Luke 2 Now it occurred in those days, that a decree went out from beside (= the court of) Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited domain of the Empire is to proceed to register themselves for public record (= participate in a census).

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Now it occurred in those days, [that] a decree went out from beside (= the court of) Caesar Augustus, [that] all the inhabited [domain of the Empire] is to proceed to register themselves for public record (= participate in a census). ² This first registration occurred while Quirinius continued leading and governing Syria. ³ And so everyone began going their way to proceed to register themselves for the public record [of the census] – each one into his own city. ⁴ So Joseph also walked back up from the Galilee [district], from out of [the] town of Nazareth, into the Judean [district], into a town of David which is normally being called Bethlehem – because of the [fact of] his being from out of the house and lineage (ancestry) of David – ⁵ to register himself for the public record, together with Mary (Miriam), the woman having been promised in marriage (espoused; engaged) to him – she continuing being pregnant. ⁶ Now it happened, during their being there, [that] the days for her to give birth were fulfilled. ⁷ And she gave birth to her Son, the firstborn, and then she wrapped Him in long strips of swathing cloth and made Him lie back in a manger (feeding trough), because there was not a place for them in the public lodging place (a shelter for travelers to be loosing-down; a caravansary; an inn). ⁸ There were also in that same district (or: region) shepherds [that] were seasonally living out of doors with temporary enclosures in the fields, and they were by turn guarding and keeping watch upon their flock during [the] watches which divide the night. ⁹ And then – look and think of this! – all at once [the] Lord's [= Yahweh's] agent (or: messenger) took a stand upon [their encampment], in the midst of them (or: stood at their [side]), and [the] Lord's [= Yahweh's] glory (Theophanous manifestation) shone (gleamed and radiated) around about them, and they became afraid [with] a great fear (= were struck with terror). ¹⁰ And so the agent (messenger) says to them, "Stop being afraid (or: Do not continue fearing)! Look, and consider this – for you see, I, myself, am now bringing and announcing good news (a message of ease and wellness) to and for you folks: great joy which will progressively be for all the people (or: will continue existing in the entire general public), ¹¹ "that a Savior (Deliverer; Rescuer; Restorer to health, wholeness, and to your original state, condition and position) was birthed and brought forth to, for and among you folks today, within the town of David, Who is (exists being) Christ [the] Lord (or: [the] Lord Christ; or: an Anointed Lord, Master and Owner; an Anointed One, a Lord; = Messiah, [the] Lord)! ¹² "And now this [will be] a sign to and for you folks: you will proceed finding a Babe (an infant) having been wrapped in long bands of swathing cloth, and continuing lying within a manger (feeding trough)." ¹³ Then unexpectedly and suddenly [the] fullness of a band of heavenly soldiers (or: a full number of an army which inhabits, and can be compared to, the atmosphere) came to be with the agent (messenger) – ones continuously praising God and repeatedly saying, ¹⁴ " [This is] a reputation for God, in the highest places! (or: Glory to God, in the midst of the highest [realms]; or: [It is] a manifestation which call forth praise to God, among the highest [peoples]; or: An appearance and a manifestation by God, within the midst of a most elevated location; or: A notion and an imagination within [the] highest places in God); and upon earth – among humanity (or: within mankind; in union with people) – a peace and harmony having the qualities and characteristics of well-thinking and goodwill (or: [= shalom] whose source is good opinions and imaginations of well-being; or: peace which is a manifestation and a reputation of good and ease; or: a peace which belongs to good pleasure; peace from a disposition of goodness)!" ¹⁵ And so it happened, as the agents (messengers; folks with the message; [A, D and others add: – even the humans]) went away from them into the heaven (or: the atmosphere), [that] the shepherds began speaking to one another, saying, "We should by all means pass through now, clear to Bethlehem, and we can see this gush-effect (the result of this flow; or: this rhema declaration and saying) that has happened (been birthed), which the Lord [= Yahweh] makes known to (or: for) us." ¹⁶ So they came hurrying and, after searching, finally found not only Mary (or: Miriam) and Joseph, but also the Baby (or: new-born infant) [which was] still lying within the manger (feeding trough). ¹⁷ Now after seeing [this], they made known about the declaration (matter) being spoken to them concerning this little boy. ¹⁸ And so all those hearing and listening marveled and wondered in astonishment concerning the things being spoken to them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ Yet Mary (or: Miriam) began keeping these gush-effects (results of the flow; sayings; declarations) together, watching and preserving [them], repeated tossing them together and pondering (jointly comparing, conferring and reflecting [on them]) within her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying (building the reputation of) and praising God on [the basis of] everything which they heard and saw – just as it was spoken to them. ²¹ And later, when eight days were fulfilled [bringing them to the ritual] to circumcise Him, His name was then called "Jesus," the name called by the agent (messenger), before the [situation and time for] Him to be conceived within the womb. ²² Further, when the days were fulfilled for their purification [note: probably referring to Mary and Jesus] – in accord with the Law [= Torah] of Moses – they led Him up into Jerusalem, to stand (place) Him beside (or: = present Him to) the Lord [= Yahweh], ²³ just as it has been written with the Lord's [= Yahweh's] Law, that, "every male fully proceeding to open up the womb will be called 'set-apart to, for, in and by the Lord [= Yahweh]'," [Ex. 13: 2, 12, 15] ²⁴ and also to give (= offer) a sacrifice corresponding to that having been said in the Lord's [= Yahweh's] Law, "a pair of (or: a couple) wild doves (or: turtledoves; murmurers) or two young pigeons." ²⁵ And now, look and consider this! There was a man within Jerusalem whose name [was] Simeon, and this man [was] just (fair; equitable; in right relationships; in accord with the way pointed out) as well as grasping things well (or: well-received; taking it with ease and wellness), habitually receptive to (or: continuously welcoming and granting access to) Israel's call to the side for relief, aid, comfort and encouragement (or: the work and function of a Paraclete from Israel) – and a set-apart spirit (a holy wind; a separated Breath-effect; a sacred attitude) was continuously being upon him. ²⁶ Furthermore, it was for (or: to; in) him – having been transacted by dealings by (or: under) the set-apart Breath-effect (or: the Holy Spirit; the Sacred Attitude) – to not see or know death before he would see and know the Christ of [the] Lord (= Yahweh's Anointed One, the Messiah). ²⁷ And so, within the midst of the Breath-effect and in union with the Spirit (or: in the midst of the Sacred Attitude) he came into the Temple courts (or: grounds). And within the [situation for] the parents to bring the little boy Jesus, for them to do and perform according to and in correspondence with the practice having been done by custom of the Law concerning Him, ²⁸ he, himself, then received Him into [his] arms and spoke good words about God, and said, ²⁹ "At this time (or: Right now) you are in the process of loosing away, releasing and freeing Your slave, O Sovereign Owner, corresponding to Your gush-effect, in union with Peace (the result of the declaration flowing from You within the midst of peace [= shalom]). ³⁰ "because my eyes see and perceive Your Deliverance (Your Salvation; Your Safety; Your Health and Wholeness; Your Restoration to the original state and condition), ³¹ "which You prepared and made ready in correspondence with (or: true to and stepping with; following the pattern of; down in front of) [the] face of (or: face to face with; personally to; or: = openly before) all the peoples, ³² "a Light [leading] into an unveiling of (or: a revelation belonging to and pertaining to) ethnic multitudes (or: nations; non-Israelites; = pagans), and [the] Glory (a manifestation which calls for praise; a reputation; a notion inspiring the imagination) of Your people, Israel." ³³ And so His father and mother were continuing in marveling, being amazed and wondering upon the things being one after another, and repeatedly, spoken about Him. ³⁴ Then Simeon spoke good words to (or: blessed) them, and said to Mary (Miriam), His mother, "Look and consider! This One continues lying down into the midst of a fall, and then a standing back up again, of many people within