2 *And it came to pass in those days, that there went out aa decree from Caesar Augustus, that all bthe world should be ||taxed. 2 (And this ctaxing was first made when Cyrenius dwas governor of ddSyria.) 3 And all went to be ||taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also ewent up from fGalilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto gthe city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; h(because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be ||taxed with Mary ihis espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, kwhile they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth lher firstborn son, and mwrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a nmanger; because there was no room for them in the oinn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping ||watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord pcame upon them, and the qglory of the Lord shone round about them: and rthey were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For sunto you is born this day tin the city of David ua Saviour, which is xChrist ythe Lord. 12 And this shall be za sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe mwrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a nmanger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel aa multitude bof the heavenly host cpraising God, and saying,

14  dGlory to God ein the highest,

And on earth fpeace,

gGood will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, †the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto hBeth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a nmanger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 iBut Mary kkept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, lglorifying and cpraising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21 *mAnd when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called nJESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And when othe days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, pthey brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, qEvery male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, rA pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and sdevout, twaiting for the uconsolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was xrevealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not ysee death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came zby the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, ato do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and bblessed God, and said,

29  cLord, now dlettest thou thy servant depart

In peace, eaccording to thy word:

30  For mine eyes fhave seen thy salvation,

31  gWhich thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32  hA light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory iof thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child kis set for the lfall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign mwhich shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a nsword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that othe thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of pAser: she qwas of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but sserved God with rfastings and rprayers snight and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that tlooked for uredemption in ||Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into wGalilee, to xtheir own city Nazareth. 40 yAnd the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem zevery year aat the feast of the passover. 42 *And when he was twelve years old, bthey went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled cthe days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him damong their kinsfolk and ddacquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, esitting in the midst of the fdoctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And gall that heard him hwere astonished at his iunderstanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were gamazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, kthy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about kmy Father’s business? 50 And lthey understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to mNazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother nkept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus oincreased in wisdom and ||pstature, and qin favour with God and man.