Luke:2

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* In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled . * This was the first enrollment , when Quirin 'i-us was governor of Syria . * And all went to be enrolled , each to his own city . * And Joseph also went up from Galilee , from the city of Nazareth , to Judea , to the city of David , which is called Bethlehem , because he was of the house and lineage of David , * to be enrolled with Mary , his betrothed , who was with child . * And while they were there , the time came for her to be delivered . * And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths , and laid him in a manger , because there was no place for them in the inn . * And in that region there were shepherds out in the field , keeping watch over their flock by night . * And an angel of the Lord appeared to them , and the glory of the Lord shone around them , and they were filled with fear . * And the angel said to them , "Be not afraid ; for behold , I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people ; * for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior , who is Christ the Lord . * And this will be a sign for you : you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger ." * And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying , * "Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased !" * When the angels went away from them into heaven , the shepherds said to one another , "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened , which the Lord has made known to us ." * And they went with haste , and found Mary and Joseph , and the babe lying in a manger . * And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child ; * and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them . * But Mary kept all these things , pondering them in her heart . * And the shepherds returned , glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen , as it had been told them . * And at the end of eight days , when he was circumcised , he was called Jesus , the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb . * And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses , they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord * (as it is written in the law of the Lord , "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ") * and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord , "a pair of turtledoves , or two young pigeons ." * Now there was a man in Jerusalem , whose name was Simeon , and this man was righteous and devout , looking for the consolation of Israel , and the Holy Spirit was upon him . * And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord 's Christ . * And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple ; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus , to do for him according to the custom of the law , * he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said , * "Lord , now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace , according to thy word ; * for mine eyes have seen thy salvation * which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples , * a light for revelation to the Gentiles , and for glory to thy people Israel ." * And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him ; * and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother , "Behold , this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel , and for a sign that is spoken against * (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also ), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed ." * And there was a prophetess , Anna , the daughter of Phan 'u-el , of the tribe of Asher ; she was of a great age , having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity , * and as a widow till she was eighty-four . She did not depart from the temple , worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day . * And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God , and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem . * And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord , they returned into Galilee , to their own city , Nazareth . * And the child grew and became strong , filled with wisdom ; and the favor of God was upon him . * Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover . * And when he was twelve years old , they went up according to custom ; * and when the feast was ended , as they were returning , the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem . His parents did not know it , * but supposing him to be in the company they went a day 's journey , and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances ; * and when they did not find him , they returned to Jerusalem , seeking him . * After three days they found him in the temple , sitting among the teachers , listening to them and asking them questions ; * and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers . * And when they saw him they were astonished ; and his mother said to him , "Son , why have you treated us so ? Behold , your father and I have been looking for you anxiously ." * And he said to them , "How is it that you sought me ? Did you not know that I must be in my Father 's house ?" * And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them . * And he went down with them and came to Nazareth , and was obedient to them ; and his mother kept all these things in her heart . * And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature , and in favor with God and man .

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