The birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while2:2 Or This census took place before Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Jesus presented in the temple
22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’2:23 Exodus 13:2,12), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’.2:24 Lev. 12:8
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.’
33The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
36There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
The boy Jesus at the temple
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’
49‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’2:49 Or be about my Father’s business 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
耶穌降生伯利恆
1那時，凱撒奧古斯都頒下諭旨，命羅馬帝國的人民都辦理戶口登記。 2這是第一次戶口登記，正值居里紐任敘利亞總督。 3大家都回到本鄉辦理戶口登記。 4約瑟因為是大衛家族的人，就從加利利的拿撒勒鎮趕到猶太地區大衛的故鄉伯利恆， 5要和已許配給他、懷著身孕的瑪麗亞一起登記。 6他們抵達目的地時，瑪麗亞產期到了， 7便生下第一胎，是個兒子。她用布把孩子裹好，安放在馬槽裡，因為旅店沒有房間了。
牧羊人和天使
8當晚，伯利恆郊外有一群牧羊人正在看守羊群。 9忽然，主的天使向他們顯現，主的榮光四面照著他們，他們非常害怕。 10天使對他們說：「不要怕！我告訴你們一個有關萬民的大喜訊， 11今天在大衛的城裡有一位救主為你們降生了，祂就是主基督！ 12你們將看見一個嬰孩包著布躺在馬槽裡，這就是給你們的記號。」
13忽然，有一大隊天軍出現，與那天使一同讚美上帝說：
14「在至高之處，
願榮耀歸於上帝！
在地上，
願平安臨到祂所喜悅的人！」
15眾天使離開他們升回天上之後，牧羊人便商議說：「我們現在去伯利恆，察看一下主剛才告訴我們的那件事吧！」 16他們就連忙進城，找到了瑪麗亞和約瑟以及躺在馬槽裡的嬰孩。 17他們看過之後，就把天使告訴他們有關這嬰孩的事傳開了。 18聽見的人都對牧羊人的話感到驚訝。
19但瑪麗亞把這些事牢記在心裡，反覆思想。 20牧羊人在歸途中不斷地將榮耀歸於上帝，讚美祂，因為他們的所見所聞跟天使告訴他們的一樣。
奉獻聖嬰
21在第八天，嬰孩接受了割禮，祂的名字叫耶穌，是瑪麗亞懷孕前天使取的。
22摩西律法規定的潔淨期滿後，約瑟和瑪麗亞把嬰孩帶到耶路撒冷去獻給主， 23因為主的律法規定：必須把長子分別出來獻給主。 24他們又按照主的律法獻上祭物，即一對斑鳩或兩隻雛鴿。 25耶路撒冷有一位公義敬虔、有聖靈同在的人名叫希緬，他一直期待著以色列的安慰者到來。 26聖靈曾啟示他：他去世前必能親眼看見主所立的基督。
27一天，他受聖靈感動進入聖殿，看見約瑟和瑪麗亞抱著嬰孩耶穌進來，要依照律法的規定為祂行奉獻禮， 28就把祂抱過來，稱頌上帝說：
29「主啊，現在你的話已經成就，
可以讓你的奴僕安然離世了，
30因為我已親眼看到你的救恩，
31就是你為萬民所預備的救恩。
32這救恩是啟示外族人的光，
也是你以色列子民的榮耀。」
33約瑟和瑪麗亞聽見這番話，感到驚奇。 34希緬給他們祝福後，就對孩子的母親瑪麗亞說：「看啊，這孩子必使以色列許多人跌倒、許多人興起。祂將成為眾人攻擊的對象， 35好叫許多人的心思意念暴露出來，你自己則會心如刀割。」
36-37亞設支派中有一位八十四歲高齡的女先知名叫亞拿，是法內利的女兒，婚後七年便開始守寡，之後一直住在聖殿裡，禁食禱告，日夜事奉上帝。 38正在那時，她也前來感謝上帝，並把耶穌的事報告給所有盼望耶路撒冷蒙救贖的人。
39約瑟和瑪麗亞辦完了主的律法規定的一切事之後，就回到他們的家鄉——加利利的拿撒勒。 40耶穌漸漸長大，身心強健，充滿智慧，上帝的恩典與祂同在。
少年耶穌聖殿論道
41約瑟和瑪麗亞每年都上耶路撒冷去過逾越節。 42耶穌十二歲那年，跟父母照例上去過節。 43節期完了，約瑟和瑪麗亞便啟程回家，他們並不知道少年耶穌仍然留在耶路撒冷， 44還以為祂跟在同行的人中間。他們走了一天的路後，才開始在親戚朋友中找祂， 45結果沒有找到，只好回到耶路撒冷。 46三天後，他們才在聖殿裡找到耶穌，祂正和教師們坐在一起，一邊聽一邊問問題。 47祂的知識和對答令聽見的人感到驚奇。 48約瑟和瑪麗亞看見耶穌在那裡，大為驚奇。
瑪麗亞對祂說：「兒子，你為什麼這樣對我們呢？你父親和我急得到處找你！」
49耶穌對他們說：「你們為什麼找我呢？難道你們不知道我應該在我父的家嗎？」 50但他們不明白祂在講什麼。
51於是，耶穌隨父母回到拿撒勒，並順從他們。瑪麗亞把這一切事牢記在心。 52耶穌漸漸長大，智慧與日俱增，越來越受上帝和人們的喜愛。
