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 nearby, 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 Savior 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 favor 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 marveled 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 worshiped 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 traveled 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 favor with God and man.
耶稣降生伯利恒
1那时候，凯撒奥古斯都颁下谕旨，命罗马帝国的百姓都登记户口。 2这是第一次户口登记，正值居里纽任叙利亚总督。 3人们都回到本乡办理户口登记。 4约瑟因为是大卫家族的人，就从加利利的拿撒勒镇赶到犹太地区大卫的故乡伯利恒， 5要和已许配给他、怀着身孕的玛丽亚一起登记。 6他们在那里的时候，玛丽亚产期到了， 7便生下第一胎，是个儿子。她用布把孩子裹好，放在马槽里，因为客房没有地方了。
牧羊人和天使
8当晚，伯利恒郊外有一群牧羊人正在看守羊群。 9忽然，主的天使向他们显现，主的荣光四面照着他们，他们非常害怕。 10天使对他们说：“不要害怕！我告诉你们一个有关万民的大喜讯， 11今天在大卫的城里有一位救主为你们降生了，祂就是主基督！ 12你们将看见一个婴孩包着布躺在马槽里，这就是给你们的记号。”
13忽然，有一大队天军出现，与那天使一同赞美上帝说：
14“在至高之处荣耀归于上帝！
在地上平安临到祂所喜悦的人！”
15众天使离开他们升回天上之后，牧羊人便商议说：“我们现在去伯利恒，看看主告诉我们的这件已发生的事吧！” 16他们就连忙进城，找到了玛丽亚和约瑟以及躺在马槽里的婴孩。 17他们看过之后，就把天使告诉他们有关这婴孩的事传开了。 18听见的人都对牧羊人的话感到惊讶。
19但玛丽亚把这些事牢记在心里，反复思想。 20牧羊人就回去了，不住地赞美和归荣耀给上帝，因为他们的所见所闻跟天使告诉他们的一样。
奉献圣婴
21在第八天，婴孩接受了割礼，祂的名字叫耶稣，是玛丽亚怀孕前天使取的。
22摩西律法规定的洁净期满后，约瑟和玛丽亚把婴孩带到耶路撒冷去献给主， 23因为主的律法规定：必须把长子分别出来献给主2:23 出埃及记13:2、12。。 24他们又按照主的律法献上祭物，即一对斑鸠或两只雏鸽2:24 利未记12:8。。
25耶路撒冷有一位公义敬虔、有圣灵同在的人名叫西缅，他一直期待着以色列的安慰者到来。 26圣灵曾启示他：他去世前必能亲眼看见主所立的基督。
27那天，他受圣灵感动进入圣殿，看见约瑟和玛丽亚抱着婴孩耶稣进来，要依照律法的规定为祂行礼， 28就把祂抱过来，称颂上帝说：
29“主啊，现在可以照你的话，
让奴仆安然离世了，
30因为我已亲眼看到你的救恩，
31就是你为万民所预备的救恩。
32这救恩是启示外族人的光，
也是你以色列子民的荣耀。”
33耶稣的父母听见关于祂的这番话，感到惊奇。 34西缅给他们祝福后，就对孩子的母亲玛丽亚说：“看啊，这孩子必使以色列许多人跌倒、许多人兴起。祂将成为众人攻击的对象， 35好叫许多人的心思意念暴露出来，你自己则会心如刀割。”
36-37亚设支派中有一位八十四岁高龄的女先知名叫亚拿，是法内利的女儿，婚后七年便开始守寡，之后一直住在圣殿里，禁食祷告，日夜事奉上帝。 38正在那时，她也前来感谢上帝，并把耶稣的事报告给所有盼望耶路撒冷蒙救赎的人。
39约瑟和玛丽亚按照主的律法办完一切事之后，就回到他们的家乡加利利的拿撒勒。 40耶稣渐渐长大，变得强健，充满智慧，上帝的恩典与祂同在。
少年耶稣圣殿论道
41耶稣的父母每年都上耶路撒冷去过逾越节。 42耶稣十二岁那年，跟父母照例上去过节。 43节期完了，祂父母便启程回家，并不知道少年耶稣仍然留在耶路撒冷， 44还以为祂跟在同行的人中间。他们走了一天的路后，才开始在亲戚朋友中找祂， 45结果没有找到，只好回到耶路撒冷去找祂。 46三天后，他们才在圣殿里找到耶稣，祂正和教师们坐在一起，一边听一边提问题。 47祂的聪慧和对答令听见的人感到惊奇。 48约瑟和玛丽亚看见耶稣在那里，大为惊奇。
玛丽亚对祂说：“儿子，你为什么这样对我们呢？你看，你父亲和我急得到处找你！”
49耶稣对他们说：“你们为什么找我呢？难道你们不知道我应该在我父的家吗？” 50但他们不明白祂在讲什么。
51于是，耶稣随父母回到拿撒勒，并顺从他们。玛丽亚把这一切事牢记在心。 52耶稣的智慧和身量不断增长，越来越受上帝和人们的喜爱。
