Luke 2:1–20

¹But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world. ²The census itself first took place when Cyrenius had the government of Syria. ³And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city: ⁴and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David’s city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, ⁵to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him as his wife, she being great with child. ⁶And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth to her child were fulfilled, ⁷and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸And there were shepherds in that country abiding without, and keeping watch by night over their flock. ⁹And lo, an angel of the Lord was there by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared with great fear. ¹⁰And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people; ¹¹for to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David’s city, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger. ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men. ¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. ¹⁶And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger; ¹⁷and having seen it they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child. ¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at the things said to them by the shepherds. ¹⁹But Mary kept all these things in her mind, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.