1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.2 (This was the first census that took place while "Quirinius was governor of Syria.)3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord" "),24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." [^3]25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss "your servant in peace.30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. "She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" [^6]50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

1 وفي تلك الايام صدر امر من اوغسطس قيصر بان يكتتب كل المسكونة.2 وهذا الاكتتاب الاول جرى اذ كان كيرينيوس والي سورية.3 فذهب الجميع ليكتتبوا كل واحد الى مدينته.4 فصعد يوسف ايضا من الجليل من مدينة الناصرة الى اليهودية الى مدينة داود التي تدعى بيت لحم لكونه من بيت داود وعشيرته5 ليكتتب مع مريم امرأته المخطوبة وهي حبلى.6 وبينما هما هناك تمّت ايامها لتلد.7 فولدت ابنها البكر وقمطته واضجعته في المذود اذ لم يكن لهما موضع في المنزل8 وكان في تلك الكورة رعاة متبدين يحرسون حراسات الليل على رعيتهم.9 واذا ملاك الرب وقف بهم ومجد الرب اضاء حولهم فخافوا خوفا عظيما.10 فقال لهم الملاك لا تخافوا. فها انا ابشركم بفرح عظيم يكون لجميع الشعب.11 انه ولد لكم اليوم في مدينة داود مخلّص هو المسيح الرب.12 وهذه لكم العلامة تجدون طفلا مقمطا مضجعا في مذود.13 وظهر بغتة مع الملاك جمهور من الجند السماوي مسبحين الله وقائلين14 المجد لله في الاعالي وعلى الارض السلام وبالناس المسرة15 ولما مضت عنهم الملائكة الى السماء قال الرجال الرعاة بعضهم لبعض لنذهب الآن الى بيت لحم وننظر هذا الامر الواقع الذي اعلمنا به الرب.16 فجاءوا مسرعين ووجدوا مريم ويوسف والطفل مضجعا في المذود.17 فلما رأوه اخبروا بالكلام الذي قيل لهم عن هذا الصبي.18 وكل الذين سمعوا تعجبوا مما قيل لهم من الرعاة.19 واما مريم فكانت تحفظ جميع هذا الكلام متفكرة به في قلبها.20 ثم رجع الرعاة وهم يمجدون الله ويسبحونه على كل ما سمعوه ورأوه كما قيل لهم21 ولما تمت ثمانية ايام ليختنوا الصبي سمي يسوع كما تسمى من الملاك قبل ان حبل به في البطن22 ولما تمت ايام تطهيرها حسب شريعة موسى صعدوا به الى اورشليم ليقدموه للرب.23 كما هو مكتوب في ناموس الرب ان كل ذكر فاتح رحم يدعى قدوسا للرب.24 ولكي يقدموا ذبيحة كما قيل في ناموس الرب زوج يمام او فرخي حمام25 وكان رجل في اورشليم اسمه سمعان. وهذا الرجل كان بارا تقيا ينتظر تعزية اسرائيل والروح القدس كان عليه.26 وكان قد أوحي اليه بالروح القدس انه لا يرى الموت قبل ان يرى مسيح الرب.27 فأتى بالروح الى الهيكل. وعندما دخل بالصبي يسوع ابواه ليصنعا له حسب عادة الناموس28 اخذه على ذراعيه وبارك الله وقال29 الآن تطلق عبدك يا سيد حسب قولك بسلام.30 لان عينيّ قد ابصرتا خلاصك31 الذي اعددته قدام وجه جميع الشعوب.32 نور اعلان للامم ومجدا لشعبك اسرائيل.33 وكان يوسف وامه يتعجبان مما قيل فيه.34 وباركهما سمعان وقال لمريم امه ها ان هذا قد وضع لسقوط وقيام كثيرين في اسرائيل ولعلامة تقاوم.35 وانت ايضا يجوز في نفسك سيف. لتعلن افكار من قلوب كثيرة36 وكانت نبية حنة بنت فنوئيل من سبط اشير. وهي متقدمة في ايام كثيرة. قد عاشت مع زوج سبع سنين بعد بكوريتها.37 وهي ارملة نحو اربعة وثمانين سنة لا تفارق الهيكل عابدة باصوام وطلبات ليلا ونهارا.38 فهي في تلك الساعة وقفت تسبح الرب وتكلمت عنه مع جميع المنتظرين فداء في اورشليم39 ولما اكملوا كل شيء حسب ناموس الرب رجعوا الى الجليل الى مدينتهم الناصرة.40 وكان الصبي ينمو ويتقوى بالروح ممتلئا حكمة وكانت نعمة الله عليه41 وكان ابواه يذهبان كل سنة الى اورشليم في عيد الفصح.42 ولما كانت له اثنتا عشرة سنة صعدوا الى اورشليم كعادة العيد.43 وبعدما اكملوا الايام بقي عند رجوعهما الصبي يسوع في اورشليم ويوسف وامه لم يعلما.44 واذ ظناه بين الرفقة ذهبا مسيرة يوم وكانا يطلبانه بين الاقرباء والمعارف.45 ولما لم يجداه رجعا الى اورشليم يطلبانه.46 وبعد ثلاثة ايام وجداه في الهيكل جالسا في وسط المعلمين يسمعهم ويسألهم.47 وكل الذين سمعوه بهتوا من فهمه واجوبته.48 فلما ابصراه اندهشا. وقالت له امه يا بنيّ لماذا فعلت بنا هكذا. هوذا ابوك وانا كنا نطلبك معذبين.49 فقال لهما لماذا كنتما تطلبانني ألم تعلما انه ينبغي ان اكون فيما لأبي.50 فلم يفهما الكلام الذي قاله لهما.51 ثم نزل معهما وجاء الى الناصرة وكان خاضعا لهما. وكانت امه تحفظ جميع هذه الأمور في قلبها.52 واما يسوع فكان يتقدم في الحكمة والقامة والنعمة عند الله والناس