Luke 2:1-12

The Birth of Jesus Christ

1 In those days ¹a decree went out from ²Caesar Augustus that all the world should be ³registered.

2 This was the first ⁴registration when^[a] Quirinius ⁵was governor of Syria.

3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up ⁶from Galilee, from the town of ⁷Nazareth, to Judea, to ⁸the city of David, which is called ⁹Bethlehem, ¹⁰because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^[b] who was with child.

6 And ¹¹while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and ¹²wrapped him in swaddling cloths and ¹³laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in ¹⁴the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord ¹⁵appeared to them, and ¹⁶the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all ¹⁷the people.

11 For ¹⁸unto you is born this day in ¹⁹the city of David ²⁰a Savior, who is ²¹Christ ²²the Lord.

12 And ²³this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby ²⁴wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."