Luke 2:8-38

21st Century King James Version

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”

¹⁵ And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

¹⁸ And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

²¹ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called Jesus, who was so named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

²² And when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

²³ (as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

²⁶ And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

²⁷ And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him after the custom of the law,

²⁸ then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God and said,

²⁹ “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;

³⁰ for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,

³¹ which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

³² a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

³³ And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against

³⁵ (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶ And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

³⁷ and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years. She departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

³⁸ And she, coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.