Matthew 2
1 Now Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, behold magi from the east arrived at Jerusalem, saying,
After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judea, in the reign of King Herod, some astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
2 Where is the king of the Jews that has been born? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to do him homage.
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
3 But Herod the king having heard [of it], was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so too was all Jerusalem.
4 and, assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.
He called together all the chief priests and teachers of the Law in the nation, and questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born.
5 And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written through the prophet:
“At Bethlehem in Judea,” was their answer, “for it is said in the prophet –
6 And thou Bethlehem, land of Juda, art in no wise the least among the governors of Juda; for out of thee shall go forth a leader who shall shepherd my people Israel.
‘And you, Bethlehem in Judah’s land, are in no way least among the chief cities of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler – who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod, having secretly called the magi, inquired of them accurately the time of the star that was appearing;
Then Herod secretly sent for the astrologers. He found out from them the time of the appearance of the star.
8 and having sent them to Bethlehem, said, Go, search out accurately concerning the child, and when ye shall have found [him] bring me back word, so that I also may come and do him homage.
Sending them to Bethlehem he said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. When you have found him, bring word back to me, so that I, too, can go and worship him.”
9 And they having heard the king went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the place where the little child was.
The astrologers heard what the king had to say, and then continued their journey. The star which they had seen in the east led them on, until it reached and stood over the place where the child was.
10 And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
At the sight of the star they were filled with joy.
11 And having come into the house they saw the little child with Mary his mother, and falling down did him homage. And having opened their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Entering the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
But afterward, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.
13 Now, they having departed, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph, saying, Arise, take to [thee] the little child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee; for Herod will seek the little child to destroy it.
After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and seek refuge in Egypt; and stay there until I tell you to return, for Herod is about to search for the child, to put him to death.”
14 And, having arisen, he took to [him] the little child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.
Joseph woke up, and taking the child and his mother by night, went into Egypt,
15 And he was there until the death of Herod, that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by [the] Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
and there he stayed until Herod’s death. This was in fulfillment of these words of the Lord in the prophet, where he says – ‘Out of Egypt I called my Son.’
16 Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the magi, was greatly enraged; and sent and slew all the boys which [were] in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years and under, according to the time which he had accurately inquired from the magi.
When Herod found out that the astrologers had tricked him, he flew into a rage. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that region, who were two years old or under, guided by the time which he had learned from the astrologers.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremias the prophet, saying,
Then were fulfilled these words spoken in the prophet Jeremiah, where he says –
18 A voice has been heard in Rama, weeping, and great lamentation: Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and mourning loudly; Rachel, weeping for her children, refusing all comfort for they were dead.’
19 But Herod having died, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20 Arise, take to [thee] the little child and its mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who sought the life of the little child are dead.
“Get up, take the child and his mother, and go into the Land of Israel, for those who sought to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 And he arose and took to [him] the little child and its mother, and came into the land of Israel;
He woke up, and taking the child and his mother, went into the Land of Israel.
22 but having heard that 'Archelaus reigns over Judaea, instead of Herod his father,' he was afraid to go there; and having been divinely instructed in a dream, he went away into the parts of Galilee,
But, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, he was afraid to go back there; and having been warned in a dream, he went into the part of the country called Galilee.
23 and came and dwelt in a town called Nazareth; so that that should be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, He shall be called a Nazaraene.
There he settled in the town of Nazareth, in fulfillment of these words in the prophets – ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’
