Luke 2:1–20

¹And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled— ²this enrolment first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria— ³and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city, ⁴and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David, ⁵to enrol himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with child. ⁶And it came to pass, in their being there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth, ⁷and she brought forth her son—the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber.

⁸And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the field, and keeping the night-watches over their flock, ⁹and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a great fear. ¹⁰And the messenger said to them, ‘Fear not, for lo, I bring you good news of great joy, that shall be to all the people— ¹¹because there was born to you to-day a Saviour—who is Christ the Lord—in the city of David, ¹²and this is to you the sign: Ye shall find a babe wrapped up, lying in the manger.’ ¹³And suddenly there came with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ¹⁴‘Glory in the highest to God, and upon earth peace, among men—good will.’ ¹⁵And it came to pass, when the messengers were gone away from them to the heavens, that the men, the shepherds, said unto one another, ‘We may go over indeed unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that hath come to pass, that the Lord did make known to us.’ ¹⁶And they came, having hasted, and found both Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger, ¹⁷and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the child. ¹⁸And all who heard, did wonder concerning the things spoken by the shepherds unto them; ¹⁹and Mary was preserving all these things, pondering in her heart; ²⁰and the shepherds turned back, glorifying and praising God, for all those things they heard and saw, as it was spoken unto them.