Y aconteció en aquellos días que salió un edicto de César^a Augusto, para que se hiciera un censo de todo el mundo habitado^1b. 2 Este fue el primer censo que se levantó¹ cuando Cirenio era gobernador de Siria^a. 3 Y todos se dirigían a inscribirse en el censo, cada uno a su ciudad. 4 Y también José subió de Galilea, de la ciudad de Nazaret, a Judea, a la ciudad de David que se llama Belén, por ser él de la casa y de la familia de David^a, 5 para inscribirse junto con María, desposada con él, la cual estaba encinta. 6 Y sucedió que mientras estaban ellos allí, se cumplieron los días de su alumbramiento. 7 Y dio a luz a su hijo primogénito^a; le envolvió en pañales y le acostó en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en el mesón.

8 En la misma región había pastores que estaban en el campo¹, cuidando sus rebaños durante las vigilias de la noche. 9 Y un ángel del Señor se les presentó^a, y la gloria del Señor los rodeó de resplandor, y tuvieron gran temor. 10 Mas el ángel les dijo: No temáis^a, porque he aquí, os traigo buenas nuevas de gran gozo que serán para todo el pueblo; 11 porque os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador^a, que es Cristo^1b el Señor^c. 12 Y esto os servirá de señal^a: hallaréis a un niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre. 13 Y de repente apareció con el ángel una multitud de los ejércitos celestiales, alabando a Dios y diciendo:

15 Y aconteció que cuando los ángeles se fueron¹ al cielo, los pastores se decían unos a otros: Vayamos, pues, hasta Belén y veamos esto que ha sucedido, que el Señor nos ha dado a saber. 16 Fueron a toda prisa, y hallaron a María y a José, y al Niño acostado en el pesebre. 17 Y cuando lo vieron, dieron a saber lo¹ que se les había dicho acerca de este Niño. 18 Y todos los que lo oyeron se maravillaron de las cosas que les fueron dichas por los pastores. 19 Pero María atesoraba todas estas cosas, reflexionando sobre ellas en su corazón^a. 20 Y los pastores se volvieron, glorificando y alabando a Dios^a por todo lo que habían oído y visto, tal como se les había dicho.

21 Cuando se cumplieron los ocho días para circuncidarle^a, le pusieron por nombre Jesús, el nombre dado por el ángel antes de que Él fuera concebido en el seno materno^b.

22 Cuando se cumplieron los días para la purificación de ellos, según la ley de Moisés, le trajeron a Jerusalén para presentarle al Señor^a 23 (como está escrito en la Ley del Señor: TODO VARÓN QUE ABRA LA MATRIZ^1a SERÁ LLAMADO SANTO PARA EL SEÑOR), 24 y para ofrecer un sacrificio conforme a lo dicho en la Ley del Señor: UN PAR DE TÓRTOLAS O DOS PICHONES^a. 25 Y¹ había en Jerusalén un hombre que se llamaba Simeón; y este hombre, justo^a y piadoso, esperaba la consolación de Israel^b; y el Espíritu Santo estaba sobre él. 26 Y por el Espíritu Santo se le había revelado^a que no vería la muerte^b sin antes ver al Cristo¹ del Señor. 27 Movido por¹ el Espíritu fue al templo. Y cuando los padres del niño Jesús le trajeron para cumplir por Él² el rito de la ley^a, 28 él tomó al Niño¹ en sus brazos, y bendijo a Dios y dijo:

33 Y los padres del niño^1a estaban asombrados de las cosas que de Él se decían. 34 Simeón los bendijo, y dijo a su madre^a María: He aquí, este Niño ha sido puesto para la caída y el levantamiento¹ de muchos^b en Israel, y para ser señal de contradicción 35 (y una espada traspasará aun tu propia alma) a fin de que sean revelados los pensamientos de muchos corazones. 36 Y había una profetisa^a, Ana, hija de Fanuel, de la tribu de Aser^b. Ella era de edad muy avanzada¹, y había vivido con su marido^c siete años después de su matrimonio², 37 y después de viuda, hasta los ochenta y cuatro años. Nunca se alejaba del templo, sirviendo noche y día con ayunos y oraciones^a. 38 Y llegando ella en ese preciso momento¹, daba gracias a Dios, y hablaba de Él a todos los que esperaban la redención de Jerusalén^a.

39 Habiendo ellos cumplido con todo conforme a la Ley del Señor, se volvieron a Galilea, a su ciudad de Nazaret^a. 40 Y el Niño crecía y se fortalecía, llenándose de sabiduría; y la gracia de Dios^a estaba sobre Él.

