Luke 2
Lexham English Bible
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar[a] Augustus to register all the empire. 2 (This first registration took place when[b] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to be registered, each one to his own town. 4 So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered together with Mary, who was legally promised in marriage to him and[c] was pregnant. 6 And it happened that while they were there, the time came[d] for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And there were shepherds in the same region, living out of doors and keeping watch, guarding over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened.[e] 10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people: 11 that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace
among people with whom he is pleased!”[f]
15 And it happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say[g] to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us!” 16 And they went hurrying and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 And when they[h] saw it,[i] they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child. 18 And all who heard it[j] were astonished concerning what had been said to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering them[k] in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
21 And when eight days were completed so that he could be circumcised,[l] he was named Jesus, his name that he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
22 And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him[m] to the Lord 23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”)[n] 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”[o]
The Prophecy of Simeon
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was[p] Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he would see the Lord’s Christ.[q] 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus so that they could do for him according to what was customary under the law, 28 he took him in his[r] arms and praised God and said,
29 “Now dismiss your slave in peace, Lord,
according to your word.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all the peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and mother were astonished at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed[s]— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul also, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed!”
The Testimony of Anna
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (she was advanced in years,[t] having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,[u] 37 and herself as a widow up to eighty-four years)[v] who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day. 38 And at that same hour she approached and[w] began to give thanks[x] to God, and to speak about him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child was growing and becoming strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
Jesus in the Temple at Twelve Years Old
41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast. 43 And after[y] the days were completed, while they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And his parents did not know it,[z] 44 but believing him to be in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. And they began searching for[aa] him among their[ab] relatives and their[ac] acquaintances, 45 and when they[ad] did not find him,[ae] they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple courts,[af] sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his insight and his[ag] answers. 48 And when they[ah] saw him, they were astounded and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have been searching for you anxiously!” 49 And he said to them, “Why[ai] were you searching for me? Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in the house[aj] of my Father?” 50 And they did not understand the statement that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submitting to them. And his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people.
Footnotes
- Luke 2:1 Or “the emperor”
- Luke 2:2 Or perhaps “before”; here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was governor”)
