Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole inhabited world should be registered. This was the first registration while Quirinius was governing Syria. Everyone went to be registered, each to their own town. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to David’s town called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in strips of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest room.
Good News of Great Joy
In that region shepherds were living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night.
An angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were filled with great fear.
But the angel said, “Do not be afraid. Look—I am announcing good news to you, great joy that will be for all the people.
Today a Savior has been born for you in David’s town, who is Christ the Lord.
This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God:
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among people of his favor.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.
After seeing him, they made known what had been told them about this child.
Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured all these words, bringing them together in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
Jesus Presented to the Lord
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
When the days of their purification according to Moses’ law were completed, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
as it is written in the Lord’s law, “Every firstborn male will be called holy to the Lord,”
and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Lord’s law, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
There was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Guided by the Spirit, he came into the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the law required,
Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:
“Now, Master, you are releasing your servant in peace,
according to your word,
because my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared before all peoples:
a light for revelation to the nations
and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Look, this child is appointed for the falling and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that will be opposed—
and a sword will pierce your own life too—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophet named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
and then as a widow until the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving God with fasting and prayer night and day.
At that very hour she came and began giving thanks to God and speaking about the child to everyone waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had completed everything required by the Lord’s law, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was upon him.
His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the festival custom.
After the festival days were completed, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Assuming he was in the traveling group, they went a day’s journey and then began looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem searching for him.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said, “Child, why have you treated us this way? Look, your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand the saying he spoke to them.
Then he went down with them, came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and people.