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 saying14 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 said29 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.

1 E aconteceu, naqueles dias, que saiu um decreto da parte de César Augusto, para que todo o mundo se alistasse. 2 (Este primeiro alistamento foi feito sendo Cirênio governador da Síria.) 3 E todos iam alistar-se, cada um à sua própria cidade. 4 E subiu da Galileia também José, da cidade de Nazaré, à Judeia, à cidade de Davi chamada Belém (porque era da casa e família de Davi), 5 a fim de alistar-se com Maria, sua mulher, que estava grávida. 6 E aconteceu que, estando eles ali, se cumpriram os dias em que ela havia de dar à luz. 7 E deu à luz o seu filho primogênito, e envolveu-o em panos, e deitou-o numa manjedoura, porque não havia lugar para eles na estalagem.

8 Ora, havia, naquela mesma comarca, pastores que estavam no campo e guardavam durante as vigílias da noite o seu rebanho. 9 E eis que um anjo do Senhor veio sobre eles, e a glória do Senhor os cercou de resplendor, e tiveram grande temor. 10 E o anjo lhes disse: Não temais, porque eis aqui vos trago novas de grande alegria, que será para todo o povo, 11 pois, na cidade de Davi, vos nasceu hoje o Salvador, que é Cristo, o Senhor. 12 E isto vos será por sinal: achareis o menino envolto em panos e deitado numa manjedoura. 13 E, no mesmo instante, apareceu com o anjo uma multidão dos exércitos celestiais, louvando a Deus e dizendo: 14 Glória a Deus nas alturas, paz na terra, boa vontade para com os homens! 15 E aconteceu que, ausentando-se deles os anjos para o céu, disseram os pastores uns aos outros: Vamos, pois, até Belém e vejamos isso que aconteceu e que o Senhor nos fez saber. 16 E foram apressadamente 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 maravilharam do que os pastores lhes diziam. 19 Mas Maria guardava todas essas coisas, conferindo-as em seu coração. 20 E voltaram os pastores glorificando e louvando a Deus por tudo o que tinham ouvido e visto, como lhes havia sido dito.

21 E, quando os oito dias foram cumpridos para circuncidar o menino, foi-lhe dado o nome de Jesus, que pelo anjo lhe fora posto antes de ser concebido.

22 E, cumprindo-se os dias da purificação, segundo a lei de Moisés, o levaram a Jerusalém, para o apresentarem ao Senhor 23 (segundo o que está escrito na lei do Senhor: Todo macho primogênito será consagrado ao Senhor) 24 e para darem a oferta segundo o disposto na lei do Senhor: um par de rolas ou dois pombinhos.

25 Havia em Jerusalém um homem cujo nome era Simeão; e este homem era justo e temente a Deus, esperando a consolação de Israel; e o Espírito Santo estava sobre ele. 26 E fora-lhe revelado pelo Espírito Santo que ele não morreria antes de ter visto o Cristo do Senhor. 27 E, pelo Espírito, foi ao templo e, quando os pais trouxeram o menino Jesus, para com ele procederem segundo o uso da lei, 28 ele, então, o tomou em seus braços, e louvou a Deus, e disse: 29 Agora, Senhor, podes despedir em paz o teu servo, segundo a tua palavra, 30 pois já os meus olhos viram a tua salvação, 31 a qual tu preparaste perante a face de todos os povos, 32 luz para alumiar as nações e para glória de teu povo Israel. 33 José e Maria se maravilharam das coisas que dele se diziam. 34 E Simeão os abençoou e disse à Maria, sua mãe: Eis que este é posto para queda e elevação de muitos em Israel e para sinal que é contraditado 35 (e uma espada traspassará também a tua própria alma), para que se manifestem os pensamentos de muitos corações.

36 E estava ali a profetisa Ana, filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser. Esta era já avançada em idade, e tinha vivido com o marido sete anos, desde a sua virgindade, 37 e era viúva, de quase oitenta e quatro anos, e não se afastava do templo, servindo a Deus em jejuns e orações, de noite e de dia. 38 E, sobrevindo na mesma hora, ela dava graças a Deus e falava dele a todos os que esperavam a redenção em Jerusalém.

39 E, quando acabaram de cumprir tudo segundo a lei do Senhor, voltaram à Galileia, para a sua cidade de Nazaré. 40 E o menino crescia e se fortalecia em espírito, cheio de sabedoria; e a graça de Deus estava sobre ele.

41 Ora, todos os anos, iam seus pais a Jerusalém, à Festa da Páscoa. 42 E, tendo ele já doze anos, subiram a Jerusalém, segundo o costume do dia da festa. 43 E, regressando eles, terminados aqueles dias, ficou o menino Jesus em Jerusalém, e não o souberam seus pais. 44 Pensando, porém, eles que viria de companhia pelo caminho, andaram caminho de um dia e procuravam-no entre os parentes e conhecidos. 45 E, como o não encontrassem, voltaram a Jerusalém em busca dele. 46 E aconteceu que, passados três dias, o acharam no templo, assentado no meio dos doutores, ouvindo-os e interrogando-os. 47 E todos os que o ouviam admiravam a sua inteligência e respostas. 48 E, quando o viram, maravilharam-se, e disse-lhe sua mãe: Filho, por que fizeste assim para conosco? Eis que teu pai e eu, ansiosos, te procurávamos. 49 E ele lhes disse: Por que é que me procuráveis? Não sabeis que me convém tratar dos negócios de meu Pai? 50 E eles não compreenderam as palavras que lhes dizia. 51 E desceu com eles, e foi para Nazaré, e era-lhes sujeito. E sua mãe guardava no coração todas essas coisas.

52 E crescia Jesus em sabedoria, e em estatura, e em graça para com Deus e os homens.