1In
those days
Caesar
Augustus
issued a
decree that
a census
should be
taken of the
entire Roman
world. 2(This
was the
first census
that took
place while
Quirinius
was governor
of Syria.) 3And
everyone
went to his
own town to
register.
4So
Joseph also
went up from
the town of
Nazareth in
Galilee to
Judea, to
Bethlehem
the town of
David,
because he
belonged to
the house
and line of
David. 5He
went there
to register
with Mary,
who was
pledged to
be married
to him and
was
expecting a
child. 6While
they were
there, the
time came
for the baby
to be born, 7and
she gave
birth to her
firstborn, a
son. She
wrapped him
in cloths
and placed
him in a
manger,
because
there was no
room for
them in the
inn.
8And
there were
shepherds
living out
in the
fields
nearby,
keeping
watch over
their flocks
at night. 9An
angel of the
Lord
appeared to
them, and
the glory of
the Lord
shone around
them, and
they were
terrified. 10But
the angel
said to
them,
"Do not
be afraid. I
bring you
good news of
great joy
that will be
for all the
people. 11Today
in the town
of David a
Savior has
been born to
you; he is
Christ the Lord. 12This
will be a
sign to you:
You will
find a baby
wrapped in
cloths and
lying in a
manger."
13Suddenly
a great
company of
the heavenly
host
appeared
with the
angel,
praising God
and saying,
14"Glory
to God in
the highest and
on earth
peace to men
on whom his
favor
rests."
15When
the angels
had left
them and
gone 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
about."
16So
they hurried
off and
found Mary
and Joseph,
and the
baby, who
was lying in
the manger. 17When
they had
seen him,
they spread
the word
concerning
what had
been told
them about
this child, 18and
all who
heard it
were amazed
at what the
shepherds
said to
them. 19But
Mary
treasured up
all these
things and
pondered
them in her
heart. 20The
shepherds
returned,
glorifying
and praising
God for all
the things
they had
heard and
seen, which
were just as
they had
been told.