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1<\/sup>\u00a0In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.\u00a02<\/sup>\u00a0(This was the first census that took place while\u00a0Quirinius was governor of Syria.)\u00a03<\/sup>\u00a0And everyone went to their own town to register.<\/p>\n 4<\/sup>\u00a0So 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.\u00a05<\/sup>He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.\u00a06<\/sup>\u00a0While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,\u00a07<\/sup>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.<\/p>\n 8<\/sup>\u00a0And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.\u00a09<\/sup>\u00a0An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.\u00a010<\/sup>\u00a0But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.\u00a011<\/sup>\u00a0Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.\u00a012<\/sup>\u00a0This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”<\/p>\n 13<\/sup>\u00a0Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,<\/p>\n 14<\/sup>\u00a0“Glory to God in the highest heaven, 15<\/sup>\u00a0When 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.”<\/p>\n 16<\/sup>\u00a0So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.\u00a017<\/sup>\u00a0When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,\u00a018<\/sup>\u00a0and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.\u00a019<\/sup>\u00a0But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.\u00a020<\/sup>\u00a0The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.<\/p>\n
\nand on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”<\/p>\n