English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
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 a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
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This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
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All went to their own towns to be registered.
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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Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
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He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
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 her to deliver her child.
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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And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
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In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by 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 fear.
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Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord 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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But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the 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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to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, 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 will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth 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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And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
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 the highest 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 had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
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So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child 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 made known what had been told them about this child;
18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
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and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
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But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
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, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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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After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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 purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him 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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(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy 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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and they offered a sacrifice according to what is 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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Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation 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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It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.
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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Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him 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 him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
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"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
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for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
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which you have prepared 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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a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
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And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being 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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Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed
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 own soul 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, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
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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then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there 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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At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for 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 they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
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 and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
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Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.
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And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.
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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When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not 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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Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.
45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
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When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search 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, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
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And all who heard him were amazed at 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 astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."
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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He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must 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 did not 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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Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
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And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.