Luke 2
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) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(E) and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and 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.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel(F) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.(G) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior(H) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,(I) the Lord.(J) 12 This will be a sign(K) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly 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.”
15 When 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.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.(M) 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.(N) 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God(O) for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child,(P) he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.(Q)
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,(R) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]),(S) 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c](T)
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.(U) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,(V) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,(W) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,(X)
you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.(Y)
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,(Z)
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”(AA)
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(AB) “This child is destined to cause the falling(AC) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet,(AD) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e](AE) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.(AF) 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.(AG)
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.(AH) 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.(AI)
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.(AJ) 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed(AK) at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother(AL) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father(AM) and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f](AN) 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.(AO)
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them(AP) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.(AQ) 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.(AR)
Ezra 2
New International Version
The List of the Exiles Who Returned(A)
2 Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles,(B) whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(C) had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town,(D) 2 in company with Zerubbabel,(E) Joshua,(F) Nehemiah, Seraiah,(G) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah):
The list of the men of the people of Israel:
3 the descendants of Parosh(H) | 2,172 |
4 of Shephatiah | 372 |
5 of Arah | 775 |
6 of Pahath-Moab (through the line of Jeshua and Joab) | 2,812 |
7 of Elam | 1,254 |
8 of Zattu | 945 |
9 of Zakkai | 760 |
10 of Bani | 642 |
11 of Bebai | 623 |
12 of Azgad | 1,222 |
13 of Adonikam(I) | 666 |
14 of Bigvai | 2,056 |
15 of Adin | 454 |
16 of Ater (through Hezekiah) | 98 |
17 of Bezai | 323 |
18 of Jorah | 112 |
19 of Hashum | 223 |
20 of Gibbar | 95 |
21 the men of Bethlehem(J) | 123 |
22 of Netophah | 56 |
23 of Anathoth | 128 |
24 of Azmaveth | 42 |
25 of Kiriath Jearim,[a] Kephirah and Beeroth | 743 |
26 of Ramah(K) and Geba | 621 |
27 of Mikmash | 122 |
28 of Bethel and Ai(L) | 223 |
29 of Nebo | 52 |
30 of Magbish | 156 |
31 of the other Elam | 1,254 |
32 of Harim | 320 |
33 of Lod, Hadid and Ono | 725 |
34 of Jericho(M) | 345 |
35 of Senaah | 3,630 |
36 The priests:
the descendants of Jedaiah(N) (through the family of Jeshua) | 973 |
37 of Immer(O) | 1,052 |
38 of Pashhur(P) | 1,247 |
39 of Harim(Q) | 1,017 |
40 The Levites:(R)
the descendants of Jeshua(S) and Kadmiel (of the line of Hodaviah) | 74 |
41 The musicians:(T)
the descendants of Asaph | 128 |
42 The gatekeepers(U) of the temple:
the descendants of | |
Shallum, Ater, Talmon, | |
Akkub, Hatita and Shobai | 139 |
43 The temple servants:(V)
the descendants of |
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, |
44 Keros, Siaha, Padon, |
45 Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub, |
46 Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan, |
47 Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah, |
48 Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam, |
49 Uzza, Paseah, Besai, |
50 Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim, |
51 Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, |
52 Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, |
53 Barkos, Sisera, Temah, |
54 Neziah and Hatipha |
55 The descendants of the servants of Solomon:
the descendants of |
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda, |
56 Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, |
57 Shephatiah, Hattil, |
Pokereth-Hazzebaim and Ami |
58 The temple servants(W) and the descendants of the servants of Solomon | 392 |
59 The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended(X) from Israel:
60 The descendants of | |
Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda | 652 |
61 And from among the priests:
The descendants of |
Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite(Y) and was called by that name). |
62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood(Z) as unclean. 63 The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food(AA) until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.(AB)
64 The whole company numbered 42,360, 65 besides their 7,337 male and female slaves; and they also had 200 male and female singers.(AC) 66 They had 736 horses,(AD) 245 mules, 67 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys.
68 When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families(AE) gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics[b] of gold, 5,000 minas[c] of silver and 100 priestly garments.
70 The priests, the Levites, the musicians, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.(AF)
Psalm 105
New International Version
Psalm 105(A)
1 Give praise to the Lord,(B) proclaim his name;(C)
make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him,(D) sing praise to him;(E)
tell of all his wonderful acts.(F)
3 Glory in his holy name;(G)
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face(H) always.
5 Remember the wonders(I) he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,(J)
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,(K)
his chosen(L) ones, the children of Jacob.
7 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant(M) forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant he made with Abraham,(N)
the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it(O) to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:(P)
11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan(Q)
as the portion you will inherit.”(R)
12 When they were but few in number,(S)
few indeed, and strangers in it,(T)
13 they wandered from nation to nation,(U)
from one kingdom to another.
14 He allowed no one to oppress(V) them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:(W)
15 “Do not touch(X) my anointed ones;
do my prophets(Y) no harm.”
16 He called down famine(Z) on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food;
17 and he sent a man before them—
Joseph, sold as a slave.(AA)
18 They bruised his feet with shackles,(AB)
his neck was put in irons,
19 till what he foretold(AC) came to pass,
till the word(AD) of the Lord proved him true.
20 The king sent and released him,
the ruler of peoples set him free.(AE)
21 He made him master of his household,
ruler over all he possessed,
22 to instruct his princes(AF) as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.(AG)
23 Then Israel entered Egypt;(AH)
Jacob resided(AI) as a foreigner in the land of Ham.(AJ)
24 The Lord made his people very fruitful;
he made them too numerous(AK) for their foes,
25 whose hearts he turned(AL) to hate his people,
to conspire(AM) against his servants.
26 He sent Moses(AN) his servant,
and Aaron,(AO) whom he had chosen.(AP)
27 They performed(AQ) his signs(AR) among them,
his wonders(AS) in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness(AT) and made the land dark—
for had they not rebelled against(AU) his words?
29 He turned their waters into blood,(AV)
causing their fish to die.(AW)
30 Their land teemed with frogs,(AX)
which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.
31 He spoke,(AY) and there came swarms of flies,(AZ)
and gnats(BA) throughout their country.
32 He turned their rain into hail,(BB)
with lightning throughout their land;
33 he struck down their vines(BC) and fig trees(BD)
and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke,(BE) and the locusts came,(BF)
grasshoppers(BG) without number;(BH)
35 they ate up every green thing in their land,
ate up the produce of their soil.
36 Then he struck down all the firstborn(BI) in their land,
the firstfruits of all their manhood.
37 He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold,(BJ)
and from among their tribes no one faltered.
38 Egypt was glad when they left,
because dread of Israel(BK) had fallen on them.
39 He spread out a cloud(BL) as a covering,
and a fire to give light at night.(BM)
40 They asked,(BN) and he brought them quail;(BO)
he fed them well with the bread of heaven.(BP)
41 He opened the rock,(BQ) and water gushed out;
it flowed like a river in the desert.
42 For he remembered his holy promise(BR)
given to his servant Abraham.
43 He brought out his people with rejoicing,(BS)
his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
44 he gave them the lands of the nations,(BT)
and they fell heir to what others had toiled(BU) for—
45 that they might keep his precepts
and observe his laws.(BV)
Footnotes
- Psalm 105:45 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
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