Luke 2:21-32

Contemporary English Version

²¹^(A) Eight days later Jesus' parents did for him what the Law of Moses commands.^[a] And they named him Jesus, just as the angel had told Mary when he promised she would have a baby.

Simeon Praises the Lord

²²^(B) The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.^[b]

They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, ²³^(C) just as the Law of the Lord says, “Each first-born^[c] baby boy belongs to the Lord.” ²⁴The Law of the Lord also says parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did.

²⁵At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for him to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him ²⁶and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.

²⁷When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. ²⁸Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,

²⁹“Lord, I am your servant,
    and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept
    your promise to me.
³⁰With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
    to save your people,
³¹and foreign nations
    will also see this.
³²^(D) Your mighty power is a light
    for all nations,
and it will bring honor
    to your people Israel.”

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Footnotes

2.21 what the Law of Moses commands: See the note at 1.59.
2.22 after her baby is born: After a Jewish mother gave birth to a son, she was considered “unclean” and had to stay home until he was circumcised (see the note at 1.59). Then she had to stay home for another 33 days, before offering a sacrifice to the Lord.
2.23 first-born: See the note at 2.7.