Luke 2:8-35

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.

9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before^[a] them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.^[b]

10 But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

11 today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.

12 This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!^{[c] [d] [e]}

15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

17 After seeing [them], they reported the message they were told about this child,

18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things^[f] in her heart and meditating on them.

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus

21 When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named JESUS-the name given by the angel before He was conceived.^[g]

22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male ^[h] will be dedicated ^[i] to the Lord ^[j])

24 and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons ^[k]).

Simeon's Prophetic Praise

25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation,^[l] and the Holy Spirit was on him.

26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah.

27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered^[m] the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law,

28 Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said:

29 Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, according to Your word.

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation.

31 You have prepared [it] in the presence of all peoples-

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles^{[n] [o]} and glory to Your people Israel.^[p]

33 His father and mother^[q] were amazed at what was being said about Him.

34 Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: "Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed^[r]-

35 and a sword will pierce your own soul-that the thoughts^[s] of many hearts may be revealed."

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Lord appeared to
• [b]. Lit they feared a great fear
• [c]. Other mss read earth good will to people
• [d]. Or earth to men of good will
• [e]. Lk 12:51
• [f]. Lit these words
• [g]. Or conceived in the womb
• [h]. Lit "Every male that opens a womb
• [i]. Lit be called holy
• [j]. Ex 13:2,12
• [k]. Lv 5:11; 12:8
• [l]. The coming of the Messiah with His salvation for the nation; Lk 2:26,30; Isaiah 40:1; 61:2
• [m]. Lit And in the Spirit, he came into the
• [n]. Or the nations
• [o]. Isaiah 42:6; 49:6,9
• [p]. Isaiah 46:13 LXX
• [q]. Other mss read But Joseph and His mother
• [r]. Or spoken against
• [s]. Or schemes