Luke 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 2
The Birth of Jesus. 1 [a]In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus[b] that the whole world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,(A) 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.(B) 6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son.[c] She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.(C)
8 [d]Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. 9 The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.(D) 10 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 [e](E)For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
The Visit of the Shepherds. 15 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. 19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus. 21 When eight days were completed for his circumcision,[g] he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.(G)
The Presentation in the Temple. 22 [h]When the days were completed for their purification[i] according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,(H) 23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,”(I) 24 and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel,[j] and the holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, 28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
29 “Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,(J)
31 which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”(K)
33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted(L) 35 (and you yourself a sword will pierce)[k] so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38 And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.(M)
The Return to Nazareth. 39 When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.(N) 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.(O)
The Boy Jesus in the Temple.[l] 41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,(P) 42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. 43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, 47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[m] 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.(Q) 52 And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.(R)
Footnotes
- 2:1–2 Although universal registrations of Roman citizens are attested in 28 B.C., 8 B.C., and A.D. 14 and enrollments in individual provinces of those who are not Roman citizens are also attested, such a universal census of the Roman world under Caesar Augustus is unknown outside the New Testament. Moreover, there are notorious historical problems connected with Luke’s dating the census when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and the various attempts to resolve the difficulties have proved unsuccessful. P. Sulpicius Quirinius became legate of the province of Syria in A.D. 6–7 when Judea was annexed to the province of Syria. At that time, a provincial census of Judea was taken up. If Quirinius had been legate of Syria previously, it would have to have been before 10 B.C. because the various legates of Syria from 10 B.C. to 4 B.C. (the death of Herod) are known, and such a dating for an earlier census under Quirinius would create additional problems for dating the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (Lk 3:1, 23). A previous legateship after 4 B.C. (and before A.D. 6) would not fit with the dating of Jesus’ birth in the days of Herod (Lk 1:5; Mt 2:1). Luke may simply be combining Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem with his vague recollection of a census under Quirinius (see also Acts 5:37) to underline the significance of this birth for the whole Roman world: through this child born in Bethlehem peace and salvation come to the empire.
- 2:1 Caesar Augustus: the reign of the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus is usually dated from 27 B.C. to his death in A.D. 14. According to Greek inscriptions, Augustus was regarded in the Roman Empire as “savior” and “god,” and he was credited with establishing a time of peace, the pax Augusta, throughout the Roman world during his long reign. It is not by chance that Luke relates the birth of Jesus to the time of Caesar Augustus: the real savior (Lk 2:11) and peace-bearer (Lk 2:14; see also Lk 19:38) is the child born in Bethlehem. The great emperor is simply God’s agent (like the Persian king Cyrus in Is 44:28–45:1) who provides the occasion for God’s purposes to be accomplished. The whole world: that is, the whole Roman world: Rome, Italy, and the Roman provinces.
- 2:7 Firstborn son: the description of Jesus as firstborn son does not necessarily mean that Mary had other sons. It is a legal description indicating that Jesus possessed the rights and privileges of the firstborn son (Gn 27; Ex 13:2; Nm 3:12–13; 18:15–16; Dt 21:15–17). See notes on Mt 1:25; Mk 6:3. Wrapped him in swaddling clothes: there may be an allusion here to the birth of another descendant of David, his son Solomon, who though a great king was wrapped in swaddling clothes like any other infant (Wis 7:4–6). Laid him in a manger: a feeding trough for animals. A possible allusion to Is 1:3 LXX.
- 2:8–20 The announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds is in keeping with Luke’s theme that the lowly are singled out as the recipients of God’s favors and blessings (see also Lk 1:48, 52).
- 2:11 The basic message of the infancy narrative is contained in the angel’s announcement: this child is savior, Messiah, and Lord. Luke is the only synoptic gospel writer to use the title savior for Jesus (Lk 2:11; Acts 5:31; 13:23; see also Lk 1:69; 19:9; Acts 4:12). As savior, Jesus is looked upon by Luke as the one who rescues humanity from sin and delivers humanity from the condition of alienation from God. The title christos, “Christ,” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew māšîaḥ, “Messiah,” “anointed one.” Among certain groups in first-century Palestinian Judaism, the title was applied to an expected royal leader from the line of David who would restore the kingdom to Israel (see Acts 1:6). The political overtones of the title are played down in Luke and instead the Messiah of the Lord (Lk 2:26) or the Lord’s anointed is the one who now brings salvation to all humanity, Jew and Gentile (Lk 2:29–32). Lord is the most frequently used title for Jesus in Luke and Acts. In the New Testament it is also applied to Yahweh, as it is in the Old Testament. When used of Jesus it points to his transcendence and dominion over humanity.
