The Birth of Jesus
(Matthew 1.18-25)1 At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. 3 Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own hometown.
4 Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David. 5 He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, 6 and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger—there was no room for them to stay in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, 10 but the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord! 12 And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God:
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them back 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.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger. 17 When the shepherds saw him, they told them what the angel had said about the child. 18 All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said. 19 Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them. 20 The shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen; it had been just as the angel had told them.
Jesus Is Named
21 A week later, when the time came for the baby to be circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name which the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22 The time came for Joseph and Mary to perform the ceremony of purification, as the Law of Moses commanded. So they took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every first-born male is to be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 They also went to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the law of the Lord.
25 At that time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. He was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit was with him 26 and had assured him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's promised Messiah. 27 Led by the Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required, 28 Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God:
29 “Now, Lord, you have kept your promise,
and you may let your servant go in peace.
30 With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
32 A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles
and bring glory to your people Israel.”
33 The child's father and mother were amazed at the things Simeon said about him. 34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against 35 and so reveal their secret thoughts. And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.”
36-37 There was a very old prophet, a widow named Anna, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for only seven years and was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple; day and night she worshiped God, fasting and praying. 38 That very same hour she arrived and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.
The Return to Nazareth
39 When Joseph and Mary had finished doing all that was required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. 40 The child grew and became strong; he was full of wisdom, and God's blessings were upon him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. 43 When the festival was over, they started back home, but the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; 44 they thought that he was with the group, so they traveled a whole day and then started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 They did not find him, so they went back to Jerusalem looking for him. 46 On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers. 48 His parents were astonished when they saw him, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried trying to find you.”
49 He answered them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?” 50 But they did not understand his answer.
51 So Jesus went back with them to Nazareth, where he was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favor with God and people.
Jēzus piedzimšana
(Mt 1:18–25)1 Tajās dienās nāca cēzara Augusta pavēle pierakstīt iedzīvotājus visā zemē. 2 Šī pirmā pierakstīšana notika laikā, kad Sīrijā valdīja Kirēnijs. 3 Un visi devās ceļā, lai tiktu pierakstīti, katrs uz savu pilsētu. 4 Arī Jāzeps no Galilejas, no Nācaretes pilsētas, gāja uz Jūdeju, uz Dāvida pilsētu, ko sauc Betlēme, tādēļ ka viņš bija no Dāvida nama un dzimtas, 5 lai tiktu pierakstīts kopā ar Mariju, savu saderināto, sievu, kas bija grūta. 6 Viņiem tur esot, tai pienāca laiks dzemdēt. 7 Un viņa dzemdēja Dēlu, savu pirmdzimto, ietina viņu autiņos un guldīja silē, jo tiem nebija vietas augšistabā.
Eņģeļu vēsts ganiem
8 Tajā pašā apvidū gani nomodā zem klajas debess sargāja savus ganāmpulkus. 9 Un Kunga eņģelis tiem piestājās, Kunga godība viņus apmirdzēja, un tie ļoti izbijās. 10 Eņģelis tiem sacīja: “Nebīstieties, redziet, es jums pasludinu lielu prieku, kas būs visiem ļaudīm, 11 jo jums šodien Dāvida pilsētā ir dzimis Pestītājs, kas ir Kristus, Kungs. 12 Redzi, jums šī zīme: jūs atradīsiet bērniņu, autos ietītu un silē gulošu.” 13 Piepeši tur pie eņģeļa bija redzama debespulku draudze, tie slavēja Dievu un sacīja: 14 “Gods Dievam augstībā, un miers virs zemes cilvēkiem, pie kā viņam labs prāts.” 15 Kad eņģeļi aizgāja no tiem debesīs, gani savā starpā runāja: “Iesim uz Betlēmi raudzīt, kas noticis, ko Kungs mums ir pavēstījis.” 16 Un tie steigšus nāca un atrada gan Mariju, gan Jāzepu un bērniņu, silē gulošu. 17 Kad viņi to redzēja, tie pavēstīja, kas viņiem par šo bērniņu bija sacīts. 18 Un visi, kas to dzirdēja, izbrīnījās par to, ko gani viņiem bija sacījuši. 19 Un Marija visus šos vārdus paglabāja sevī, sirdī tos pārdomādama. 20 Un gani griezās atpakaļ, teikdami un slavēdami Dievu par visu, ko bija dzirdējuši un redzējuši, kā viņiem tas bija sacīts. 21 Un, kad pienāca astotā diena, kurā bērniņu vajadzēja apgraizīt, viņam deva vārdu Jēzus, kā viņu eņģelis bija nosaucis, pirms viņš vēl bija ieņemts mātes miesās.
