Catholic liturgical translation

1V těch dnech vyšlo nařízení od císaře Augusta, aby se v celé říši provedlo sčítání lidu. 2To bylo první sčítání a konalo se, když byl v Sýrii místodržitelem Kvirinius. 3Šli tedy všichni, aby se dali zapsat, každý do svého města. 4Také Josef se odebral z galilejského města Nazareta vzhůru do Judska do města Davidova, které se jmenuje Betlém, protože byl z rodu a kmene Davidova, 5aby se dal zapsat spolu s Marií, sobě zasnoubenou ženou, která byla v požehnaném stavu. 6Když tam byli, naplnil se jí čas, kdy měla porodit. 7A porodila svého prvorozeného syna, zavinula ho do plének a položila do jeslí, protože v zájezdním útulku nebylo pro ně místo. 8V té krajině nocovali pod širým nebem pastýři a střídali se na hlídce u svého stáda. 9Najednou u nich stál anděl Páně a sláva Páně se kolem nich rozzářila a padla na ně veliká bázeň. 10Anděl jim řekl: »Nebojte se! Zvěstuji vám velikou radost, radost pro všechen lid: 11V městě Davidově se vám dnes narodil Spasitel - to je Kristus Pán. 12To bude pro vás znamením: Naleznete děťátko zavinuté do plének a položené v jeslích.« 13A náhle bylo s andělem celé množství nebeských zástupů a takto chválili Boha: 14»Sláva na výsostech Bohu a na zemi pokoj lidem, v kterých má Bůh zalíbení!« 15Když andělé odešli od nich do nebe, řekli si pastýři mezi sebou: »Pojďme tedy do Betléma podívat se na to, co se tam stalo, jak nám Pán oznámil!« 16Pospíchali tam a nalezli Marii a Josefa i děťáko položené v jeslích. 17Když ho uviděli, vypravovali, co jim bylo o tom dítěti pověděno. 18Všichni, kdo to slyšeli, podivili se tomu, co jim pastýři vyprávěli. 19Maria však to všechno uchovávala v srdci a rozvažovala o tom. 20Pastýři se zas vrátili. Velebili a chválili Boha za všechno, co slyšeli a viděli, jak jim to bylo řečeno. 21Když uplynulo osm dní a dítě mělo být obřezáno, dali mu jméno Ježíš, jak ho nazval anděl, než bylo počato v mateřském lůně. 22Když nadešel den jejich očišťování podle Mojžíšova Zákona, přinesli Ježíše do Jeruzaléma, aby ho představili Pánu, 23jak je psáno v Zákoně Páně: 'Všechno prvorozené mužského rodu ať je zasvěceno Pánu!' 24Přitom chtěli také podat oběť, jak je to nařízeno v Zákoně Páně: pár hrdliček nebo dvě holoubata. 25Tehdy žil v Jeruzalémě jeden člověk, jmenoval se Simeon: byl to člověk spravedlivý a bohabojný, očekával potěšení Izraele a byl v něm Duch svatý. 26Od Ducha svatého mu bylo zjeveno, že neuzří smrt, dokud neuvidí Pánova Mesiáše. 27Z vnuknutí Ducha přišel do chrámu, právě když rodiče přinesli dítě Ježíše, aby s ním vykonali, co bylo obvyklé podle Zákona. 28Vzal si ho do náručí a takto velebil Boha: 29»Nyní můžeš, Pane, propustit svého služebníka podle svého slova v pokoji, 30neboť moje oči uviděly tvou spásu, 31kterou jsi připravil pro všechny národy: 32světlo k osvícení pohanům a k slávě tvého izraelského lidu.« 33Jeho otec i matka byli plni údivu nad slovy, která o něm slyšeli. 34Simeon jim požehnal a jeho matce Marii prohlásil: »On je ustanoven k pádu a k povstání mnohých v Izraeli a jako znamení, kterému se bude odporovat - 35i tvou vlastní duší pronikne meč - aby vyšlo najevo smýšlení mnoha srdcí.« 36Také tam byla prorokyně Anna, dcera Fanuelova z Aserova kmene. Byla značně pokročilého věku: mladá se vdala a sedm roků žila v manželství, 37potom sama jako vdova - bylo jí už čtyřiaosmdesát let. Nevycházela z chrámu a sloužila Bohu posty a modlitbami ve dne v noci. 38Přišla tam právě v tu chvíli, velebila Boha a mluvila o tom dítěti všem, kdo očekávali vykoupení Jeruzaléma. 39Když vykonali všechno podle Zákona Páně, vrátili se do Galileje do svého města Nazareta. 40Dítě rostlo a sílilo, bylo plné moudrosti a milost Boží byla s ním. 41Jeho rodiče putovali každý rok do Jeruzaléma na velikonoční svátky. 42Když mu bylo dvanáct let, vydali se tam na svátky jako obvykle. 43A když ukončili sváteční dni a vraceli se domů, zůstal chlapec Ježíš v Jeruzalémě, a jeho rodiče to nezpozorovali. 44V domnění, že je ve skupině poutníků, ušli den cesty; teprve potom ho hledali mezi příbuznými a známými. 45Když ho nenašli, vrátili se do Jeruzaléma a hledali ho.  46Po třech dnech ho našli v chrámě, jak sedí uprostřed učitelů, poslouchá je a dává jim otázky.  47Všichni, kdo ho slyšeli, žasli nad jeho chápavostí a nad jeho odpověďmi.  48Když ho rodiče uviděli, celí se zarazili a jeho matka mu řekla: »Dítě, proč jsi nám to udělal? Hle, tvůj otec i já jsme tě s bolestí hledali!«  49Odpověděl jim: »Proč jste mě hledali? Nevěděli jste, že já musím být v tom, co je mého Otce?«  50Ale oni nepochopili, co jim tím chtěl říci.  51Potom se s nimi vydal na zpáteční cestu, šel do Nazareta a poslouchal je. Jeho matka to všechno uchovávala ve svém srdci.  52Ježíš pak prospíval moudrostí, věkem a oblibou u Boha i u lidí. 


Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary
 1   The fulness of time was now come, when God would send forth his Son, made of a woman, and made under the law. The circumstances of his birth were very mean. Christ was born at an inn; he came into the world to sojourn here for awhile, as at an inn, and to teach us to do likewise. We are become by sin like an outcast infant, helpless and forlorn; and such a one was Christ. He well knew how unwilling we are to be meanly lodged, clothed, or fed; how we desire to have our children decorated and indulged; how apt the poor are to envy the rich, and how prone the rich to disdain the poor. But when we by faith view the Son of God being made man and lying in a manger, our vanity, ambition, and envy are checked. We cannot, with this object rightly before us, seek great things for ourselves or our children.

 8   Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God's good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God's goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ's taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.

 21   Our Lord Jesus was not born in sin, and did not need that mortification of a corrupt nature, or that renewal unto holiness, which were signified by circumcision. This ordinance was, in his case, a pledge of his future perfect obedience to the whole law, in the midst of sufferings and temptations, even unto death for us. At the end of forty days, Mary went up to the temple to offer the appointed sacrifices for her purification. Joseph also presented the holy child Jesus, because, as a first-born son, he was to be presented to the Lord, and redeemed according to the law. Let us present our children to the Lord who gave them to us, beseeching him to redeem them from sin and death, and make them holy to himself.

 25   The same Spirit that provided for the support of Simeon's hope, provided for his joy. Those who would see Christ must go to his temple. Here is a confession of his faith, that this Child in his arms was the Saviour, the salvation itself, the salvation of God's appointing. He bids farewell to this world. How poor does this world look to one that has Christ in his arms, and salvation in his view! See here, how comfortable is the death of a good man; he departs in peace with God, peace with his own conscience, in peace with death. Those that have welcomed Christ, may welcome death. Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which were spoken of this Child. Simeon shows them likewise, what reason they had to rejoice with trembling. And Jesus, his doctrine, and people, are still spoken against; his truth and holiness are still denied and blasphemed; his preached word is still the touchstone of men's characters. The secret good affections in the minds of some, will be revealed by their embracing Christ; the secret corruptions of others will be revealed by their enmity to Christ. Men will be judged by the thoughts of their hearts concerning Christ. He shall be a suffering Jesus; his mother shall suffer with him, because of the nearness of her relation and affection.

 36   There was much evil then in the church, yet God left not himself without witness. Anna always dwelt in, or at least attended at, the temple. She was always in a praying spirit; gave herself to prayer, and in all things she served God. Those to whom Christ is made known, have great reason to thank the Lord. She taught others concerning him. Let the example of the venerable saints, Simeon and Anna, give courage to those whose hoary heads are, like theirs, a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness. The lips soon to be silent in the grave, should be showing forth the praises of the Redeemer. In all things it became Christ to be made like unto his brethren, therefore he passed through infancy and childhood as other children, yet without sin, and with manifest proofs of the Divine nature in him. By the Spirit of God all his faculties performed their offices in a manner not seen in any one else. Other children have foolishness bound in their hearts, which appears in what they say or do, but he was filled with wisdom, by the influence of the Holy Ghost; every thing he said and did, was wisely said and wisely done, above his years. Other children show the corruption of their nature; nothing but the grace of God was upon him.

 41   It is for the honour of Christ that children should attend on public worship. His parents did not return till they had stayed all the seven days of the feast. It is well to stay to the end of an ordinance, as becomes those who say, It is good to be here. Those that have lost their comforts in Christ, and the evidences of their having a part in him, must bethink themselves where, and when, and how they lost them, and must turn back again. Those that would recover their lost acquaintance with Christ, must go to the place in which he has put his name; there they may hope to meet him. They found him in some part of the temple, where the doctors of the law kept their schools; he was sitting there, hearkening to their instructions, proposing questions, and answering inquiries, with such wisdom, that those who heard were delighted with him. Young persons should seek the knowledge of Divine truth, attend the ministry of the gospel, and ask such questions of their elders and teachers as may tend to increase their knowledge. Those who seek Christ in sorrow, shall find him with the greater joy. Know ye not that I ought to be in my Father's house; at my Father's work; I must be about my Father's business. Herein is an example; for it becomes the children of God, in conformity to Christ, to attend their heavenly Father's business, and make all other concerns give way to it. Though he was the Son of God, yet he was subject to his earthly parents; how then will the foolish and weak sons of men answer it, who are disobedient to their parents? However we may neglect men's sayings, because they are obscure, yet we must not think so of God's sayings. That which at first is dark, may afterwards become plain and easy. The greatest and wisest, those most eminent, may learn of this admirable and Divine Child, that it is the truest greatness of soul to know our own place and office; to deny ourselves amusements and pleasures not consistent with our state and calling.