- 2:14 On earth peace to those on whom his favor rests: the peace that results from the Christ event is for those whom God has favored with his grace. This reading is found in the oldest representatives of the Western and Alexandrian text traditions and is the preferred one; the Byzantine text tradition, on the other hand, reads: “on earth peace, good will toward men.” The peace of which Luke’s gospel speaks (Lk 2:14; 7:50; 8:48; 10:5–6; 19:38, 42; 24:36) is more than the absence of war of the pax Augusta; it also includes the security and well-being characteristic of peace in the Old Testament.
- 2:21 Just as John before him had been incorporated into the people of Israel through his circumcision, so too this child (see note on Lk 1:57–66).
- 2:22–40 The presentation of Jesus in the temple depicts the parents of Jesus as devout Jews, faithful observers of the law of the Lord (Lk 2:23–24, 39), i.e., the law of Moses. In this respect, they are described in a fashion similar to the parents of John (Lk 1:6) and Simeon (Lk 2:25) and Anna (Lk 2:36–37).
- 2:22 Their purification: syntactically, their must refer to Mary and Joseph, even though the Mosaic law never mentions the purification of the husband. Recognizing the problem, some Western scribes have altered the text to read “his purification,” understanding the presentation of Jesus in the temple as a form of purification; the Vulgate version has a Latin form that could be either “his” or “her.” According to the Mosaic law (Lv 12:2–8), the woman who gives birth to a boy is unable for forty days to touch anything sacred or to enter the temple area by reason of her legal impurity. At the end of this period she is required to offer a year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon as an expiation of sin. The woman who could not afford a lamb offered instead two turtledoves or two young pigeons, as Mary does here. They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord: as the firstborn son (Lk 2:7) Jesus was consecrated to the Lord as the law required (Ex 13:2, 12), but there was no requirement that this be done at the temple. The concept of a presentation at the temple is probably derived from 1 Sm 1:24–28, where Hannah offers the child Samuel for sanctuary services. The law further stipulated (Nm 3:47–48) that the firstborn son should be redeemed by the parents through their payment of five shekels to a member of a priestly family. About this legal requirement Luke is silent.
- 2:25 Awaiting the consolation of Israel: Simeon here and later Anna who speak about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem represent the hopes and expectations of faithful and devout Jews who at this time were looking forward to the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment.
- 2:35 (And you yourself a sword will pierce): Mary herself will not be untouched by the various reactions to the role of Jesus (Lk 2:34). Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as “hearing the word of God and observing it” (Lk 11:27–28 and Lk 8:20–21).
- 2:41–52 This story’s concern with an incident from Jesus’ youth is unique in the canonical gospel tradition. It presents Jesus in the role of the faithful Jewish boy, raised in the traditions of Israel, and fulfilling all that the law requires. With this episode, the infancy narrative ends just as it began, in the setting of the Jerusalem temple.
- 2:49 I must be in my Father’s house: this phrase can also be translated, “I must be about my Father’s work.” In either translation, Jesus refers to God as his Father. His divine sonship, and his obedience to his heavenly Father’s will, take precedence over his ties to his family.
Lucas 2
Reina-Valera Antigua
2 Y ACONTECIO en aquellos días que salió edicto de parte de Augusto César, que toda la tierra fuese empadronada.
2 Este empadronamiento primero fué hecho siendo Cirenio gobernador de la Siria.
3 E iban todos para ser empadronados, cada uno á su ciudad.
4 Y subió José de Galilea, de la ciudad de Nazaret, á Judea, á la ciudad de David, que se llama Bethlehem, por cuanto era de la casa y familia de David;
5 Para ser empadronado con María su mujer, desposada con él, la cual estaba encinta.
6 Y aconteció que estando ellos allí, se cumplieron los días en que ella había de parir.
7 Y parió á su hijo primogénito, y le envolvió en pañales, y acostóle en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en el mesón.
