Luke 2:1–20

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

¹Now in those days a decree went out from ^aCaesar Augustus, that a census be taken of ^ball ¹the inhabited earth.

²¹This was the first census taken while ²Quirinius was governor of ^aSyria.

³And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because ^ahe was of the house and family of David,

⁵in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

⁶While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

⁷And she ^agave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a ¹manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹And ^aan angel of the Lord suddenly ^bstood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

¹⁰But the angel said to them, “^aDo not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

¹¹for today in the city of David there has been born for you a ^aSavior, who is ^1bChrist ^cthe Lord.

¹²“^aThis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a ¹manger.”

¹³And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴“^aGlory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men ^1bwith whom He is pleased.”

¹⁵When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the ¹manger.

¹⁷When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹But Mary ^atreasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

²⁰The shepherds went back, ^aglorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.