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.

1 En in daardie dae het daar 'n bevel uitgegaan van keiser Augustus dat die hele wêreld ingeskryf moes word.

2 Hierdie eerste inskrywing het plaasgevind toe Cir,nius goewerneur van S¡rië was.

3 En almal het gegaan om ingeskryf te word, elkeen na sy eie stad.

4 En Josef het ook opgegaan van Galil,a, uit die stad N saret, na Jud,a, na die stad van Dawid, wat Betlehem genoem word, omdat hy uit die huis en geslag van Dawid was,

5 om hom te laat inskrywe saam met Maria, die vrou aan wie hy hom verloof het, wat swanger was.

6 En terwyl hulle daar was, is die dae vervul dat sy moes baar;

7 en sy het haar eersgebore Seun gebaar en Hom toegedraai in doeke en Hom in die krip neergelê, omdat daar vir hulle geen plek in die herberg was nie.

8 En daar was herders in dieselfde landstreek, wat in die oop veld gebly en in die nag oor hulle skape wag gehou het.

9 En meteens staan daar 'n engel van die Here by hulle, en die heerlikheid van die Here het rondom hulle geskyn en groot vrees het hulle oorweldig.

10 En die engel sê vir hulle: Moenie vrees nie, want kyk, ek bring julle 'n goeie tyding van groot blydskap wat vir die hele volk sal wees,

11 dat vir julle vandag in die stad van Dawid gebore is die Saligmaker wat Christus, die Here, is.

12 En dit is vir julle die teken: julle sal 'n Kindjie vind wat in doeke toegedraai is en wat in die krip lê.

13 En skielik was daar saam met die engel 'n menigte van die hemelse leërskare wat God prys en sê:

14 Eer aan God in die hoogste hemele en vrede op aarde, in die mense 'n welbehae!

15 En toe die engele van hulle weggegaan het na die hemel, sê die herders vir mekaar: Laat ons dan na Betlehem gaan en hierdie ding sien wat gebeur het, wat die Here aan ons bekend gemaak het.

16 En hulle het met haas gegaan en Maria en Josef gevind en die kindjie wat in die krip lê.

17 En toe hulle dit gesien het, het hulle oral die woord bekend gemaak wat aan hulle van die Kindjie vertel is.

18 En almal wat dit gehoor het, was verwonderd oor wat deur die herders aan hulle vertel is;

19 maar Maria het al hierdie woorde bewaar en in haar hart oordink.

20 En die herders het teruggegaan en God verheerlik en geprys oor alles wat hulle gehoor en gesien het, net soos aan hulle gesê is.

21 En toe agt dae vervul was, dat hulle die Kindjie sou besny, het hulle Hom Jesus genoem, die naam wat deur die engel gegee is voor sy ontvangenis in die moederskoot.

22 En nadat die dae van haar reiniging volgens die wet van Moses vervul was, het hulle Hom na Jerusalem gebring om Hom aan die Here voor te stel,

23 soos geskrywe is in die wet van die Here: Elke manlike kind wat die moederskoot open, sal heilig vir die Here genoem word;

24 en om die offer te gee volgens wat gesê is in die wet van die Here: 'n paar tortelduiwe of twee jong duiwe.

25 En daar was 'n man in Jerusalem met die naam van S¡meon; en hierdie man was regverdig en vroom en het die vertroosting van Israel verwag, en die Heilige Gees was op hom.

26 En aan hom was dit deur die Heilige Gees geopenbaar dat hy die dood nie sou sien voordat hy die Christus van die Here gesien het nie.

27 En hy het deur die Gees in die tempel gekom; en toe die ouers die Kindjie Jesus inbring om met Hom te handel volgens die gebruik van die wet,

28 het hy Hom in sy arms geneem en God geloof en gesê:

29 Nou laat U, Here, u dienskneg gaan in vrede volgens u woord,

30 omdat my oë u heil gesien het,

31 wat U berei het voor die oë van al die volke --

32 'n lig tot verligting van die nasies en tot heerlikheid van u volk Israel.

33 En Josef en sy moeder het hulle verwonder oor die dinge wat van Hom gesê is.

34 En S¡meon het hulle geseënen aan Maria, sy moeder, gesê: Kyk, hierdie Kind is bestemd tot 'n val en 'n opstanding van baie in Israel en tot 'n teken wat weerspreek sal word --

35 ja, 'n swaard sal deur jou eie siel gaan -- sodat die gedagtes uit baie harte openbaar kan word.

36 En daar was Anna, 'n profetes, die dogter van F nuel, uit die stam van Aser. Sy was op baie ver gevorderde leeftyd en het van haar maagdom af sewe jaar lank met haar man saamgelewe;

37 en sy was 'n weduwee van omtrent vier en tagtig jaar. Sy het nie weggebly van die tempel nie, en met vaste en gebede God gedien, nag en dag.

38 En sy het in dieselfde uur daar gekom en die Here geprys en van Hom gespreek met almal in Jerusalem wat die verlossing verwag het.

39 En toe hulle alles volbring het wat volgens die wet van die Here was, het hulle teruggegaan na Galil,a, na hulle stad N saret.

40 En die Kindjie het gegroei en sterk geword in die Gees en vol van wysheid. En die genade van God was op Hom.

41 En sy ouers was gewoond om elke jaar met die paasfees na Jerusalem te gaan.

42 En toe Hy twaalf jaar oud was, het hulle, volgens die gebruik van die fees, na Jerusalem opgegaan.

43 En nadat die feesdae vir hulle verby was, en terwyl hulle teruggaan, het die Kind Jesus in Jerusalem agtergebly; en Josef en sy moeder het dit nie geweet nie.

44 Maar omdat hulle gedink het dat Hy by die reisgeselskap was, het hulle 'n dagreis ver gegaan en Hom onder die familie en onder die bekendes gesoek.

45 En toe hulle Hom nie vind nie, het hulle teruggegaan na Jerusalem en Hom gesoek.

46 En n drie dae het hulle Hom in die tempel gevind, terwyl Hy in die midde van die leraars sit en na hulle luister en hulle uitvra.

47 En almal wat Hom gehoor het, was verbaas oor sy verstand en sy antwoorde.

48 En toe hulle Hom sien, was hulle verslae. En sy moeder sê vir Hom: Kind, waarom het jy so met ons gemaak? Kyk, jou vader en ek het jou met angs gesoek.

49 En Hy sê vir hulle: Waarom het u My gesoek? Het u nie geweet dat Ek in die dinge van my Vader moet wees nie?

50 En hulle het die woord wat Hy aan hulle gesê het, nie verstaan nie.

51 En Hy het saam met hulle gegaan en in N saret gekom, en Hy was hulle onderdanig. En sy moeder het al hierdie dinge in haar hart bewaar.

52 En Jesus het toegeneem in wysheid en grootte en in genade by God en die mense.