Exiit edictum a Caesare Augusto, ut describeretur universus orbis. Haec descriptio prima facta est praeside Syriae Quirino: et ibant omnes ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem. Ascendit autem et Ioseph a Galilaea de civitate Nazareth, in Iudaeam civitatem David, quae vocatur Bethleem: eo quod esset de domo et familia David, ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore praegnate. Factum est autem cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret. Et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit: et reclinavit eum in praesepio, quia non erat eis locus in diversorio. 
 

A formal command was issued by Caesar Augustus that there should be a census of the whole world. This census first took place when Quirinus was governor of Syria: each and every person went to his own town to be registered.  And Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the town of David which is called Bethlehem: he went there, since he belonged to the house and line of David, to register with his wife, Mary, who was heavy with child. And during the time they were there, the day arrived when she gave birth. And she bore a son, her firstborn, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger as there was no room for them in the inn.