The Birth of Jesus Christ

¹In those days la decree went out from mCaesar Augustus that all the world should be nregistered. ²This was the first nregistration when1 Quirinius owas governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴And Joseph also went up pfrom Galilee, from the town of qNazareth, to Judea, to rthe city of David, which is called sBethlehem, tbecause he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,2 who was with child. ⁶And twhile they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and uwrapped him in swaddling cloths and vlaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in wthe inn.3

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And an angel of the Lord xappeared to them, and ythe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all zthe people. ¹¹For aunto you is born this day in bthe city of David ca Savior, who is dChrist ethe Lord. ¹²And fthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby gwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴i“Glory to God jin the highest,

jand on earth kpeace lamong those with whom he is pleased!”4

¹⁵When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby mlying in a manger. ¹⁷And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But nMary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, oglorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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