Israel – and into a sign being constantly spoken in opposition to, and being repeatedly contradicted! ³⁵ "Yet a long Thracian javelin (or: long sword) will be repeatedly coming and passing through your very soul, so that thought processes, reasonings and dialogues from out of many hearts would be uncovered (unveiled; revealed)." ³⁶ And now there was Anna, a prophetess (a woman with light ahead of time), [the] daughter of Phanuel (or: Penuel), from out of [the] tribe of Asher – she having walked forward during many days (= was well advanced in years), living with a husband [for] seven years from her virginity (may = after her marriage, or, after her girlhood), ³⁷ and then she [was] a widow until [now being] eighty-four years [old] (or: was a widow for eighty-four years) – who continued not withdrawing (or: departing; standing away; putting herself away) from the temple courts and grounds, repeatedly doing public sacred service in fastings and by petitions (or: prayer requests) night and day. ³⁸ And so, taking a stand on [the scene] in that same hour, she began – in [Simeon's] place – saying similar things to God (or: she began responding in like words while standing in the place for God; or: she continued in [His] presence making confessions in God) and continued speaking about Him [either: God; or: the Child] to all the folks habitually having a view toward welcoming, granting access to, and receiving a liberation of Jerusalem (or: a release by payment of a ransom for Jerusalem; [with other MSS: a redemption in Jerusalem]). ³⁹ And so, when they finished (ended) all the things corresponding to the Lord's [= Yahweh's] Law, they returned into the Galilee [district], into their own town, Nazareth. ⁴⁰ So the little Boy kept on growing, progressively increasing and steadily becoming strong by [the] Breath-effect (or: in spirit; with a [positive] attitude), being progressively filled with wisdom – and God's grace and favor continued being upon Him. ⁴¹ Now as was [their] custom, His parents regularly went their way – year by year – into Jerusalem during the Feast (or: festival) of the Passover. ⁴² So when He came to be twelve years [old], after their finishing going up – according to the custom of the Feast (or: festival) – ⁴³ and upon finishing the days, during their process of returning the Boy Jesus continued to remain in Jerusalem. ⁴⁴ Yet, inferring from custom for Him to be within the group journeying together (= in the caravan; company of fellow travelers), they went a day's way (= a day's journey on the road) and then began seeking Him back among the relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ Then upon not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, continuing in searching again for Him. ⁴⁶ Later, after three days, it happened [that] they found Him within the Temple courts (or: grounds), continuing in sitting within the midst of the teachers, constantly listening to them, as well as repeatedly making inquiries and putting question to them. ⁴⁷ Now all the folks continuing to listen to and hear Him began 'standing outside themselves' in amazement and were repeatedly astonished at His understanding (His ability to make things flow together) and discerning responses (or: decided answers). ⁴⁸ And so, upon seeing Him, [His parents] were bewildered and overwhelmed (or: struck out [of their wits]), then His mother said to Him, "Child, why did you treat us in this manner? Look, and consider, your father and I were caused constant pain as we continued searching for you." ⁴⁹ So He said to them, "Why [is it] that you were trying to find Me? Had you not seen so as to now know that it continues binding and necessary for Me to be within the midst of the men belonging to My Father (or: to constantly be among the things that pertain to My Father; or: to continue being in union with those things which are My Father)?" ⁵⁰ And yet they, themselves, did not understand (make flow together) the result of the flow (declaration; gush-effect) which He spoke to them. ⁵¹ And so He walked back down with them and came into Nazareth, and continued being set in a supportive arrangement for them (or: kept on being subject to and under them). His mother also continued carefully watching, noting and keeping all these sayings (gush-effects; results of the flows; declarations; matters) within her heart. ⁵² And so Jesus kept on cutting a passage forward, making progress in (or: by; with) the Wisdom – as well as in maturity and physical stature – and in (or: by; with) grace and favor, beside God and mankind (or: in the presence of God as well as people).