- Luke 2:5 Here “and” is supplied in keeping with English style
- Luke 2:6 Literally “the days were completed”
- Luke 2:9 Literally “they were afraid with great fear”
- Luke 2:14 Literally “of good pleasure”
- Luke 2:15 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to say”)
- Luke 2:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 2:17 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:19 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:21 Literally “to circumcise him”
- Luke 2:22 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:23 An allusion to Exod 13:2, 12, 15
- Luke 2:24 A quotation from Lev 5:11; 12:8
- Luke 2:25 Literally “to whom the name”
- Luke 2:26 Or “Messiah”
- Luke 2:28 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 2:34 Or “rejected”
- Luke 2:36 Literally “with many days”
- Luke 2:36 Literally “from her virginity”
- Luke 2:37 Or “eighty-four years as a widow”
- Luke 2:38 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 2:38 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to give thanks”)
- Luke 2:43 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were completed”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 2:43 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:44 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began searching for”)
- Luke 2:44 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 2:44 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 2:45 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“find”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 2:45 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:46 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
- Luke 2:47 This is an understood repetition of “his” due to English style
- Luke 2:48 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 2:49 Literally “what is it that”
- Luke 2:49 Or “things” (= business)
路 加 福 音 2
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
耶稣降生
2 那时候，罗马皇帝凯撒奥古士都下令，整个罗马帝国的人们都必须办理户口登记注册 [a]，以便对人口进行普查统计。 2 这是第一次人口普查登记。当时正值居里扭做叙利亚总督， 3 因此，所有的人都回到自己的家乡去登记。
4 所以约瑟也离开加利利的拿撒勒城，到了犹太地区的一个叫伯利恒的城镇，此城是大卫家族的城镇。因为他是大卫家族的人，所以他到了那里。 5 他和马利亚一起去登记，因为马利亚已经许聘给了他，此时她正怀着孕。 6 他们在那里时，马利亚的产期到了， 7 生下了第一个儿子。因为客店没有地方容纳他们，她便把孩子用布包裹起来，放在马槽里。
牧羊人听说耶稣降临
8 一些牧羊人夜间露宿在野地里，照看羊群。 9 主的一个天使出现在他们面前，主的荣光照耀在他们的周围，牧羊人都非常惊恐。 10 天使对他们说∶“不要害怕，我给你们带来了好消息。这个消息也将给普天下的人们带来极大的喜悦。 11 因为今天在大卫城里你们的救世主诞生了，他就是主基督。 12 你们在马槽里将发现有个用布包着的婴儿躺在那里，那就是给你们的记号。”
13 突然，一队天兵和天使一起出现，他们齐声称颂道：
14 “荣耀归于至高无上的上帝，
和平赐给在地上他所喜爱的人们。”
15 然后，天使离开他们，返回了天上。牧羊人互相说道∶“我们到伯利恒去看看主告诉我们已经发生的事情吧。”
16 于是，这些牧羊人就急急忙忙赶到了那里，找到了马利亚和约瑟，也看见了躺在马槽里的婴儿。 17 他们看到这个婴儿后，就把天使讲的关于这个婴儿的事情告诉了大家。 18 人们都为牧羊人告诉他们的事情感到惊讶。 19 但是，马利亚却把这些事情记在心上，反复地琢磨着。 20 牧羊人回去后，都为他们的所见所闻赞美上帝，因为他们耳闻目睹的事情正与天使所说的完全一致。
21 婴儿出生后的第八天，便受了割礼，取名叫耶稣，这个名字是天使在马利亚怀孕以前就为他取好了的。
在大殿里呈献耶稣
22 按照摩西律法，到了洁净的日子 [b]了。约瑟和马利亚带着孩子一起去耶路撒冷。他们要把他呈献在主的面前。 23 因为主的律法中写道∶“每家的长子应该呈献给主 [c]。” 24 主的律法还说，他们必须奉献祭物∶“必须为主献上一对鸽子 [d]或两只幼鸽 [e]。”
西面见到耶稣
25 耶路撒冷城里有一个名叫西面的人，他是一个公正、虔诚的人，一直期待着上帝帮助以色列。圣灵与他同在。 26 圣灵向他揭示：他死之前，将会看到主耶稣基督。 27 圣灵引导西面来到大殿院里，与此同时，约瑟和马利亚也把他们的孩子抱进了大殿院，正准备按照律法履行所规定的事项。 28 西面把孩子抱在怀里，赞美上帝道：
29 “主啊，就按您的许诺，
让您的仆人安然地死去吧！
30 因为我已经亲眼看见了您的拯救 [f]。
31 那是您在万民面前准备的。
32 他是一盏明灯，
为外族人带来了启示，
为您的子民以色列带来荣誉。”
33 耶稣的父母听到关于耶稣的话，感到十分惊讶。 34 西面又为他们祝福，并对马利亚说∶“这个孩子命中注定要使许多以色列人兴衰，他也注定是一个被抛弃的迹象， 35 （他也是一把刺穿你们内心的利剑），揭露许多人的内心思想。”
亚拿见到耶稣
36 当时还有一个名叫亚拿的女先知，她是亚设族人法内力的女儿。亚拿已经很老了，她只与丈夫一起生活了七年，就寡居了， 37 她现在八十四岁。她从未离开过大殿，通过禁食 [g]和祈祷，日日夜夜崇拜上帝。
38 此刻，亚拿来到孩子和他父母那里，向上帝谢恩，并把关于耶稣的事情告诉给那些等待着耶路撒冷得到拯救的所有人们。
约瑟和马利亚回家
39 约瑟和马利亚按照主的律法，完成一切所规定的事，然后，返回了加利利，到了他们的家乡拿撒勒。 40 耶稣渐渐长大了，强壮而有智慧，上帝的恩典与他同在。
少年耶稣
41 耶稣的父母每年都到耶路撒冷去过逾越节。 42 在他十二岁那年，父母又像往常一样去过节。 43 节期结束后，约瑟和马利亚动身回家了。耶稣却留在了耶路撒冷，他父母并不知道这事， 44 还以为他走在同行的人群里。他们走了一整天后，才开始在亲戚、朋友群里找耶稣， 45 但没有找到他。因此，他们又返回了耶路撒冷去找耶稣。 46 三天后，他们在大殿院里找到了耶稣。当时，他正坐在老师们中间，边听边问。 47 所有在场的人都对耶稣的理解力和应对能力感到非常惊讶。 48 约瑟和马利亚在那里找到耶稣，十分吃惊。马利亚对耶稣说∶“儿子，你为什么要离开我们呢？你父亲和我都在非常焦急地寻找你。”
49 可是，耶稣却对他们说∶“你们为什么要找我呢？难道你们不知道，我必须在我父亲的家里吗？” 50 约瑟和马利亚并不明白这话的含意。
51 耶稣与父母一起回到了拿撒勒。他很听话，事事顺从父母。马利亚把这一切都记在了心上。 52 耶稣身体和智慧随年龄增长着，并且深受上帝和人们的喜爱。
Footnotes
- 路 加 福 音 2:1 户口登记注册： 所有人和他们的财产的计算。
- 路 加 福 音 2:22 洁净的日子： 摩西律法说犹太人妇女生育后的四十天，她得在大殿里接受洁净仪式。见《利末记》12:2-8。
- 路 加 福 音 2:23 引自《出埃及记》13:2。
- 路 加 福 音 2:24 鸽子： 此处指和平鸽。
- 路 加 福 音 2:24 引自《利末记》12:8。
- 路 加 福 音 2:30 拯救： 耶稣的名字意为拯救。
- 路 加 福 音 2:37 禁食： 在一段特定的时间里，祈祷而不进饮食。
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