New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
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In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
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It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
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All went to their own towns to be listed.
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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So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line 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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He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
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While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born.
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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She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. 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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There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep.
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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An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified.
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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But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for 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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Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He 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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Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth 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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Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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"May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!"
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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The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
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So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was 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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After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child.
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
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All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
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But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over.
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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The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and heard was just as they had been told.
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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When the child was eight days old, he was circumcised. At the same time he was named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.
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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The time for making them pure came as it is written in the Law of Moses. So Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem. There they presented 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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In the Law of the Lord it says, "The first boy born in every family must be set apart for the Lord."(Exodus 13:2,12)
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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They also offered a sacrifice. They did it in keeping with the Law, which says, "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."(Leviticus 12:8)
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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In Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was a good and godly man. He was waiting for God's promise to Israel to happen. The Holy Spirit was with 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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The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die 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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The Spirit led him into the temple courtyard. Then Jesus' parents brought the child in. They came to do for him what the Law required.
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
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Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
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"Lord, you are the King over all. Now let me, your servant, go in peace. That is what you promised.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
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My eyes have seen your salvation.
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
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You have prepared it in the sight of all people.
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
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It is a light to be given to those who aren't Jews. It will bring glory to your people Israel."
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
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The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about 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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Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus' mother, "This child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him.
35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
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The thoughts of many hearts will be known. A sword will wound your own soul too."
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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There was also a prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Penuel from the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. After getting married, she lived with her husband seven years.
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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Then she was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshiped night and day, praying and going without eating.
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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Anna came up to Jesus' family at that very moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the time when Jerusalem would be set free.
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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Joseph and Mary did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they returned to Galilee. They went to their own town of 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 became strong. He was very wise. He was blessed by God's grace.
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.
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Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.
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When he was 12 years old, they went up to the Feast as usual.
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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After the Feast was over, his parents left to go back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it.
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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They thought he was somewhere in their group. So they traveled on for a day. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends.
45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
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They did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look 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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After three days they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions.
47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
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Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. They also were amazed at 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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When his parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried about you. We have been looking for you everywhere."
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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"Why were you looking for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
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But they did not understand what he meant by that.
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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Then he went back to Nazareth with them, and he obeyed them. But his mother kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart.
52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
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Jesus became wiser and stronger. He also became more and more pleasing to God and to people.
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.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.