8 Y había pastores en la misma tierra, que velaban y guardaban las vigilias de la noche sobre su ganado.
9 Y he aquí el ángel del Señor vino sobre ellos, y la claridad de Dios los cercó de resplandor; y tuvieron gran temor.
10 Mas el ángel les dijo: No temáis; porque he aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo, que será para todo el pueblo:
11 Que os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es CRISTO el Señor.
12 Y esto os será por señal: hallaréis al niño envuelto en pañales, echado en un pesebre.
13 Y repentinamente fué con el ángel una multitud de los ejércitos celestiales, que alababan á Dios, y decían:
14 Gloria en las alturas á Dios, Y en la tierra paz, buena voluntad para con los hombres.
15 Y aconteció que como los ángeles se fueron de ellos al cielo, los pastores dijeron los unos á los otros: Pasemos pues hasta Bethlehem, y veamos esto que ha sucedido, que el Señor nos ha manifestado.
16 Y vinieron apriesa, y hallaron á María, y á José, y al niño acostado en el pesebre.
17 Y viéndolo, hicieron notorio lo que les había sido dicho del niño.
18 Y todos los que oyeron, se maravillaron de lo que los pastores les decían.
19 Mas María guardaba todas estas cosas, confiriéndolas en su corazón.
20 Y se volvieron los pastores glorificando y alabando á Dios de todas las cosas que habían oído y visto, como les había sido dicho.
21 Y pasados los ocho días para circuncidar al niño, llamaron su nombre JESUS; el cual le fué puesto por el ángel antes que él fuese concebido en el vientre.
22 Y como se cumplieron los días de la purificación de ella, conforme á la ley de Moisés, le trajeron á Jerusalem para presentarle al Señor,
23 (Como está escrito en la ley del Señor: Todo varón que abriere la matriz, será llamado santo al Señor),
24 Y para dar la ofrenda, conforme á lo que está dicho en la ley del Señor: un par de tórtolas, ó dos palominos.
25 Y he aquí, había un hombre en Jerusalem, llamado Simeón, y este hombre, justo y pío, esperaba la consolación de Israel: y el Espíritu Santo era sobre él.
26 Y había recibido respuesta del Espíritu Santo, que no vería la muerte antes que viese al Cristo del Señor.
27 Y vino por Espíritu al templo. Y cuando metieron al niño Jesús sus padres en el templo, para hacer por él conforme á la costumbre de la ley.
28 Entonces él le tomó en sus brazos, y bendijo á Dios, y dijo:
29 Ahora despides, Señor, á tu siervo, Conforme á tu palabra, en paz;
30 Porque han visto mis ojos tu salvación,
31 La cual has aparejado en presencia de todos los pueblos;
32 Luz para ser revelada á los Gentiles, Y la gloria de tu pueblo Israel.
33 Y José y su madre estaban maravillados de las cosas que se decían de él.
34 Y los bendijo Simeón, y dijo á su madre María: He aquí, éste es puesto para caída y para levantamiento de muchos en Israel; y para señal á la que será contradicho;
35 Y una espada traspasará tu alma de ti misma, para que sean manifestados los pensamientos de muchos corazones.
36 Estaba también allí Ana, profetisa, hija de Phanuel, de la tribu de Aser; la cual había venido en grande edad, y había vivido con su marido siete años desde su virginidad;
37 Y era viuda de hasta ochenta y cuatro años, que no se apartaba del templo, sirviendo de noche y de día con ayunos y oraciones.
38 Y ésta, sobreviniendo en la misma hora, juntamente confesaba al Señor, y hablaba de él á todos los que esperaban la redención en Jerusalem.
39 Mas como cumplieron todas las cosas según la ley del Señor, se volvieron á Galilea, á su ciudad de Nazaret.
40 Y el niño crecía, y fortalecíase, y se henchía de sabiduría; y la gracia de Dios era sobre él.
41 E iban sus padres todos los años á Jerusalem en la fiesta de la Pascua.
42 Y cuando fué de doce años, subieron ellos á Jerusalem conforme á la costumbre del día de la fiesta.
43 Y acabados los días, volviendo ellos, se quedó el niño Jesús en Jerusalem, sin saberlo José y su madre.
44 Y pensando que estaba en la compañía, anduvieron camino de un día; y le buscaban entre los parientes y entre los conocidos:
45 Mas como no le hallasen, volvieron á Jerusalem buscándole.
46 Y aconteció, que tres días después le hallaron en el templo, sentado en medio de los doctores, oyéndoles y preguntándoles.
47 Y todos los que le oían, se pasmaban de su entendimiento y de sus respuestas.
48 Y cuando le vieron, se maravillaron; y díjole su madre: Hijo, ¿por qué nos has hecho así? He aquí, tu padre y yo te hemos buscado con dolor.
