Luke:2
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And it came to pass in those days ,
that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus ,
that all the world should be taxed .
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And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria .)
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And all went to be taxed ,
every one into his own city .
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And Joseph also went up from Galilee ,
out of the city of Nazareth ,
into Judaea ,
unto the city of David ,
which is called Bethlehem ; (
because he was of the house and lineage of David :)
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To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife ,
being great with child .
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And so it was ,
that ,
while they were there ,
the days were accomplished that she should be delivered .
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And she brought forth her firstborn son ,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes ,
and laid him in a manger ;
because there was no room for them in the inn .
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And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field ,
keeping watch over their flock by night .
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And ,
lo ,
the angel of the Lord came upon them ,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them :
and they were sore afraid .
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And the angel said unto them ,
Fear not :
for ,
behold ,
I bring you good tidings of great joy ,
which shall be to all people .
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For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour ,
which is Christ the Lord .
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And this shall be a sign unto you ;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes ,
lying in a manger .
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And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God ,
and saying ,
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Glory to God in the highest ,
and on earth peace ,
good will toward men .
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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 Bethlehem ,
and see this thing which is come to pass ,
which the Lord hath made known unto us .
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And they came with haste ,
and found Mary ,
and Joseph ,
and the babe lying in a manger .
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And when they had seen it ,
they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child .
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And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds .
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But Mary kept all these things ,
and pondered them in her heart .
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And the shepherds returned ,
glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen ,
as it was told unto them .
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And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child ,
his name was called JESUS ,
which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb .
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And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished ,
they brought him to Jerusalem ,
to present him to the Lord ;
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As it is written in the law of the Lord ,
Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ;)
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And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord ,
A pair of turtledoves ,
or two young pigeons .
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And ,
behold ,
there was a man in Jerusalem ,
whose name was Simeon ;
and the same man was just and devout ,
waiting for the consolation of Israel :
and the Holy Ghost was upon him .
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And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost ,
that he should not see death ,
before he had seen the Lord '
s Christ .
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And he came by the Spirit into the temple :
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus ,
to do for him after the custom of the law ,
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Then took he him up in his arms ,
and blessed God ,
and said ,
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Lord ,
now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace ,
according to thy word :
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For mine eyes have seen thy salvation ,
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Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people ;
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A light to lighten the Gentiles ,
and the glory of thy people Israel .
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And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him .
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And Simeon blessed them ,
and said unto Mary his mother ,
Behold ,
this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel ;
and for a sign which shall be spoken against ;
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Yea ,
a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also ,)
that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed .
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And there was one Anna ,
a prophetess ,
the daughter of Phanuel ,
of the tribe of Aser :
she was of a great age ,
and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity ;
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And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years ,
which departed not from the temple ,
but served God with fastings and prayers night and day .
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And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord ,
and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem .
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And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord ,
they returned into Galilee ,
to their own city Nazareth .
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And the child grew ,
and waxed strong in spirit ,
filled with wisdom :
and the grace of God was upon him .
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Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover .
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And when he was twelve years old ,
they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast .
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And when they had fulfilled the days ,
as they returned ,
the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem ;
and Joseph and his mother knew not of it .
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But they ,
supposing him to have been in the company ,
went a day '
s journey ;
and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance .
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And when they found him not ,
they turned back again to Jerusalem ,
seeking him .
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And it came to pass ,
that after three days they found him in the temple ,
sitting in the midst of the doctors ,
both hearing them ,
and asking them questions .
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And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers .
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And when they saw him ,
they were amazed :
and his mother said unto him ,
Son ,
why hast thou thus dealt with us ?
behold ,
thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing .
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And he said unto them ,
How is it that ye sought me ?
wist ye not that I must be about my Father '
s business ?
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And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them .
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And he went down with them ,
and came to Nazareth ,
and was subject unto them :
but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart .
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And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature ,
and in favour with God and man .