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[1]NOW it was in those days that there went forth a mandate from Augustus Caesar to enrol the people of his dominion.
[2]This enrolment was first made under the government of Qurinos in Suria.
[3]And every man went to be enrolled in his city.
[4]And Jauseph also went up from Natsrath of Galila, unto Jehud, to the city of David, which is called Beth-lechem, because he was of the house and of the family of David,
[5]With Mariam his espoused while with child, there to be enrolled.
[6]And it was that while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should give birth:
[7]And she brought forth her son, the first-born, and wrapped him in bandages, and laid him in the manger; because there was no place for them where they stayed.
[8]But there were shepherds in the country who were staying there, and keeping watch by night over their flocks.
[9]And, behold, the angel of Aloha came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone upon them; and they feared with great fear.
[10]And the angel said to them, Fear not; for, behold, I announce to you great joy, which shall be to all people:
[11]For there is born for you to-day the Redeemer, who is the Lord the Meshicha, in the city of David.
[12]And this is to you the sign, You shall find the infant wrapped in bandages, and laid in a manger.
[13]And instantly there were seen with the angel many hosts of the heavens, glorifying Aloha, and saying,
[14]Glory to Aloha in the heights, and upon earth peace and good hope for the sons of men.
[15]And when the angels were gone from them into heaven, the shepherds spake one with another, and said, Let us go unto Beth-lechem, and see the thing which the Lord hath made known to us.
[16]And they came with speed, and found Mariam, and Jauseph, and the infant who was laid in the manger;
[17]And when they saw, they showed the word which had been spoken to them concerning the child.
[18]And all who heard wondered at those [things] which were told them by the shepherds.
[19]But Mariam kept all these words, and compared them in her heart.
[20]And those shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Aloha for all that they had seen and heard as they had been spoken to them.
[21]AND when the eight days completed to circumcise the child, his name was called Jeshu, for he was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
[22]And when were completed, the days of their purification according to the law of Musha, they carried him up to Urishlem, to present himⓘ before the Lord:
[23](as it is written in the law of the Lord, That every male [who] openeth the matrix the holy to the Lord shall be called:)
[24]And to offer the sacrifice as it is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two of the young of pigeons.
[25]But there was a certain man in Urishlem, whose name was Shemun; and this man was just and righteous, and he had waited for the consolation of Isroel, and the Spirit of Holiness was upon him.
[26]And it was said to him from the Spirit of Holiness, that he should not see death, until he had seen the Meshicha of the Lord.
[27]Behold, this man came in the Spirit to the temple, and when his parentsⓘ brought in Jeshu the child, to do for him as it is commanded in the law,
[28]He took him upon his arms and blessed Aloha, and said,
[29]Now dismiss thy servant, my Lord, according to thy word, in peace;
[30]For lo, mine eyes have seen thy grace,
[31]Which thou hast prepared in the face of all the nations;
[32]A light for the revelation of the peoples, and the glory of thy people Isroel.
[33]But Jauseph and his mother wondered at these words which were spoken concerning him.
[34]And Shemun blessed them, and said to Mariam his mother, Behold, this child is set for the ruin and uprising of many in Isroel, for the sign of contention.
[35]And through thine own soul shall pass a spear, that may be revealed the reasonings of the hearts of many.
[36]NOW Chana,ⓘ the prophetess, [was] the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was aged also in her days, and seven years with her husband had lived from her virginity.
[37]And she was a widow as of years eighty and four, and she removed not from the temple, and with fasting and with prayer she worshippedⓘ in the day and in the night.
[38]And she also arose in that hour and confessedⓘ the Lord, and discoursed concerning him with all who were expecting the redemption of Urishlem.
[39]And when they had fulfilled every thing according to the law of the Lord, they returned unto Galila, to Natsrath their city.
[40]But the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and was filled with wisdom; and the grace of Aloha was upon him.
[41]And his relativesⓘ every year went unto Urishlem at the feast of Petscha.
[42]AND when he was a son of twelve years, they went up, as they were used, to the festival.
[43]And when the days [were] fulfilled, they returned. But Jeshu, the child, remained in Urishlem, and Jauseph and his mother knew not.
[44]For they thought that he was with the sons of the company; and when they had gone the journey of one day, they sought him with the men and with any who knew him.
[45]And they found him not: and they returned again to Urishlem, and sought him.
[46]And after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors,ⓘ hearing them and questioning them.
[47]And all of them were astonished, as they heard him, at his wisdom and at his answers.
[48]And when they saw him, they wondered; and his mother said to him, My son, why hast thou done with us thus? for, behold, I and thy father with great anxiety have sought thee.
[49]He saith to them, Why have you sought me [elsewhere]? Knew you not that [in] the house of my Father it behoveth me to be?
[50]But they did not comprehend the word that he spake to them.
[51]And he went down with them, and came to Natsrath, and was subject to them. But his mother kept all these words in her heart.
[52]But Jeshu increased in his stature, and in his wisdom, and in favour with Aloha and men.
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