Luke 2:15-30

Holman Christian Standard Bible

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶ They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. ¹⁷ After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary was treasuring up all these things^[a] in her heart^(A) and meditating on them. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God^(B) for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus

²¹ When the eight days were completed for His circumcision,^(C) He was named Jesus^(D)—the name given by the angel before He was conceived.^{[b] 22} And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished,^(E) they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³ (just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male^[c] will be dedicated^[d] to the Lord^(F)[e]) ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons^(G)[f]).

Simeon’s Prophetic Praise

²⁵ There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout,^(H) looking forward to Israel’s consolation,^[g](I) and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit^(J) that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.^{(K) 27} Guided by the Spirit, he entered^[h] the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, ²⁸ Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: