1 AndChrist, the son of God, taking upon himself the form of a servant, and making himself of no reputation, is poorly born in a stable: and by the means of Augustus, the mightiest prince in the world, (thinking nothing of it) has his cradle prepared in Bethlehem, as the prophets foretold.it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all theAs far as the empire of the Romans stretched.world should beThat is, the inhabitants of every city should have their names recorded, and their goods rated at a certain value, that the emperor might understand how rich every country, city, family, and house was.taxed.
2 (This first taxing was made when Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria.)
3 Therefore went all to be taxed, euery man to his owne Citie.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto theWhich David was born and brought up in.city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To bee taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife, which was with childe.
6 And so it was, that while they were there, the daies were accomplished that shee shoulde be deliuered,
7 And she brought foorth her first begotten sonne, and wrapped him in swadling clothes, and laide him in a cratch, because there was no roome for them in the ynne.
8 The angels themselves declare to poor shepherds (not at all regarding the pride of the mighty) the Godhead and office of the child lying in the crib.And there were in the same country shepherdsLiving outside, and in the open air.abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the LordCame suddenly upon them, when they were not at all thinking about such a matter.came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 Then the Angel saide vnto them, Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great ioy, that shalbe to all the people,
11 That is, that vnto you is borne this day in the citie of Dauid, a Sauiour, which is Christ the Lorde.
12 And this shalbe a signe to you, Yee shall finde the babe swadled, and laid in a cratch.
13 And suddenly there was with the angelWhole armies of angels, who compass the majesty of God round about, just as soldiers, as it were.a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,God's ready, good, infinite, and gracious favour towards men.good will toward men.
15 And it came to passe whe the Angels were gone away from them into heauen, that the shepheards sayde one to another, Let vs goe then vnto Beth-leem, and see this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs.
16 So they came with haste, and founde both Marie and Ioseph, & the babe laid in the cratch.
17 And when they had seene it, they published abroade the thing, that was tolde them of that childe.
18 And all that heard it, wondred at ye things which were tolde them of the shepheards.
19 But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondred them in her heart.
20 And the shepheardes returned glorifiyng and praising God, for all that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them.
21 Christ, the head of the Church, made subject to the law in order to deliver us from the curse of the law (as the name of Jesus well declares) being circumcised, ratifies and seals in his own flesh the circumcision of the flesh.And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 Christ, upon whom all our sins were laid, being offered to God according to the law purifies both Mary and us all in himself.And when the days ofThis is meant for the fulfilling of the law: for otherwise the virgin was not defiled, nor unclean, by the birth of this child.her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present [him] to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the Lawe of the Lorde, Euery man childe that first openeth ye wombe, shalbe called holy to the Lord)
24 And to giue an oblation, as it is commanded in the Lawe of the Lorde, a paire of turtle doues, or two yong pigeons.
25 Simeon openly in the temple foretells the death of the coming of Messiah, of the casting out of the greatest part of Israel, and of the calling of the Gentiles.And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon; and the same man [was] just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and theHe was endued with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and this is said using the figure of speech metonymy.Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was declared to him from God by the holy Ghost, that he shoulde not see death, before he had seene that Anointed of the Lord.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when theJoseph and Mary: and he says «parents» because that is what most of the people then thought.parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then hee tooke him in his armes, and praised God, and sayd,
29 Lord, nowLet me depart out of this life, to be joined to my Father.lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thyAs you promised me.word:
30 ForThat is, for I have seen with my very eyes: for he saw before in mind, as it is said of Abraham, «He saw my day and rejoiced.»mine eyes have seen thyThat in which your salvation is contained.salvation,
31 Which thou hast preparedAs a sign set up in a high place for all men to look upon.before the face of all people;
32 A light to be reueiled to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Ioseph and his mother marueiled at those things, which were spoken touching him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] isIs appointed and set by God for a mark.set for theFall of the reprobate who perishes because of their own fault: and for the rising of the elect, unto whom God will give faith to believe.fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for aThat is, a mark, which all men will strive earnestly to hit.sign which shall be spoken against;
35 (Yea, a sword shallWill most keenly wound and grieve.pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
36 Another witness besides Simeon, against whom no objection may be brought, inviting all men to the receiving of the Messiah.And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And she was widowe about foure score and foure yeeres, and went not out of the Temple, but serued God with fastings & prayers, night and day.
38 She then coming at the same instant vpon them, confessed likewise the Lord, & spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Hierusalem.
39 And when they had performed all thinges according to the lawe of the Lorde, they returned into Galile to their owne citie Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit,As Christ grew up in age, so the virtue of his Godhead showed itself more and more.filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41 The scribes and Pharisees are aroused to hear the wisdom of Christ in his time by an extraordinary deed.Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42 And when hee was twelue yeere olde, and they were come vp to Hierusalem, after the custome of the feast,
43 And had finished the dayes thereof, as they returned, the childe Iesus remained in Hierusalem, and Ioseph knew not, nor his mother,
44 But they supposing, that he had bene in the company, went a dayes iourney, and sought him among their kinsfolke, and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned backe to Hierusalem, and sought him.
46 And it came to passe three dayes after, that they found him in the Temple, sitting in the mids of the doctours, both hearing them, and asking them questions:
47 And all that heard him, were astonied at his vnderstanding and answeres.
48 All duties which we owe to men, even though they are not to be neglected, so are they (according to the position in life which God has set us) not to be preferred before the glory of God.And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 Then said he vnto them, Howe is it that ye sought me? knewe ye not that I must goe about my Fathers busines?
50 But they vnderstoode not the word that he spake to them.
51 Christ, very man, is made like us in every way except sin.And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Iesus increased in wisedome, and stature, and in fauour with God and men.
