Luke 2:1-7

1 So it was that in those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the whole world.  2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria, 3 and all went to their home towns for the census.

4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and family line of David.  5 He went to be enrolled with Mary, to whom he was pledged in marriage and who was expecting a baby.  6 While they were there, the time came for her to have the child, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloth bands, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

translation by Paul H Ashby © 2010 all rights reserved