Luke 2

¹And it came to pass, in those days there came forth an Edict from Cæsar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

²This first enrolling was made by the President of Syria Cyrinus.

³And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Jewry, to the city of David that is called Beth-lehem: for because he was of the house and family of David,

⁵to be enrolled with Mary his despoused wife that was with child.

⁶And it came to pass, when they were there, her days were fully come that she should be delivered.

⁷And she brought forth her first begotten son, and swaddled him in cloths, and laid him down in a manger; because there was not place for them in the inn.

⁸And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock.

⁹And behold, an Angel of our Lord stood beside them, and the brightness of God did shine round about them, and they feared with a great fear.

¹⁰And the Angel said to them: Fear not; for behold I evangelize to you great joy, that shall be to all the people:

¹¹because this day is born to you a Saviour which is Christ our Lord, in the city of David.

¹²And this shall be a sign to you; You shall find the infant swaddled in cloths, and laid in a manger.

¹³And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying,

¹⁴Glory in the highest to God: and in earth peace to men of good will.

¹⁵And it came to pass, after the Angels departed from them into Heaven, the shepherds spake one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is done, which our Lord hath shewed to us.

¹⁶And they came with speed; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant laid in the manger.

¹⁷And seeing it, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.

¹⁸And all that heard, did marvel; and concerning those things that were reported to them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary kept all these words, conferring them in her heart.

²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God in all things that they had heard, and seen, as it was said to them.

²¹And after eight days were expired, that the child should be circumcised; his name was called Jesus, which was called by the Angel, before that he was conceived in the womb.

²²And after the days were fully ended of her purification according to the law of Moyses, they carried him into Jerusalem, to present him to our Lord

²³(as it is written in the law of our Lord, That every male opening the matrice, shall be called holy to the Lord. )

²⁴and to give a sacrifice according as it is written in the law of our Lord, a pair of turtles, or two young pigeons.

²⁵And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and religious, expecting the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was in him.

²⁶And he had received an answer of the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death unless he saw first the Christ of our Lord.

²⁷And he came in Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do according to the custom of the Law for him,

²⁸he also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:

²⁹Now Thou doest dismiss thy servant O Lord, according to thy word in peace.

³⁰Because mine eyes have seen thy Salvation,

³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

³²A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, & the glory of thy people Israel.

³³And his father and mother were marveling upon those things which were spoken concerning him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this is set unto the ruin, and unto the resurrection of many in Israel, & for a sign which shall be contradicted,

³⁵and thine own soul shall a sword pierce, that out of many hearts cogitations may be revealed.

³⁶And there was Anne a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was far striken in days, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.

³⁷And she was a widow until eighty and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

³⁸And she at the same hour suddenly coming in, confessed to our Lord; and spake of him to all that expected the redemption of Israel.

³⁹And after they had wholly done all things according to the law of our Lord, they returned into Galilee, into their city Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong: full of wisdom, and the grace of God was in him.

⁴¹And his parents went every year unto Jerusalem, at the solemn day of Pasch.

⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem according to the custom of the festival day;

⁴³and having ended the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem: and his parents knew it not.

⁴⁴And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

⁴⁵And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

⁴⁶And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors, hearing them and asking them.

⁴⁷And all were astonished that heard him, upon his wisdom & answers.

⁴⁸And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou so done to us? Behold thy father and I sorrowing did seek thee.

⁴⁹And he said to them: What is it that you sought me? Did you not know, that I must be about those things which are my Father's?

⁵⁰And they understood not the word that he spake unto them.

⁵¹And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.

⁵²And Jesus proceeded in wisdom and age, and grace with God and men.