Luke 2:1-20

Worldwide English (New Testament)

2 About that time, Augustus the Roman ruler made a law. All the people in the world must have their names written down in a book.

² This was the first time names were written in a book in this way. Quirinius was the ruler of Syria at that time.

³ Everyone went to his home town to have his name written in the book.

⁴ Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea. This was David's town, and Joseph came from David's family line.

⁵ He went to have his name written in the book. Joseph took Mary with him. She was promised to Joseph to be his wife. She was going to have a baby.

⁶ While they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

⁷ This was her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a cloth and laid him in a box where cows feed. There was no room for them in the house for strangers.

⁸ In the same part of the country, men were taking care of sheep. They were in the field watching their sheep at night.

⁹ An angel of the Lord came to them and a bright light from the Lord shone all around them. They were very much afraid.

¹⁰ The angel said to them, `Fear not! Listen, I bring you good news! This news will make you very glad. It is for all people.

¹¹ A saviour has been born for you today in David's town. He is Christ the Lord.

¹² This is the way you will know him. You will find a baby wrapped in a cloth, lying in a box where cows feed.'

¹³ All at once a great number of angels from heaven were with the angel. They were praising God.

¹⁴ They said, `Praise God in the highest heaven! Peace on earth and loving mercy towards all people!'

¹⁵ The angels left them and went back to heaven. The men who were taking care of the sheep said to one another `Let us go to Bethlehem and see what has happened. It is the Lord who has told us about it.'

¹⁶ They went quickly. They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the box where cows feed.

¹⁷ When they saw the child, they told what the angel had said to them about him.

¹⁸ All those who heard them were surprised at what the shepherds had told them.

¹⁹ Mary remembered all these things and kept thinking about them.

²⁰ Then the men who were taking care of the sheep went back. They praised and thanked God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as they had been told it would be.