1
And it came about at that time that a dvar malchut (decree) was sent out from Caesar Augustus to register everyone in the entire Roman Empire.
2
This mifkad (census) was before that taken while Quirinius was governor in Syria.
3
And everyone was traveling to register, each to his own shtetl.
4
Now Yosef [ben Dovid] also went up from the Galil, from the shtetl of Natzeret, to Yehudah, to the Ir Dovid (City of David), which is called Beit-Lechem, because he was of the mishpochah and Bais of Dovid.
5
And Yosef [ben Dovid] went up to register with Miryam, who had been given to him in erusin (betrothal) and who was with child.
6
And it came about, while they were there, the yamim (days) were fulfilled for Miryam to give birth.
7
And she bore her ben, her Bechor (firstborn); and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in an evus (animal feeding trough), because there was no place for them in the malon (inn).
8
And ro’im (shepherds) were in the same region, living outside in the open air, and keeping shomer over their eder (flock) balailah.
9
And, suddenly, a malach Hashem stood before them, and the kavod Hashem shone around them; and they were afraid with a yirah gedolah (great fear).