In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree [ that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world ]. (This was the first census [ that took place [ while Quirinius was governor of Syria ] ]. ) And everyone went to their own town [ to register ]. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, [ because he belonged to the house and line of David ]. He went there [ to register with Mary, [ who was pledged [ to be married to him ] and was expecting a child ] ]. [ While they were there ], the time came [ for the baby to be born ], and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, [ because there was no guest room [ available for them ] ]. And there were shepherds [ living out in the fields nearby, [ keeping watch over their flocks at night ] ]. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news [ that will cause great joy for all the people ]. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby [ wrapped in cloths ] and [ lying in a manger ].” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, [ praising God ] and [ saying ], “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those [ on whom his favor rests ].”
[ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven ], the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing [ that has happened, [ which the Lord has told us about ] ].” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, [ who was lying in the manger ]. [ When they had seen him ], they spread the word [ concerning [ what had been told them about this child ], and all [ who heard it ] were amazed at [ what the shepherds said to them ]. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, [ glorifying and praising God for all the things [ they had heard and seen, [ which were just [ as they had been told ] ] ] ]. On the eighth day, [ when it was time [ to circumcise the child ] ], he was named Jesus, the name [ the angel had given him [ before he was conceived ] ].