1 Naqueles dias foi expedido um decreto de César Augusto, para que todo o mundo fosse recenseado.

2 Este foi o primeiro recenseamento que se fez no tempo em que Quirino era governador da Síria.

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

4 José também subiu da Galiléia, da cidade de Nazaré, à Judéia, à cidade de Davi, chamada Belém, por ser ele da casa e família de Davi,

5 para se alistar, acompanhado de Maria, sua esposa, que estava grávida.

6 Estando eles ali, completaram-se os dias de dar ela à luz;

7 teve seu filho primogênito, e o enfaixou e o deitou em uma manjedoura, porque não havia lugar para eles na hospedaria.

8 Naquela região havia pastores que viviam nos campos e guardavam o seu rebanho durante as vigílias da noite.

9 Um anjo do Senhor apareceu-lhes, e a glória do Senhor brilhou ao redor deles; e encheram-se de grande temor.

10 Disse-lhes o anjo: Não temais; pois eu vos trago uma boa nova de grande gozo que o será para todo o povo:

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

12 Eis para vós o sinal: encontrareis uma criança envolta em faixas e deitada numa manjedoura.

13 De repente apareceu com o anjo uma multidão da milícia 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 haviam retirado deles para o céu, diziam os pastores uns aos outros: Vamos já até Belém, e vejamos o que aconteceu, o que o Senhor nos deu a conhecer.

16 Foram a toda a pressa e acharam Maria e José, e a criança deitada na manjedoura;

17 e vendo isto, divulgaram o que se lhes havia dito a respeito deste menino.

18 Todos os que o souberam, se admiraram das coisas que lhes referiam os pastores;

19 Maria, porém, guardava todas estas palavras, meditando-as no seu coração.

20 Os pastores voltaram, glorificando e louvando a Deus por tudo quanto tinham ouvido e visto, como lhes fora anunciado.

21 Completados os oito dias para ser circuncidado o menino, deram-lhe o nome de JESUS, como fora chamado pelo anjo antes de ser concebido no ventre de sua mãe.

22 Quando se completaram os dias da purificação segundo a lei de Moisés, levaram-no a Jerusalém para o apresentar ao Senhor

23 (como está escrito na Lei do Senhor: Todo o primogênito será consagrado ao Senhor),

24 e para oferecer um sacrifício segundo o que está dito na Lei do Senhor: Um par de rolas, ou dois pombinhos.

25 Havia em Jerusalém um homem chamado Simeão, homem este justo e piedoso, que esperava a consolação de Israel, e o Espírito Santo estava sobre ele;

26 e lhe havia sido revelado pelo Espírito Santo que não morreria antes de ver o Cristo do Senhor.

27 Movido pelo Espírito foi ao templo; quando os pais trouxeram o menino Jesus para fazer por este o que a Lei ordenava,

28 Simeão tomou-o nos seus braços e louvou a Deus, dizendo:

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

30 Porque os meus olhos já viram a tua salvação,

31 A qual preparaste ante a face de todos os povos:

32 Luz para revelação aos gentios, E glória do teu povo de Israel.

33 Seu pai e sua mãe maravilharam-se do que dele se dizia.

34 Simeão os abençoou, e disse a Maria, mãe do menino: Este é posto para queda e para levantamento de muitos em Israel, e para sinal de contradição

35 (também uma espada traspassará a tua própria alma), para que os pensamentos de muitos corações sejam revelados.

36 Havia também uma profetisa, de nome Ana, filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser (era ela de idade avançada, tendo vivido com seu marido sete anos desde a sua virgindade,

37 e viúva de oitenta e quatro anos), que não deixava o templo, mas adorava noite e dia em jejuns e orações.

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

39 Quando se tinham cumprido todas as ordenanças segundo a Lei do Senhor, voltaram para a Galiléia, para a sua cidade de Nazaré.

40 O menino crescia e fortificava-se, enchendo-se de sabedoria; e a graça de Deus estava sobre ele.

41 Seus pais iam anualmente a Jerusalém pela festa da páscoa.

42 Quando o menino tinha doze anos, subiram eles conforme o costume da festa;

43 findos os dias da festa, ao regressarem, ficou o menino Jesus em Jerusalém, sem que seus pais o soubessem.

44 Mas estes, julgando que ele estivesse entre os companheiros de viagem, andaram caminho de um dia, procurando-o entre os parentes e conhecidos;

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

46 Três dias depois o acharam no templo, sentado no meio dos doutores, ouvindo-os e interrogando-os;

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

48 Logo que seus pais o viram, ficaram surpreendidos; sua mãe perguntou-lhe: Filho, por que procedeste assim conosco? teu pai e eu te procuramos aflitos.

49 Ele lhes respondeu: Por que me procuráveis? não sabíeis que eu devia estar na casa de meu Pai?

50 Eles, porém, não compreenderam as palavras que ele dizia.

51 Então desceu com eles e foi para Nazaré, e estava-lhes sujeito. Mas sua mãe guardava todas estas coisas no seu coração.

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

1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, "Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough." 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

on earth peace, good will toward men."

15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens 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 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking 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 should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Master,

according to your word, in peace;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 a light for revelation to the nations,

and the glory of your people Israel."

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him. 34 Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."

49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?" 50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.