The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.

This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."

to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:

All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was him.

He has come to the aid of his child Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones

and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away empty.