New Living Translation NLT
English Standard Version ESV
1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
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This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.
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And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
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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,
5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
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to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.
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And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
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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.
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.
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And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,
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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.
10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.
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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.
11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
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For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
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And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. ”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—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 highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
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“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! ”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
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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. ”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
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And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
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And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,
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And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
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But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
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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.
22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
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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
23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD .”
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(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
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and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. ”
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him
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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.
26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
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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.
27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as 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, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
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he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.
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“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
30 I have seen your salvation,
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for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 which you have prepared for all people.
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that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
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a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. ”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him.
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And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.
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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
35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
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(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. ”
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.
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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,
37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
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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.
38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
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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.
39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee.
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And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
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And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
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Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.
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And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.
43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first,
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And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
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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,
45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.
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and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking 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 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 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
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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. ”
49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
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And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? ”
50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.
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And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.
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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.
52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
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And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025