Luke 2:13-34

Christian Standard Bible

¹³Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host^[a] with the angel, praising God and saying:

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest heaven,^(A)
and peace on earth^(B) to people he favors!^[b]^[c]^(C)

¹⁵When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed^(D) at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart^(E) and meditating on them. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God^(F) for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus

²¹When the eight days were completed for his circumcision,^(G) he was named Jesus^(H)—the name given by the angel before he was conceived. ²²And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished,^(I) they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated^[d] to the Lord^[e]^(J)) ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons^[f]^(K)).

Simeon’s Prophetic Praise

²⁵There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout,^(L) looking forward to Israel’s consolation,^(M) and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit^(N) that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.^(O) ²⁷Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

²⁹Now, Master,
you can dismiss your servant in peace,
as you promised.
³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation.^(P)
³¹You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples—
³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles^[g]^(Q)
and glory to your people Israel.^(R)

³³His father and mother^[h] were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel^(S) and to be a sign that will be opposed^[i]—

Read full chapter

Footnotes

2:13 Lit heavenly army
2:14 Other mss read earth good will to people
2:14 Or earth to men of good will
2:23 Lit be called holy
2:23 Ex 13:2,12
2:24 Lv 5:11; 12:8
2:32 Or the nations
2:33 Other mss read But Joseph and his mother
2:34 Or spoken against

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.