⁶ And ^(A)while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and ^(B)wrapped him in swaddling cloths and ^(C)laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in ^(D)the inn.^[a]

The Shepherds and the Angels

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

¹⁵ When 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.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby ^(U)lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But ^(V)Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, ^(W)glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

For God So Loved the World

¹⁶ “For ^(A)God so loved ^(B)the world,^{[a] (C)}that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not ^(D)perish but have eternal life.

^28 (A)Come to ^(B)me, all who labor and are ^(C)heavy laden, and I will give you rest.