Luke 2:1-21

English Standard Version

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 In those days ^(A)a decree went out from ^(B)Caesar Augustus that all the world should be ^(C)registered. ²This was the first ^(D)registration when^[a] Quirinius ^(E)was governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴And Joseph also went up ^(F)from Galilee, from the town of ^(G)Nazareth, to Judea, to ^(H)the city of David, which is called ^(I)Bethlehem, ^(J)because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^[b] who was with child. ⁶And ^(K)while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and ^(L)wrapped him in swaddling cloths and ^(M)laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in ^(N)the inn.^[c]

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And an angel of the Lord ^(O)appeared to them, and ^(P)the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all ^(Q)the people. ¹¹For ^(R)unto you is born this day in ^(S)the city of David ^(T)a Savior, who is ^(U)Christ ^(V)the Lord. ¹²And ^(W)this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby ^(X)wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel ^(Y)a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴^(Z)“Glory to God ^(AA)in the highest,
^(AB)and on earth ^(AC)peace ^(AD)among those with whom he is pleased!”^[d]

¹⁵When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby ^(AE)lying in a manger. ¹⁷And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But ^(AF)Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, ^(AG)glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

²¹And ^(AH)at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, ^(AI)he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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Footnotes

Luke 2:2 Or This was the registration before
Luke 2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married
Luke 2:7 Or guest room
Luke 2:14 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men

Psalm 102

English Standard Version

Do Not Hide Your Face from Me

A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is ^(A)faint and ^(B)pours out his complaint before the Lord.

102 ^(C)Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry ^(D)come to you!
²^(E)Do not hide your face from me
in ^(F)the day of my distress!
^(G)Incline your ear to me;
^(H)answer me speedily ^(I)in the day when I call!

³For my days ^(J)pass away like smoke,
    and my ^(K)bones burn like a furnace.
⁴My heart is ^(L)struck down like grass and ^(M)has withered;
    I ^(N)forget to eat my bread.
⁵Because of my loud groaning
    my ^(O)bones cling to my flesh.
⁶I am like ^(P)a desert owl of the wilderness,
    like an owl^[a] of the waste places;
⁷I ^(Q)lie awake;
    I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
⁸All the day my enemies taunt me;
    those who ^(R)deride me ^(S)use my name for a curse.
⁹For I eat ashes like bread
    and ^(T)mingle tears with my drink,
¹⁰because of your indignation and anger;
    for you have ^(U)taken me up and ^(V)thrown me down.
¹¹My days are like ^(W)an evening shadow;
    I ^(X)wither away like grass.

¹²But you, O Lord, are ^(Y)enthroned forever;
    you ^(Z)are remembered throughout all generations.
¹³You will ^(AA)arise and have ^(AB)pity on Zion;
    it is the time to favor her;
    ^(AC)the appointed time has come.
¹⁴For your servants hold her ^(AD)stones dear
    and have pity on her dust.
¹⁵Nations will ^(AE)fear the name of the Lord,
    and all ^(AF)the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
¹⁶For the Lord ^(AG)builds up Zion;
    he ^(AH)appears in his glory;
¹⁷he ^(AI)regards the prayer of the destitute
    and does not despise their prayer.

¹⁸Let this be ^(AJ)recorded for ^(AK)a generation to come,
    so that ^(AL)a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
¹⁹that he ^(AM)looked down from his holy height;
    from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
²⁰to hear ^(AN)the groans of the prisoners,
    to set free ^(AO)those who were doomed to die,
²¹that they may ^(AP)declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
    and in Jerusalem his praise,
²²when ^(AQ)peoples gather together,
    and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

²³He has broken my strength in midcourse;
    he ^(AR)has shortened my days.
²⁴“O my God,” ^(AS)I say, “take me not away
    in the midst of my days—
^(AT)you whose years endure
    throughout all generations!”

²⁵^(AU)Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and ^(AV)the heavens are the work of your hands.
²⁶^(AW)They will perish, but ^(AX)you will remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
²⁷    but ^(AY)you are the same, and your years have no end.
²⁸^(AZ)The children of your servants ^(BA)shall dwell secure;
    ^(BB)their offspring shall be established before you.