25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was (A)righteous and (B)devout, (C)waiting for (D)the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not (E)see death before he had seen (F)the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when (G)the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and (H)blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart (I)in peace,
    (J)according to your word;
30 for (K)my eyes have seen your (L)salvation
31     (M)that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 (N)a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and (O)for glory to (P)your people Israel.”

33 And (Q)his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed (R)for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign (S)that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was (T)a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[b] She did not depart from the temple, (U)worshiping with (V)fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were (W)waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed everything according to (X)the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of (Y)Nazareth. 40 (Z)And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now (AA)his parents went (AB)to Jerusalem every year at (AC)the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, (AD)they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast (AE)was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. (AF)His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, (AG)sitting among (AH)the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents[c] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, (AI)your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that (AJ)I must be in (AK)my Father's house?”[d] 50 And (AL)they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And (AM)his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus (AN)increased in wisdom and in stature[e] and in (AO)favor with God and man.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:29 Or bondservant
  2. Luke 2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years
  3. Luke 2:48 Greek they
  4. Luke 2:49 Or about my Father's business
  5. Luke 2:52 Or years

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.(A) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,(B) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,(C) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,(D)
    you may now dismiss[a] your servant in peace.(E)
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,(F)
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”(G)

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(H) “This child is destined to cause the falling(I) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet,(J) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[b](K) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.(L) 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.(M)

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.(N) 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.(O)

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.(P) 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed(Q) at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother(R) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father(S) and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[c](T) 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.(U)

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them(V) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.(W) 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.(X)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss
  2. Luke 2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years.
  3. Luke 2:49 Or be about my Father’s business