The Birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18–25)
2 UEB This was the first census made while Quirinius was governor of Syria. BSB BSB: This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 UEB So everyone went to his own city to be registered for the census. BSB BSB: And everyone went to his own town to register.
5 UEB He went there to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. BSB BSB: He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
6 UEB Now it came about that while they were there, the time came for her to deliver her baby. BSB BSB: While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
7 UEB She gave birth to a son, her firstborn child, and she wrapped him in long strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. BSB BSB: And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 9 UEB An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 UEB Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, because I bring you the good news that will bring great joy to all the people. BSB BSB: But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
11 UEB Today a savior was born for you in the city of David! He is Christ the Lord! BSB BSB: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
12 UEB This is the sign that will be given to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." BSB BSB: And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 UEB Suddenly there was together with the angel a great, heavenly army praising God and saying, BSB BSB: And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
14 UEB "Glory to God in the highest, and may there be peace on earth among people with whom he is pleased." BSB BSB: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
15 UEB It came about that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let us now go to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." BSB BSB: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 UEB They hurried there and found Mary and Joseph, and saw the baby lying in the manger. BSB BSB: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 UEB After they had seen him, they made known what had been said to them about this child. BSB BSB: After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.
18 UEB All who heard it were amazed at what was spoken to them by the shepherds. BSB BSB: And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 UEB But Mary kept thinking about all the things she had heard, treasuring them in her heart. BSB BSB: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 UEB The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything that they had heard and seen, just as it had been spoken to them. BSB BSB: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
Jesus Presented at the Temple 22 UEB When the required number of days for their purification had passed, according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought him up to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. BSB BSB: And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 UEB As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb will be set apart to the Lord." BSB BSB: (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),
24 UEB So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." BSB BSB: and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
The Prophecy of Simeon 25 UEB Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout. He was looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. BSB BSB: Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 UEB It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. BSB BSB: The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 UEB Led by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple. When the parents brought in the infant Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, BSB BSB: Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,
28 UEB he took him into his arms and praised God and he said, BSB BSB: Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
29 UEB "Now let your servant depart in peace, Lord, according to your word. BSB BSB: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
30 UEB For my eyes have seen your salvation, BSB BSB: For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 UEB which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: BSB BSB: which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 UEB A light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel." BSB BSB: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
33 UEB His father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. BSB BSB: The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
34 UEB Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the downfall and rising up of many people in Israel and for a sign that is rejected— BSB BSB: Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
35 UEB and a sword will pierce your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." BSB BSB: so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
The Prophecy of Anna 36 UEB A prophetess named Anna was there. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had lived with her husband for seven years after her virginity, BSB BSB: There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
37 UEB and was a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but was serving with fastings and prayers, night and day. BSB BSB: and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38 UEB At that very hour she came near to them and began giving thanks to God and she spoke about the child to everyone who had been waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. BSB BSB: Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19–23)
40 UEB The child grew and became strong, increasing in wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. BSB BSB: And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple 42 UEB When he was twelve years old, they again went up at the customary time for the feast. BSB BSB: And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
43 UEB After they had stayed the full number of days for the feast, they began to return home. But the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem and his parents did not know it. BSB BSB: When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.
44 UEB They assumed that he was with the group that was traveling with them, so they traveled a day's journey. Then they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. BSB BSB: Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
45 UEB When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem and started looking for him there. BSB BSB: When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
46 UEB It came about that after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. BSB BSB: Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 UEB All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. BSB BSB: And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
48 UEB When they saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Listen, your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." BSB BSB: When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”
49 UEB He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I had to be about my Father's business? BSB BSB: “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
50 UEB But they did not understand what he meant by those words. BSB BSB: But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.
52 UEB But Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and stature, and increased in favor with God and people. BSB BSB: And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.