The Shepherds and the Angels

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord(A) stood before[a] them,(B) and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.[b] 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid,(C) for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:[c] 11 Today a Savior,(D) who is Messiah(E) the Lord,(F) was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you:(G) You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”

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

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,(H)
and peace on earth(I) to people He favors![d][e](J)

15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things[f] in her heart(K) and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God(L) for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:9 Or Lord appeared to
  2. Luke 2:9 Lit they feared a great fear
  3. Luke 2:10 Or the whole nation
  4. Luke 2:14 Other mss read earth good will to people
  5. Luke 2:14 Or earth to men of good will
  6. Luke 2:19 Lit these words

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds in the same region, living out of doors and keeping watch, guarding over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened.[a] 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!”[b]

15 And it happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say[c] 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[d] saw it,[e] they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child. 18 And all who heard it[f] were astonished concerning what had been said to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering them[g] 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:9 Literally “they were afraid with great fear”
  2. Luke 2:14 Literally “of good pleasure”
  3. Luke 2:15 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to say”)
  4. Luke 2:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  5. Luke 2:17 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. Luke 2:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Luke 2:19 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation