1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to enrol 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 enrol 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 Saviour, 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 towards 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 publicised 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 marvelling 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, worshipping 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 amongst 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 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.