Det skjedde i de dager at det kom et påbud fra keiser Augustus om at hele verden skulle innskrives.

Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

Dette var den første innskrivningen mens Quirinius var landshøvding i Syria.

This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Og alle dro for å la seg innskrive, hver til sin egen by.

And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.

Også Josef dro opp fra Galilea, fra byen Nasaret, til Judea, til Davids by som heter Betlehem, fordi han var av Davids hus og slekt.

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

Han dro for å la seg innskrive sammen med Maria, som var lovet bort til ham og ventet barn.

to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.

Og mens de var der, kom tiden da hun skulle føde.

And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.

Hun fødte sin førstefødte sønn, svøpte ham i tøy og la ham i en krybbe, for det var ikke plass for dem i herberget.

And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I samme område var det noen hyrder som var ute på marken og holdt nattevakt over flokken sin.

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

Da sto en Herrens engel foran dem, og Herrens herlighet lyste omkring dem. De ble meget redde.

And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Men engelen sa til dem: Frykt ikke! For se, jeg forkynner dere en stor glede som skal være for alt folket:

And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:

I dag er det født dere en frelser i Davids by; han er Kristus, Herren.

for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

Og dette skal dere ha til tegn: Dere skal finne et barn som er svøpt og ligger i en krybbe.

And this `is' the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

Plutselig var det sammen med engelen en himmelsk hærskare som lovpriste Gud og sa:

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

Ære være Gud i det høyeste, og fred på jorden blant mennesker som har hans velbehag.

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

Da englene hadde forlatt dem og steget opp til himmelen, sa hyrdene til hverandre: La oss gå til Betlehem for å se det som har skjedd, det som Herren har kunngjort oss.

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

De skyndte seg av sted og fant Maria og Josef og barnet som lå i krybben.

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

Da de så det, fortalte de om det som var sagt dem om dette barnet.

And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

Alle som hørte det, undret seg over det som ble fortalt dem av hyrdene.

And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.

Men Maria tok vare på alle disse ordene og grunnet på dem i sitt hjerte.

But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

Hyrdene vendte tilbake, de lovpriste og priste Gud for alt de hadde hørt og sett, slik det var blitt sagt dem.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

Da åtte dager var gått og han skulle omskjæres, fikk han navnet Jesus, som han var kalt av engelen før han ble unnfanget.

And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Da tiden for deres renselse etter Moseloven var over, tok de ham med til Jerusalem for å fremstille ham for Herren,

And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord

slik det står skrevet i Herrens lov: Hver førstefødt gutt som åpner mors liv, skal kalles hellig for Herren.

(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),

Og for å bringe offer etter Herrens lov, et par turtelduer eller to unge duer.

and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Det var en mann i Jerusalem ved navn Simeon. Han var rettferdig og from og ventet på Israels trøst, og Den hellige ånd var over ham.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Det var blitt åpenbart for ham av Den hellige ånd at han ikke skulle se døden før han hadde sett Herrens Messias.

And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Han kom til templet, ledet av Ånden. Da foreldrene kom inn med barnet Jesus for å gjøre med ham etter lovens skikk,

And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,

tok han ham i armene og lovpriste Gud og sa:

then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Herre, nå lar du din tjener fare herfra i fred, etter ditt ord;

Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace;

for mine øyne har sett din frelse,

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

som du har gjort i stand for alle folkeslagene,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;

et lys til åpenbaring for hedningene og en herlighet for ditt folk Israel.

A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.

Hans far og mor undret seg over det som ble sagt om ham.

And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him;

Simeon velsignet dem og sa til Maria, hans mor: Se, dette barnet er satt til fall og oppreisning for mange i Israel, og til et tegn som blir motsagt –

and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this `child' is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;

ja, også din egen sjel skal et sverd gjennombore – for at mange hjerters tanker skal bli åpenbart.

yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.

Det var også en profetinne, Hanna, datter av Fanuel, av Asjers stamme. Hun var godt oppe i årene. Hun hadde levd med sin mann i sju år fra hun var jomfru,

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

og var nå en enke på åttifire år. Hun vek ikke fra templet, men tjente Gud med faste og bønner natt og dag.

and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.

Hun kom samtidig fram, lovpriste Gud og talte om barnet til alle som ventet på Jerusalems forløsning.

And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Da de hadde gjort alt etter Herrens lov, vendte de tilbake til Galilea, til sin by Nasaret.

And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

Og barnet vokste og ble sterkt, fylt med visdom. Og Guds nåde var over ham.

And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Hans foreldre dro hvert år til Jerusalem til påskefesten.

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.

Da han var tolv år gammel, dro de opp dit etter festens skikk.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast;

Da dagene var over, og de dro hjem, ble gutten Jesus igjen i Jerusalem uten at foreldrene visste det.

and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not;

De trodde at han var med i reisefølget, og gikk en dagsreise før de begynte å lete etter ham blant slektninger og kjente.

but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:

Da de ikke fant ham, vendte de tilbake til Jerusalem for å lete etter ham.

and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.

Etter tre dager fant de ham i templet, hvor han satt midt iblant lærerne, lyttet til dem og stilte spørsmål.

And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:

Alle som hørte ham, undret seg over hans forstand og svarene han ga.

and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Da de så ham, ble de slått av undring, og hans mor sa til ham: Barn, hvorfor har du gjort dette mot oss? Din far og jeg har lett etter deg og vært redde.

And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing.

Han svarte dem: Hvorfor lette dere etter meg? Visste dere ikke at jeg må være i min Fars hus?

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house?

Men de forsto ikke det ordet han talte til dem.

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

Han ble med dem ned og kom til Nasaret, og han var lydig mot dem. Men hans mor gjemte alle disse ordene i sitt hjerte.

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all `these' sayings in her heart.

Og Jesus vokste i visdom og alder og i velvilje hos Gud og mennesker.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.