Jēzus tiek nests Kunga priekšā
22 Kad viņu šķīstīšanās dienas pēc Mozus bauslības bija pagājušas, tie viņu aizveda uz Jeruzālemi, lai nestu Kunga priekšā, 23 kā Kunga bauslībā ir rakstīts: katrs puisēns, kas pirmais paver mātes klēpi, lai tiek svētīts Kungam , – 24 un lai pienestu upuri, kā ir noteikts Kunga bauslībā: vienu pāri dūju vai divus jaunus baložus. 25 Un, redzi, Jeruzālemē bija kāds vīrs, vārdā Simeons, un šis vīrs bija krietns un dievbijīgs, viņš ilgojās pēc iepriecinājuma Israēlam, un Svētais Gars bija pār viņu. 26 Viņam Svētais Gars bija atklājis, ka viņš nāvi neredzēs, pirms nebūs redzējis Kunga Svaidīto. 27 Gara vadīts, viņš nāca templī, un, kad vecāki ienesa bērniņu Jēzu, lai izpildītu pie viņa bauslības paražu, 28 tad viņš ņēma to savās rokās un, slavēdams Dievu, sacīja: 29 “Tagad atlaid, Kungs, savu kalpu mierā, kā tu esi sacījis, 30 jo manas acis ir redzējušas tavu pestīšanu, 31 ko tu esi sataisījis visu tautu priekšā, 32 gaismu, kas atklāsies pagāniem, un godību Israēlam, tavai tautai.” 33 Bērna tēvs un māte brīnījās par to, kas tika sacīts par viņu. 34 Un Simeons viņus svētīja un sacīja Marijai, viņa mātei: “Redzi, viņš ir likts, lai daudzi Israēlā kristu un daudzi celtos, un par zīmi, kam runās pretī, – 35 un tev pašai cauri dvēselei zobens dursies, – tā ka atklāsies daudzu siržu domas.” 36 Tur bija praviete Anna, Penuēla meita no Ašēra cilts. Tā bija jau krietni gados, un pēc savām meitas dienām viņa bija dzīvojusi ar vīru septiņus gadus, 37 nu viņa bija atraitne, kādus astoņdesmit četrus gadus veca, un nešķīrās no tempļa, ar gavēšanu un lūgšanām kalpodama dienu un nakti. 38 Arī viņa tajā pašā stundā pienāca klāt un pateicībā slavēja Dievu, un stāstīja par bērniņu visiem, kas gaidīja Jeruzālemes atbrīvošanu.
Atgriešanās Nācaretē
39 Izpildījuši visu pēc Kunga bauslības, tie griezās atpakaļ uz Galileju, uz savu pilsētu Nācareti. 40 Bērniņš auga un pieņēmās spēkā, tapa pilns gudrības, un Dieva žēlastība bija ar viņu.
Jēzus bērnība
41 Viņa vecāki ik gadu Pashas svētkos gāja uz Jeruzālemi. 42 Kad viņš bija divpadsmit gadu vecs, viņi pēc svētku paražas devās uz Jeruzālemi. 43 Kad svētku dienas bija beigušās un viņa vecāki jau devās mājup, bērns Jēzus palika Jeruzālemē, bet viņi to nezināja. 44 Domādami, ka viņš ir atceļā kopā ar citiem, tie, vienas dienas gājumu nostaigājuši, meklēja viņu pie radiem un paziņām. 45 Neatraduši tie atgriezās Jeruzālemē, lai viņu uzmeklētu. 46 Pēc trim dienām tie atrada viņu sēžam templī mācītāju vidū, tos klausoties un izjautājot. 47 Un visi, kas viņu dzirdēja, bija ļoti pārsteigti par viņa saprašanu un atbildēm. 48 Un, viņu ieraudzījuši, vecāki pārbijās, un māte viņam sacīja: “Bērns, kādēļ tu mums tā darīji? Redzi, tavs tēvs un es ar sirdssāpēm tevi meklējām.” 49 Un viņš tiem sacīja: “Kādēļ jūs mani meklējāt? Vai jūs nezināt, ka man jādarbojas sava Tēva lietās?” 50 Bet tie nesaprata viņa teiktos vārdus. 51 Tad viņš gāja tiem līdzi un nonāca Nācaretē, un bija tiem paklausīgs. Un viņa māte visus šos vārdus glabāja savā sirdī. 52 Un Jēzus pieauga gudrībā, augumā un piemīlībā pie Dieva un cilvēkiem.