41 Sus padres acostumbraban ir a Jerusalén todos los años a la fiesta de la Pascua^a. 42 Y cuando cumplió doce años, subieron allá conforme a la costumbre de la fiesta; 43 y al regresar ellos, después de haber pasado todos los días de la fiesta^a, el niño Jesús se quedó en Jerusalén sin que lo supieran sus padres, 44 y suponiendo que iba en la caravana, anduvieron camino de un día, y comenzaron a buscarle entre los familiares y conocidos. 45 Al no hallarle, volvieron a Jerusalén buscándole. 46 Y aconteció que después de tres días le hallaron en el templo, sentado en medio de los maestros, escuchándolos y haciéndoles preguntas. 47 Y todos los que le oían estaban asombrados de su entendimiento y de sus respuestas^a. 48 Cuando sus padres le vieron, se quedaron maravillados; y su madre^a le dijo: Hijo, ¿por qué nos has tratado de esta manera? Mira, tu padre^b y yo te hemos estado buscando¹ llenos de angustia. 49 Entonces Él les dijo: ¿Por qué me buscabais? ¿Acaso no sabíais que me era necesario estar en la casa¹ de mi Padre^a? 50 Pero ellos no entendieron^a las palabras que Él les había dicho. 51 Y descendió con ellos y vino a Nazaret^a, y continuó sujeto a ellos. Y su madre^b atesoraba todas estas cosas¹ en su corazón^c. 52 Y Jesús crecía en sabiduría, en estatura¹ y en gracia para con Dios^a y los hombres.

Now in those days a decree went out from ^aCaesar Augustus, that a census be taken of ^ball ¹the inhabited earth. 2 ¹This was the first census taken while ²Quirinius was governor of ^aSyria. 3 And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because ^ahe was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was ¹betrothed to him, and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the ¹time came for her to give birth. 7 And she ^agave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a ¹manger, because there was no ²room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 And ^aan angel of the Lord suddenly ^bstood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And so the angel said to them, “^aDo not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a ^aSavior, who is ^1bChrist ^cthe Lord. 12 And ^athis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a ¹manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly ¹army of angels praising God and saying,

15 When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the ¹manger. 17 When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary ^atreasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, ^aglorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

21 And when ^aeight days were completed ¹so that it was time for His circumcision, ^bHe was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 ^aAnd when the days for ¹their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “^aEVERY FIRSTBORN MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “^aA PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG DOVES.”

25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was ^arighteous and devout, ^blooking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And ^ait had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^bsee death before he had seen the Lord’s ¹Christ. 27 And he came ¹by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, ^2ato carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

33 And His father and ^amother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to ^aHis mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for ^bthe fall and ¹rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be ²opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a ^aprophetess, ¹Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of ^bthe tribe of Asher. She was advanced in ²years ^cand had lived with her husband for seven years after her ³marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with ^afasts and prayers. 38 And at that very ¹moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were ^alooking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when His parents had completed everything in accordance with the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to ^atheir own city of Nazareth. 40 ^aNow the Child continued to grow and to become strong, ¹increasing in wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at ^athe Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the ^afull number of days required, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware of it. 44 Instead, they thought that He was somewhere in the caravan, and they went a day’s journey; and then they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him ^awere amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When Joseph and Mary saw Him, they were bewildered; and ^aHis mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, ^bYour father and I have been anxiously looking for You!” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that ^aI had to be in My Father’s ¹house?” 50 And yet ^athey on their part did not understand the statement which He had ¹made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to ^aNazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and ^bHis mother ^ctreasured all these ¹things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and ¹stature, and in ^afavor with God and people.

Now in those days a decree went out from ^aCaesar Augustus, that a census be taken of ^ball ¹the inhabited earth. 2 ¹This was the first census taken while ²Quirinius was governor of ^aSyria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because ^ahe was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she ^agave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a ¹manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And ^aan angel of the Lord suddenly ^bstood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “^aDo not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a ^aSavior, who is ^1bChrist ^cthe Lord. 12 ^aThis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a ¹manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the ¹manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary ^atreasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, ^aglorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

21 And when ^aeight days had passed, ¹before His circumcision, ^bHis name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 ^aAnd when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “^aEVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “^aA PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”

25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was ^arighteous and devout, ^blooking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And ^ait had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^bsee death before he had seen the Lord’s ¹Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, ^1ato carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

33 And His father and ^amother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary ^aHis mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for ^bthe fall and ¹rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a ^aprophetess, ¹Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of ^bthe tribe of Asher. She was advanced in ²years ^cand had lived with her husband seven years after her ³marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with ^afastings and prayers. 38 At that very ¹moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were ^alooking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to ^atheir own city of Nazareth. 40 ^aThe Child continued to grow and become strong, ¹increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at ^athe Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the ^afull number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him ^awere amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and ^aHis mother said to Him, “¹Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, ^bYour father and I ²have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that ^aI had to be in My Father’s ¹house?” 50 But ^athey did not understand the statement which He ¹had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to ^aNazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and ^bHis mother ^ctreasured all these ¹things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and ¹stature, and in ^afavor with God and men.