49 Entonces él les dice: ¿Qué hay? ¿por qué me buscabais? ¿No sabíais que en los negocios de mi Padre me conviene estar?
50 Mas ellos no entendieron las palabras que les habló.
51 Y descendió con ellos, y vino á Nazaret, y estaba sujeto á ellos. Y su madre guardaba todas estas cosas en su corazón.
52 Y Jesús crecía en sabiduría, y en edad, y en gracia para con Dios y los hombres.
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)
Luka 2
Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero
Kubadwa kwa Yesu
2 Mʼmasiku amenewo Kaisara Augusto anapereka lamulo kuti kalembera achitike mʼdziko lonse la Aroma. 2 (Uyu ndi kalembera woyamba amene anachitika pamene Kureniyo anali bwanamkubwa wa Siriya). 3 Ndipo aliyense anapita ku mzinda wa kwawo kukalembetsa.
4 Choncho Yosefe anachoka ku Nazareti ku Galileya kupita ku Yudeya, ku Betelehemu ku mudzi wa Davide, chifukwa anali wa banja ndi fuko la Davide. 5 Iye anapita kumeneko kukalembetsa pamodzi ndi Mariya, amene anapalana naye ubwenzi kuti akwatirane ndipo anali woyembekezera. 6 Ali kumeneko, nthawi inakwana yakuti mwana abadwe, 7 ndipo anabereka mwana wake woyamba, wamwamuna. Iye anamukulunga mʼnsalu ndi kumuyika modyera ngʼombe, chifukwa kunalibe malo mʼnyumba ya alendo.
Abusa ndi Angelo
8 Ndipo kunali abusa amene amakhala ku dera lomwelo, kuyangʼanira ziweto zawo usiku. 9 Mngelo wa Ambuye anaonekera kwa iwo ndipo ulemerero wa Ambuye unawala mowazungulira. Iwo anachita mantha. 10 Koma mngeloyo anawawuza kuti, “Musachite mantha. Ine ndakubweretserani Uthenga Wabwino wachimwemwe chachikulu umene udzakhala wa anthu onse. 11 Lero mʼmudzi wa Davide wakubwadwirani Mpulumutsi; Iye ndi Khristu Ambuye. 12 Ichi chidzakhala chizindikiro kwa inu: mukapeza mwana wakhanda wokutidwa ndi nsalu atagona modyera ngʼombe.”
13 Mwadzidzidzi gulu lalikulu la angelo linaonekera pamodzi ndi mngeloyo, kuyamika Mulungu ndi kumati,
14 “Ulemerero kwa Mulungu mmwambamwamba,
ndi mtendere kwa anthu pa dziko lapansi amene Iye akondwera nawo.”
15 Angelowo atabwerera kumwamba, abusawo anati kwa wina ndi mnzake, “Tiyeni ku Betelehemu tikaone zinthu zomwe zachitika, zimene Ambuye atiwuza ife.”
16 Ndipo iwo anafulumira nyamuka nakapeza Mariya ndi Yosefe ndi mwana wakhanda, amene anagona modyera ngʼombe. 17 Pamene anamuona Iye, iwo anafotokoza zomwe anawuzidwa za mwanayo, 18 ndipo onse amene anamva zimene abusawa ananena anadabwa. 19 Koma Mariya anasunga zonsezi mu mtima mwake ndi kumazilingalira. 20 Abusa anabwerera, akulemekeza ndi kuyamika Mulungu chifukwa cha zonse anazimva ndi kuziona, zomwe zinali monga anawuzidwira ndi angelo aja.
Yesu Aperekedwa mʼNyumba ya Mulungu
21 Pa tsiku lachisanu ndi chitatu, tsiku loti amuchite mdulidwe anamutcha Yesu, dzina limene mngelo anamupatsa asanabadwe.
22 Nthawi yoyeretsedwa kwawo itatha, monga mwa lamulo la Mose, Yosefe ndi Mariya anapita naye ku Yerusalemu kukamupereka kwa Ambuye. 23 (Monga mmene zinalembedwera mu lamulo la Ambuye kuti, “Muzikapereka kwa Ambuye mwana aliyense wamwamuna woyamba kubadwa”), 24 ndi kupereka nsembe posunga zimene zinanenedwa mulamulo la Ambuye: “Njiwa ziwiri kapena mawunda ankhunda awiri.”
