nkjv Luke:2 SEEK
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And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered .
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This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria .
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So all went to be registered ,
everyone to his own city .
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Joseph also went up from Galilee ,
out of the city of Nazareth ,
into Judea ,
to the city of David ,
which is called Bethlehem ,
because he was of the house and lineage of David ,
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to be registered with Mary ,
his betrothed wife ,
who was with child .
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So it was ,
that while they were there ,
the days were completed for her to be delivered .
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And she brought forth her firstborn Son ,
and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths ,
and laid Him in a manger ,
because there was no room for them in the inn .
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Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields ,
keeping watch over their flock by night .
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And behold ,
an angel of the Lord stood before them ,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them ,
and they were greatly afraid .
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Then the angel said to them , "
Do not be afraid ,
for behold ,
I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people .
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For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior ,
who is Christ the Lord .
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And this will be the sign to you :
You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths ,
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 ,
goodwill toward men !"
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So it was ,
when the angels had gone away from them into heaven ,
that the shepherds said to one another , "
Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass ,
which the Lord has made known to 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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Now when they had seen Him ,
they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child .
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And all those who heard it marveled 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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Then the shepherds returned ,
glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen ,
as it was told them .
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And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child ,
His name was called JESUS ,
the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb .
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Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed ,
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 who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD "),
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and to offer a sacrifice according to what 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 this man was just and devout ,
waiting for the Consolation of Israel ,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him .
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And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord '
s Christ .
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So he came by the Spirit into the temple .
And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus ,
to do for Him according to the custom of the law ,
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he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said :
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Lord ,
now You are letting Your servant depart in peace ,
According to Your word ;
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For my eyes have seen Your salvation
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Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples ,
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A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles ,
And the glory of Your people Israel ."
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And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him .
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Then Simeon blessed them ,
and said to Mary His mother , "
Behold ,
this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel ,
and for a sign which will be spoken against
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yes ,
a sword will pierce through your own soul also ),
that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed ."
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Now there was one ,
Anna ,
a prophetess ,
the daughter of Phanuel ,
of the tribe of Asher .
She was of a great age ,
and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity ;
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and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years ,
who did not depart from the temple ,
but served God with fastings and prayers night and day .
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And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord ,
and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem .
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So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord ,
they returned to Galilee ,
to their own city ,
Nazareth .
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And the Child grew and became strong in spirit ,
filled with wisdom ;
and the grace of God was upon Him .
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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 according to the custom of the feast .
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When they had finished the days ,
as they returned ,
the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem .
And Joseph and His mother did not know it ;
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but supposing Him to have been in the company ,
they went a day '
s journey ,
and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances .
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So when they did not find Him ,
they returned to Jerusalem ,
seeking Him .
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Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple ,
sitting in the midst of the teachers ,
both listening to them and asking them questions .
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And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers .
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So when they saw Him ,
they were amazed ;
and His mother said to Him , "
Son ,
why have You done this to us ?
Look ,
Your father and I have sought You anxiously ."
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And He said to them , "
Why did you seek Me ?
Did you not know that I must be about My Father '
s business ?"
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But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them .
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Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth ,
and was subject to them ,
but His mother kept all these things in her heart .
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And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature ,
and in favor with God and men .