The Birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18–25)
2 ULT This first registration happened{ while} Quirinius was governing Syria. BSB BSB: This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 ULT And everyone was traveling to register himself, each one to his own city. BSB BSB: And everyone went to his own town to register.
5 ULT He registered himself with Mary, the one that had been engaged to him, being pregnant. BSB BSB: He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
6 ULT And it happened that, while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to deliver. BSB BSB: While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
7 ULT And she delivered her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in 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 ULT And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a 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 ULT And the angel said to them,“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be 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 ULT For today has been born for you in the city of David a Savior, who 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 ULT And this{ will be} the sign 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 ULT And suddenly a multitude of the heavenly army was with the angel, 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 ULT “Glory in the highest to God, and on earth, peace among men of good pleasure.” BSB BSB: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
15 ULT And it happened that, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other,“Let us indeed go over as far as Bethlehem, and let us 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 ULT And they went hastening and found both Mary and Joseph, and 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 ULT And having seen him, they made known about the message that had been told to them about this child. BSB BSB: After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.
18 ULT And all the ones having heard{ it} were amazed concerning the things that were spoken to them by the shepherds. BSB BSB: And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 ULT But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. BSB BSB: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 ULT And 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 ULT And when the days of their purification had been fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to 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 ULT (just as it is written in the law of the Lord,“Every male who opens the womb will be called holy 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 ULT and to offer a sacrifice according to{ what} had been 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 ULT And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name{ was} Simeon, and this man{ was} righteous and devout, waiting 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 ULT And 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 ULT And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus for them to do according to the custom of the law concerning him, 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 ULT and he took him into his arms and blessed God, and he said, BSB BSB: Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
29 ULT “You are now dismissing your servant in peace, Lord, according to your word. BSB BSB: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
30 ULT For my eyes have seen your salvation, BSB BSB: For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 ULT which you have prepared before the face of all the peoples: BSB BSB: which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 ULT 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 ULT And his father and mother were amazed at what is being said about him. BSB BSB: The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
34 ULT And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother,“Behold, this one is appointed for the downfall and rising up of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against— 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 ULT and a sword will also 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 ULT And Anna was there, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She had advanced much in days, having 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 ULT and she{ was} a widow for 84 years who never left the temple, 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 ULT And coming up at that very hour, she began giving thanks to God and speaking about him to all the ones 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 ULT And the child grew and was strengthened, being filled with 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 ULT And when he was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast. BSB BSB: And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
43 ULT And the days having been completed, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, but 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 ULT But thinking that he was with the group of travelers, they went a day’ s journey and they sought 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 ULT And not finding{ him}, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. BSB BSB: When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
46 ULT And it happened that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and 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 ULT And all the ones hearing 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 ULT And having seen him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him,“Child, why have you treated us thus? Behold, your father and I have been tormented 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 ULT And he said to them,“Why{ is it} that you were searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in the things of my Father?” 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 ULT But they did not understand the word that he spoke to them. BSB BSB: But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.
52 ULT And Jesus was increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. BSB BSB: And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.