English Standard Version ESV
Common English Bible CEB
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
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In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
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This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
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Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
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Since Joseph belonged to David's house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David's city, called Bethlehem, in Judea.
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
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He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
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While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
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She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
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Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
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The Lord's angel stood before them, the Lord's glory shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
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The angel said, "Don't be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
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Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. ”
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This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
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Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! ”
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"Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors."
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. ”
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When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go right now to Bethlehem and see what's happened. Let's confirm what the Lord has revealed to us."
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
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They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
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When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
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Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
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Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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When eight days had passed, Jesus' parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
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When the time came for their ritual cleansing, in accordance with the Law from Moses, they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
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It's written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord.")
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. ”
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They offered a sacrifice in keeping with what's stated in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
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A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
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The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn't die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
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Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus' parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law.
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
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Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
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"Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word,
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
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because my eyes have seen your salvation.
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
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You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples.
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. ”
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It's a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel."
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
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His father and mother were amazed by what was said about him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
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Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "This boy is assigned to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposition
35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. ”
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so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your innermost being too."
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
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There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years.
37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
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She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day.
38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
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When Mary and Joseph had completed everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to their hometown, Nazareth in Galilee.
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
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The child grew up and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor was on him.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
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Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.
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When he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to their custom.
43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
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After the festival was over, they were returning home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't know it.
44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
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Supposing that he was among their band of travelers, they journeyed on for a full day while looking for him among their family and friends.
45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
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When they didn't find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
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After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them.
47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
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Everyone who heard him was amazed by his understanding and his answers.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress. ”
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When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother said, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Listen! Your father and I have been worried. We've been looking for you!"
49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? ”
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Jesus replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father's house?"
50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
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But they didn't understand what he said to them.
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
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Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother cherished every word in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
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Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible