Luke 2:1-20

1But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.

2The census itself first took place when Cyrenius had the government of Syria.

3And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city:

4and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David's city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

5to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him [as his] wife, she being great with child.

6And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth [to her child] were fulfilled,

7and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were shepherds in that country abiding without, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

9And lo, an angel of [the] Lord was there by them, and [the] glory of [the] Lord shone around them, and they feared [with] great fear.

10And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people;

11for to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ [the] Lord.

12And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising 1God and saying,

14Glory to 2God in the highest, and on earth peace, good pleasure in men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

16And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger;

17and having seen [it] they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child.

18And all who heard [it] wondered at the things said to them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things [in her mind], pondering [them] in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising 3God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.