1And it was done in those days, a commandment went out from the emperor [or Caesar] Augustus, that all the world should be described.

2This first describing was made of Cyrenius, justice, [or keeper], of Syria.

3And all men went to make profession, [or acknowledging], each into his own city.

4And Joseph went up from Galilee, from the city [of] Nazareth, into Judea, into a city of David, that is called Bethlehem, for that he was of the house and of the meine of David,

5that he should acknowledge with Mary, his wife, that was wedded to him, and was great with child.

6And it was done, while they were there, the days were fulfilled, that she should bear child.

7And she bare her first-born son, and wrapped him in ‘clothes, and laid him in a cratch, for there was no place to him in no chamber.

8And shepherds were in the same country, waking and keeping the watches of the night on their flock.

9And lo! the angel of the Lord stood beside them, and the clearness of God shined about them; and they dreaded with great dread.

10And the angel said to them, Do not ye dread; for lo! I preach to you a great joy, that shall be to all people.

11For a Saviour is born today to you, that is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.

12And this is a token to you; ye shall find a young child wrapped in ‘clothes, and laid in a cratch.

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

14Glory be in the highest things to God, and in earth peace to men of good will.

15And it was done, as the angels passed away from them into heaven, the shepherds spake together, and said, Go we over to Bethlehem, and see we this word that is made, which the Lord hath made, and showed to us.

16And they hieing came, and found Mary and Joseph, and the young child laid in a cratch.

17And they seeing, knew of the word that was said to them of this child.

18And all men that heard wondered, and of these things that were said to them of the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these words, bearing together in her heart.

20And the shepherds turned again, glorifying and praising God in all things that they had heard and seen, as it was said to them.

21And after that eight days were ended, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was called of the angel, before that he was conceived in the womb.

22And after that the days of the purification of Mary were fulfilled, after Moses’ law, they took him into Jerusalem, to offer him to the Lord,

23as it is written in the law of the Lord, For every male-kind opening the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord;

24and that they shall give an offering, after that it is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtles, or two culver birds.

25And lo! a man was in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was just, and virtuous [or dread-full], and abode the comfort of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.

26And he had taken an answer of the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, but he saw first the Christ of the Lord.

27And he came in Spirit into the temple. And when his father and mother led [in] the child Jesus to do after the custom of the law for him,

28he took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29Lord, now thou leavest thy servant after thy word in peace;

30for mine eyes have seen thine health,

31which thou hast made ready before the face of all peoples;

32light to the showing of heathen men, and glory of thy people Israel.

33And his father and his mother were wondering on these things, that were said of him.

34And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, Lo! this is set into the falling down and into the rising again of many men in Israel, and into a token, to whom it shall be against-said.

35And a sword shall pass through thine own soul, that the thoughts be showed of many hearts.

36And Anna was a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the lineage of Aser. And she had gone forth in many days, and had lived with her husband seven years from her maidenhood.

37And this was a widow to fourscore years and four; and she departed not from the temple, but served God night and day in fastings and prayers.

38And this came upon them in that hour, and acknowledged to the Lord, and spake of him to all that abided the redemption of Israel.

39And as they had full [or perfectly] done all things, after the law of the Lord, they turned again in to Galilee, in to their city Nazareth.

40And the child waxed, and was comforted, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him.

41And his father and mother went each year into Jerusalem, in the solemn day of pask.

42And when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast day.

43And when the days were done, they turned again; and the child abode in Jerusalem, and his father and mother knew it not.

44For they guessing that he had been in the fellowship, came a day’s journey, and sought him among his cousins and his acknowledged [or his known].

45And when they found him not, they turned again in to Jerusalem, and sought him.

46And it befell, that after the third day they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the doctors, hearing them and asking them.

47And all men that heard him, wondered on the prudence and the answers of him.

48And they saw, and wondered. And his mother said to him, Son, what hast thou done to us thus? Lo! thy father and I sorrowing have sought thee.

49And he said to them, What is it that ye sought me? knew ye not, that in those things that be of my Father [or that be my Father’s], it behooveth me to be?

50And they understood not the word, which he spake to them.

51And he came down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept together all these words, and bare them in her heart.

52And Jesus profited in wisdom, age, and grace, with God and men.