram a Jerusalém, segundo o costume da festa. 43 Terminados os dias da festa, ao regressarem, o menino Jesus ficou em Jerusalém, sem que os pais dele o soubessem. 44 Pensando, porém, que ele estava entre os companheiros de viagem, andaram um dia inteiro e, então, começaram a procurá-lo entre os parentes e os conhecidos. 45 E, como não o encontraram, voltaram a Jerusalém à sua procura. 46 Três dias depois, o acharam no templo, assentado no meio dos doutores, ouvindo-os e fazendo-lhes perguntas. 47 E todos os que ouviam o menino se admiravam muito da sua inteligência e das suas respostas. 48 Logo que os pais o viram, ficaram maravilhados. E a sua mãe lhe disse:
— Filho, por que você fez isso conosco? Seu pai e eu estávamos aflitos à sua procura.
49 Ele respondeu:
— Por que me procuravam? Não sabiam que eu tinha de estar na casa de meu Pai?
50 Não compreenderam, porém, as palavras que lhes disse. 51 E voltou com eles para Nazaré e era submisso a eles. E a mãe dele guardava todas estas coisas no coração.
52 E Jesus crescia em sabedoria, estatura e graça, diante de Deus e dos homens.
1 Now it came to pass, in those days, that there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, for all the inhabited earth to be enrolled:
2 this enrolment, first was made while Cyrenius was governor of Syria:
3 and all were journeying to be enrolled, each one unto his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of a city Nazareth, into Judaea, into the city of David which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and family of David:
5 to enrol himself with Mary who was betrothed to him, she being with child.
6 And it came to pass, while they were there, that the days were fulfilled for her to give birth;
7 and she gave birth to 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, shepherds, in the same country, dwelling in the fields, and keeping the watches of the night over their flock.
9 And, a messenger of the Lord, stood over them, and, a glory of the Lord, shone round about them; and they feared, a great fear.
10 And the messenger said unto themBe not afraid! For lo! I bring you good tidings of a great joy, the which shall be for all the people:
11 That there hath been born unto you, this day, a saviour,Who is Christ the Lordin the city of David!
12 And, this, to you is, a sign: Ye shall find a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
13 And, suddenly, there came to be, with the messenger, the throng of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying
14 Glory, in the highest, unto God! And, on earth, peace, among men of goodwill.
15 And it came to pass, when the messengers had departed from them into heaven, that, the shepherds, began to say one to anotherLet us go through forthwith as far as to Bethlehem, and see this thing which hath come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.
16 And they came, with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
17 Now, when they beheld, they made known concerning the thing which had been told them as to this child.
18 And, all who heard, marvelled concerning the things which had been told by the shepherds unto them;
19 but, Mary, was closely observing, all, these things, putting them together in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, giving glory and singing praise unto God, over all things which they had heard and seen, according as it had been told unto them.
21 And, when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, then was his name called, Jesus,which it was called by the messenger, before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And, when the days of their purification, according to the law of Moses, were fulfilled, they took him up into Jerusalem, to present unto the Lord,
23 according as it is written in the law of the LordEvery male that is a firstborn, Holy unto the Lord, shall be called,
24 and to give a sacrifice, according to that which is said in the law of the LordA pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.
25 And lo! there was, a man, in Jerusalem, whose name, was Symeon; and, this man, was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and Holy Spirit was upon him;
26 and it had been intimated to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27 And he came, in the Spirit, into the temple; and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do according to that which was customary by the law concerning it,
28 even he, welcomed it into his arms, and blessed God, and said
29 Now, dost thou dismiss thy servant, O Sovereign, according to thy declarationin peace;
30 Because mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared in face of all the peoples:
32 A light for the unveiling of nations, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And his father and mother were marvelling over the things which were being spoken concerning him.
34 And Symeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his motherLo! this one, is being set for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign to be spoken against;
35 And, thou! through thy very soul, shall pass a sword, that, reasonings, may be revealed, out of many hearts.
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher;the same, advanced in many days; having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
37 and, she, had been a widow for as long as eighty-four years,who left not the temple, with fastings and supplications, rendering divine service night and day;
38 and, in that very hour, coming near, she began to give thanks unto God, and to speak concerning him unto all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And, when they had finished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, into their own city, Nazareth.
40 And, the child, went on growing, and waxing strong, becoming filled with wisdom; and, the favour of God, was upon it.
41 And his parents used to journey yearly into Jerusalem, at the feast of the passover.
42 And, when he became twelve years, and they went up, according to the custom of the feast,
43 and completed the days, and then were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,and his parents noticed it not;
44 but, supposing him to be in the company, went a days journey, and then began to seek for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances,
45 and, not finding him, returned unto Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting amidst the teachers,both hearkening unto them, and questioning them.
47 Now all who heard him were beside themselves, because of his understanding and his answers.
48 And, when they behold him, they were astounded, and his mother said unto himChild! why, hast thou dealt with us, thus? Lo! thy father and I, in anguish, were seeking thee.
49 And he said unto themWhy was it that ye were seeking me? Perceived ye not, that, in the courts of my Father, I must needs be?
50 And, they, understood not the thing which he spake to them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was submitting himself unto them. And, his mother, was closely observing all these things in her heart.
52 And, Jesus, went on advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour with God and men.