25 Ndipo taonani, mu Yerusalemu munali munthu wotchedwa Simeoni, amene anali wolungama ndi wodzipereka. Iye ankadikira chitonthozo cha Israeli, ndipo Mzimu Woyera anali pa iye. 26 Mzimu Woyera anamuwululira kuti sadzafa asanaone Khristu wa Ambuye. 27 Motsogozedwa ndi Mzimu Woyera, iye anapita ku bwalo la Nyumba ya Mulungu. Makolo ake a Yesu atabwera naye kuti achite naye mwambo malingana ndi malamulo, 28 Simeoni anamunyamula mʼmanja mwake nayamika Mulungu, nati:
29 “Ambuye waulamuliro, monga munalonjeza,
tsopano lolani kuti mtumiki wanu apite mu mtendere.
30 Pakuti maso anga aona chipulumutso chanu,
31 chimene Inu munakonza pamaso pa anthu onse,
32 kuwala kowunikira anthu a mitundu ina
ndi kwa ulemerero kwa anthu anu Aisraeli.”
33 Abambo ndi amayi a Mwanayo anadabwa chifukwa cha zimene zinanenedwa za Iye. 34 Kenaka Simeoni anawadalitsa ndipo anati kwa Mariya amayi ake: “Mwana uyu wakonzedwa kukhala kugwa ndi kudzuka kwa ambiri mu Israeli, ndi kukhala chizindikiro chimene adzayankhula motsutsana nacho, 35 kotero kuti malingaliro a mitima ya ambiri adzawululidwa. Ndipo lupanga lidzabaya moyo wakonso.”
36 Panalinso mneneri wamkazi, dzina lake Ana, mwana wa Fanuelo, wa fuko la Aseri. Anali wokalamba kwambiri; anakhala ndi mwamuna wake zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri atakwatiwa, 37 ndipo kenaka anakhala wamasiye mpaka pamene anali ndi zaka 84. Iye sanachoke mʼNyumba ya Mulungu koma ankapembedza usiku ndi usana, kusala kudya ndi kupemphera. 38 Pa nthawiyo pamene ankapita kwa iwo, iye anayamika Mulungu ndi kuyankhula za Mwanayo kwa onse amene ankayembekezera chipulumutso cha Yerusalemu.
39 Yosefe ndi Mariya atachita zonse zimene zinkafunikira ndi lamulo la Ambuye, anabwerera ku Galileya ku mudzi wa Nazareti. 40 Ndipo Mwanayo anakula nakhala wamphamvu; Iye anadzazidwa ndi nzeru, ndipo chisomo cha Mulungu chinali pa Iye.
Yesu mʼNyumba ya Mulungu
41 Chaka chilichonse makolo ake ankapita ku Yerusalemu ku phwando la Paska. 42 Iye ali ndi zaka khumi ndi ziwiri, anapita ku phwando, monga mwa mwambo. 43 Phwando litatha, pamene makolo ake ankabwerera kwawo, mnyamata Yesu anatsalira ku Yerusalemu, koma iwo sanadziwe zimenezi. 44 Poganiza kuti anali nawo mʼgulu lawo, anayenda tsiku limodzi. Kenaka anayamba kumufunafuna pakati pa abale awo ndi anzawo. 45 Atalephera kumupeza, anabwerera ku Yerusalemu kukamufuna. 46 Patatha masiku atatu anamupeza ali mʼbwalo la Nyumba ya Mulungu, atakhala pakati pa aphunzitsi, akumvetsera ndi kuwafunsa mafunso. 47 Aliyense amene anamumva Iye anadabwa ndi chidziwitso chake ndi mayankho ake. 48 Makolo ake atamuona, anadabwa. Amayi ake anati kwa Iye, “Mwanawe, watichitira zimenezi chifukwa chiyani? Abambo ako ndi ine takhala tili ndi nkhawa kukufunafuna Iwe.”
49 Iye anawafunsa kuti, “Nʼchifukwa chiyani mumandifunafuna? Kodi simukudziwa kuti ndikuyenera kukhala mʼnyumba ya Atate anga?” 50 Koma iwo sanazindikire chomwe Iye amatanthauza.
51 Kenaka anapita nawo ku Nazareti ndipo anawamvera iwo. Koma amayi ake anasunga zinthu zonsezi mu mtima mwawo.
52 Ndipo Yesu anakula mu nzeru, msinkhu ndi chisomo cha Mulungu ndi anthu.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
The Word of God in Contemporary Chichewa Copyright © 2002, 2016 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide. Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Mwini © 2002, 2016 ndi Biblica, Inc.® Kugwiritsa ntchito mwachilolezo. Umwini ndi otetezedwa pa dziko lonse.
