Luke 2:1-20

New International Version

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus^(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.^(B) ²(This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)^(C) ³And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem^(D) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him^(E) and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel^(F) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.^(G) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior^(H) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,^(I) the Lord.^(J) ¹²This will be a sign^(K) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace^(L) to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.^(M) ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.^(N) ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God^(O) for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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Footnotes

Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before

Zechariah 9:9-17

New International Version

The Coming of Zion’s King

⁹Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!^(A)
    Shout,^(B) Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,^(C)
    righteous and victorious,^(D)
lowly and riding on a donkey,^(E)
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.^(F)
¹⁰I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
    and the battle bow will be broken.^(G)
He will proclaim peace^(H) to the nations.
    His rule will extend from sea to sea
    and from the River^[a] to the ends of the earth.^(I)
¹¹As for you, because of the blood of my covenant^(J) with you,
    I will free your prisoners^(K) from the waterless pit.^(L)
¹²Return to your fortress,^(M) you prisoners of hope;
    even now I announce that I will restore twice^(N) as much to you.
¹³I will bend Judah as I bend my bow^(O)
    and fill it with Ephraim.^(P)
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
    against your sons, Greece,^(Q)
    and make you like a warrior’s sword.^(R)

The Lord Will Appear

¹⁴Then the Lord will appear over them;^(S)
    his arrow will flash like lightning.^(T)
The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;^(U)
    he will march in the storms^(V) of the south,
¹⁵    and the Lord Almighty will shield^(W) them.
They will destroy
    and overcome with slingstones.^(X)
They will drink and roar as with wine;^(Y)
    they will be full like a bowl^(Z)
    used for sprinkling^[b] the corners^(AA) of the altar.
¹⁶The Lord their God will save his people on that day^(AB)
    as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
    like jewels in a crown.^(AC)
¹⁷How attractive and beautiful they will be!
    Grain will make the young men thrive,
    and new wine the young women.