¶ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar¹ Augustus, that all² the world should be taxed³.

(And this taxing⁴ was first made when Cyrenius was governor⁵ of Syria.)

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph⁶ also went up from Galilee, out of the city⁷ of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto⁸ the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was⁹ of the house and lineage of David:)

¹⁰To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so¹¹ it was, that, while they were there, the days¹² were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she¹³ brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped¹⁴ him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn¹⁵.

¶ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding¹⁶ in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night¹⁷.

And, lo¹⁸, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the¹⁹ glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they²⁰ were sore afraid.

¶ And the angel said unto them, Fear not²¹: for, behold, I bring²² you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to²³ all people.

For unto²⁴ you is born this day in²⁵ the city of David a Saviour, which²⁶ is Christ the Lord²⁷.

²⁸And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude²⁹ of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory³⁰ to God in the highest, and³¹ on earth peace, good³² will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into³³ heaven, the shepherds³⁴ 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.

And they came with³⁵ haste, and found³⁶ Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

³⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered³⁸ at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

³⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

¶⁴⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

¶ And when eight⁴¹ days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was⁴² called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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;

(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every⁴⁴ male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair⁴⁵ of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

¶ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just⁴⁶ and devout, waiting⁴⁷ for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost⁴⁸ was upon him.

And it⁴⁹ was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death⁵⁰, before he had seen the Lord's⁵¹ Christ.

And he came by⁵² the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents⁵³ brought in the child Jesus, to⁵⁴ do for him after the custom of the law,

Then took⁵⁵ he him up in his arms, and⁵⁶ blessed God, and said,

Lord, now⁵⁷ lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according⁵⁸ to thy word:

¶⁵⁹For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

⁶⁰Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A light⁶¹ to lighten the Gentiles, and⁶² the glory of thy people Israel.

⁶³And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

And Simeon blessed⁶⁴ them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set⁶⁵ for the fall and rising⁶⁶ again of many in Israel; and for a⁶⁷ sign which shall be spoken against;

(Yea, a sword⁶⁸ shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that⁶⁹ the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

And there was one Anna, a prophetess⁷⁰, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser⁷¹: she⁷³ was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which⁷⁴ departed not from the temple, but⁷⁵ served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

And she coming⁷⁶ in that instant gave⁷⁷ thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked⁷⁸ for redemption in Jerusalem⁷⁹.

And when they had performed⁸⁰ all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned⁸¹ into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth⁸².

¶ And the child⁸³ grew, and waxed strong⁸⁴ in spirit, filled⁸⁵ with wisdom: and the grace⁸⁶ of God was upon him.

¶ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the⁸⁸ feast of the passover.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

⁸⁹And 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.

But they, supposing him to have been in⁹⁰ the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

And it came to pass, that after⁹¹ three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors⁹², both⁹³ hearing them, and asking them questions.

⁹⁴And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

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.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my⁹⁵ Father's business?

¶⁹⁶And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

And he went down with them, and came⁹⁷ to Nazareth, and was⁹⁸ subject unto them: but his mother kept⁹⁹ all these sayings in her heart.

And Jesus¹⁰⁰ increased in wisdom and stature¹⁰¹, and in favour with God and man.