New International Version NIV
American Standard Version ASV
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
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Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
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This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
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And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
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And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
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to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
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And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
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And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
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And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
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And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
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And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
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for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
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And this [is] the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
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And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
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And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
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And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
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And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
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But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
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And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
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And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord” ),
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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 to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
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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 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of 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 this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
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And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
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And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
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then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
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Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace;
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
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For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
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Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
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A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
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And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him;
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
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and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;
35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
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yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
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And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
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and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.
38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
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And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
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And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
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And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.
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And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.
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And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast;
43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.
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and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not;
44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
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but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:
45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
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and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
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And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:
47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
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and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
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And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing.
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
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And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house?
50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
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And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
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And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all [these] sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
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And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.