MODERN LITERAL VERSION

2:1 Now it happened in those days, a decree went out from {F} Caesar Augustus to register all the inhabited-earth.
2:2 This was the first census made when Quirinius became governor of Syria.
2:3 And all went to register themselves, everyone into his own city.
2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was out of the house and family of David;
2:5 to register himself with Mary, who was engaged to him as his wife, being pregnant*.
2:6 And it happened, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should bear;
2:7 and she bore her firstborn son, and she swaddled and laid him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the boarding-house.

2:8 And there were shepherds in the same country, camping out and keeping watches over their flock by night.
2:9 And behold, a messenger of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.
2:10 And the messenger said to them, Do not be afraid; for* behold, I proclaim to you* good-news of great joy which will be to all the people,
2:11 because there is born to you* today in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
2:12 And this is the sign to you*: you* will find a swaddled baby, lying in a manger.
2:13 And suddenly, a crowd of the heavenly host praising God happened to be with the messenger, and saying,
2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and peace upon earth, in men– delight.
2:15 And it happened, as the messengers went away from them into heaven, and the men, the shepherds said to one another, We should go to Bethlehem, and let us see this declaration about events that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us!

2:16 And they came, having hurried, and found both Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger.
2:17 And when they saw it, they made it known concerning the declaration which was spoken to them concerning this child.
2:18 And all who heard it marveled concerning the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
2:19 But Mary kept all these words to herself, pondering them in her heart.
2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God in all the things that they had heard and seen, just-as it was spoken to them.

2:21 And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the messenger before he was conceived in the womb.

2:22 And when the days of her cleansing according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord {Lev. 12:2 - 6}
2:23 (as it has been written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every male who opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord'); {Ex. 13:2, 12}
2:24 and to give ‘A pair of turtledoves or two young doves as a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord. {Lev. 12:8, 5:11}

2:25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
2:26 And it had been divinely-spoken to him from the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he should see the Lord's Christ.
2:27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple while the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do according to the custom of the law concerning him.
2:28 Then he accepted him into his arms and thanked God and said,
2:29 Now Master, dismiss your bondservant according to your word in peace,
2:30 because my eyes have seen your salvation
2:31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples.
2:32 He is a light *for revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

2:33 And Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him;
2:34 and Simeon gave-thanks for them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is destined *for the fall and the resurrection of many in Israel, and *for a sign which is spoken against.
2:35 Now, also a sword will go through your own soul; *that reasonings may be revealed out of many hearts.

2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, out of the tribe of Asher (she was advanced in many days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
2:37 and she had been a widow approximately eighty four years), who did not withdraw from the temple, giving-divine service with fasts and supplications night and day.
2:38 And standing up in that same hour, she fully-professed the Lord and spoke concerning him to all those who were waiting for the redemption in Jerusalem.
2:39 And when they had finished all things that were according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

2:40 And the child was growing and becoming-powerful in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

2:41 And his parents went yearly to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover.
2:42 And when he became twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast;
2:43 and when they had finished the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained back in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother did not know it.
2:44 But supposing him to be in the caravan, they went a day's journey, and they sought him with their relatives and with their acquaintances.
2:45 And when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking after him.

2:46 And it happened, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and asking them questions.
2:47 And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.
2:48 And when they saw him, they were astounded, and his mother said to him, Son, why have you dealt with us thus? Behold, your father and I sought you sorrowing.

2:49 And he said to them, How is it that you* sought me? Did you* not know it is essential for me to be in the things of my father?
2:50 And they did not understand the declaration which he spoke to them.
2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them and his mother kept all these words in her heart.

2:52 And Jesus progressed in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
{Footnotes: Lk 2:1 Augustus, a title, is a Latin word for a Greek word ‘sebastos' which is an adjective that means ‘worthy of worship. It is like our Reverend, His Majesty, etc.‘ This ‘worthy of worship' became worse as more and more Emperors took the throne. Even Nero is referred to as the ‘Man of Sin' in 2Th 2:3. Caesar is our ‘Emperor.' Adjectives in Greek occur after the noun so by rights this is His Reverend Emperor.}
{Mk 1:1-8 & Mt 3:1-12 & Lk 3:1-18) Judea near Jordan River 25 or 26 AD.}