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NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION
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1 |
In those days a
decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be
registered.
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This was the first
registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
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All went to their
own towns to be registered. |
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Joseph also went
from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called
Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.
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He went to be
registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
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While they were
there, the time came for her to deliver her child. |
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And she gave birth
to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a
manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
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In that region there
were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by
night.
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Then an angel of the
Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified.
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But the angel said
to them, “Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great
joy for all the people:
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to you is born this
day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
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This will be a sign
for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a
manger.”
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And suddenly there
was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and
saying,
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“Glory to God in the
highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!”
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When the angels had
left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us
go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord
has made known to us.”
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So they went with
haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
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When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child;
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and all who heard it
were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
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But Mary treasured
all these words and pondered them in her heart.
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The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it
had been told them.
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After eight days had
passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the
name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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When the time came
for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to
Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
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(as it is written in
the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to
the Lord”),
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and they offered a
sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of
turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
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Now there was a man
in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout,
looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on
him.
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It had been revealed
to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the
Lord's Messiah.
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Guided by the
Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the
child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law,
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Simeon took him in
his arms and praised God, saying, |
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“Master, now you are
dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;
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for my eyes have
seen your salvation, |
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which you have
prepared in the presence of all peoples, |
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a light for
revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
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And the child’s
father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
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Then Simeon blessed
them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling
and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed
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so that the inner
thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul
too.”
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There was also a
prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a
great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
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then as a widow to
the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with
fasting and prayer night and day.
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At that moment she
came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were
looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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When they had
finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to
Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
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The child grew and
became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
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Now every year his
parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.
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And when he was
twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.
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When the festival
was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
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Assuming that he was
in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to
look for him among their relatives and friends.
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When they did not
find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
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After three days
they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them
and asking them questions.
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And all who heard
him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
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When his parents saw
him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you
treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you
in great anxiety.”
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He said to them,
“Why were you searching for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
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But they did not
understand what he said to them. |
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Then he went down
with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother
treasured all these things in her heart.
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And Jesus increased
in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.
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