The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.
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And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
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(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for.
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And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there.
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And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 He went with Mary, his fiancŽe, who was pregnant.
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To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
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And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
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And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep.
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And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified.
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And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide:
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And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
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For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
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And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
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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 heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
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Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us."
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And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
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And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.
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And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
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And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.
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But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!
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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21 When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
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And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God
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And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 as commanded in God's Law: "Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God,"
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(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 and also to sacrifice the "pair of doves or two young pigeons" prescribed in God's Law.
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And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him.
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And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died.
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And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law,
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And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:
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Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised.
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Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 With my own eyes I've seen your salvation;
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For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 it's now out in the open for everyone to see:
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Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.
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A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words.
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And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
34 Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted -
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And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
35 the pain of a sword-thrust through you - But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.
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(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
36 Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years
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And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37 and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers.
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And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.
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And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth.
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And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him. They Found Him in the Temple
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And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41 Every year Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover.
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Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the Feast.
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And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43 When it was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't know it.
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And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbors.
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But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 When they didn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.
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And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 The next day they found him in the Temple seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
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And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers.
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And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt. His mother said, "Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you."
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And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 He said, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?"
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And he said unto them,How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50 But they had no idea what he was talking about.
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And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself.
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And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.
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And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.