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v1
Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar ^[Or “the emperor”] Augustus to register all the empire.
v2
(This first registration took place when ^[Or perhaps “before”; here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was governor”)] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
v3
And everyone went to be registered, each one to his own town.
v4
So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David,
v5
to be registered together with Mary, who was legally promised in marriage to him and ^[Here “and” is supplied in keeping with English style] was pregnant.
v6
And it happened that while they were there, the time came ^[Literally “the days were completed”] for her to give birth.
v7
And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
v8
And there were shepherds in the same region, living out of doors and keeping watch, guarding over their flock by night.
v9
And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. ^[Literally “they were afraid with great fear”]
v10
And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people:
v11
that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
v12
And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
v13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying,
v14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!” ^[Literally “of good pleasure”]
v15
And it happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say ^[The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to say”)] to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us!“
v16
And they went hurrying and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.
v17
And when they ^[Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal] saw it, ^[*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child.
v18
And all who heard it ^[Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] were astonished concerning what had been said to them by the shepherds.
v19
But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering them ^[Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] in her heart.
v20
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
v21
And when eight days were completed so that he could be circumcised, ^[Literally “to circumcise him”] he was named Jesus, his name that he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
v22
And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him ^[Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] to the Lord
v23
(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”) ^[An allusion to Exod 13:2, 12, 15]
v24
and to offer a sacrifice according to what was stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” ^[A quotation from Lev 5:11; 12:8]
v25
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was ^[Literally “to whom the name”] Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
v26
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he would see the Lord’s Christ. ^[Or “Messiah”]
v27
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus so that they could do for him according to what was customary under the law,
v28
he took him in his ^[Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun] arms and praised God and said,
v29
“Now dismiss your slave in peace, Lord, according to your word.
v30
For my eyes have seen your salvation
v31
that you have prepared in the presence of all the peoples,
v32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel.”
v33
And his father and mother were astonished at what was said about him.
v34
And Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ^[Or “rejected”]—
v35
and a sword will pierce your own soul also, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed!“
v36
And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (she was advanced in years, ^[Literally “with many days”] having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ^[Literally “from her virginity”]
v37
and herself as a widow up to eighty-four years) ^[Or “eighty-four years as a widow”] who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day.
v38
And at that same hour she approached and ^[Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb] began to give thanks ^[The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to give thanks”)] to God, and to speak about him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
v39
And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
v40
And the child was growing and becoming strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
v41
And his parents went every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
v42
And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast.
v43
And after ^[Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were completed”) which is understood as temporal] the days were completed, while they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And his parents did not know it, ^[*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation]
v44
but believing him to be in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. And they began searching for ^[The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began searching for”)] him among their ^[Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun] relatives and their ^[Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun] acquaintances,
v45
and when they ^[Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“find”) which is understood as temporal] did not find him, ^[*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
v46
And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple courts, ^[*Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself] sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and asking them questions.
v47
And all who heard him were amazed at his insight and his ^[This is an understood repetition of “his” due to English style] answers.
v48
And when they ^[Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal] saw him, they were astounded and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have been searching for you anxiously!“
v49
And he said to them, “Why ^[Literally “what is it that”] were you searching for me? Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in the house ^[Or “things” (= business)] of my Father?“
v50
And they did not understand the statement that he spoke to them.
v51
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submitting to them. And his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
v52
And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people.