< Matthew 2 >
1 After the birth of Jesus, at Bethlehem of Judea, in the reign of King Herod, certain eastern magians came to Jerusalem, and inquired,
2 Where is the new-born King of the Jews; for we have seen his star in the east country, and are coming to do him homage?
3 King Herod hearing this, was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And having assembled all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he demanded of them where the Messiah should be born.
5 They answered, at Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the Prophet,
6 "And thou Bethlehem, in the canton of Judah, are not the least illustrious among the cities of Judah; for out of thee shall come a ruler, who will govern my people Israel."
7 Then Herod having secretly called the magians, procured from them exact information concerning the time of the star's appearing.
8 And sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go, make an exact inquiry about the child; and when you have found him bring me word, that I may go also, and pay him homage.
9 Having heard the King, they departed; and lo! the star which had appeared to them in the east country, moved before them, till it came, and stood over the place, where the child was.
10 When they again saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly.
11 And being come into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother; and, prostrating themselves, did him homage. Then opening their caskets, they offered, as presents to him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went home another way.
13 When they were gone, lo! a messenger of the Lord appearing to Joseph in a dream, said, Arise, take the child with his mother, and flee into Egypt; and remain there till I order you; for Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
14 Accordingly he arose, took the child with his mother, and withdrew by night into Egypt,
15 where he continued until the death of Herod; so that, what the Lord had spoken by the Prophet, was verified, "Out of Egypt I called my Son."
16 Then Herod, finding that he had been deceived by the magians, was highly incensed and dispatched emissaries who slew, by his order, all the male children in Bethlehem, and in all its territory, from those entering the second year, down to the time of which he had procured exact information from the magians.
17 Then was the word of Jeremiah the Prophet verified,
18 "A cry was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and weeping, and bitter complaint: Rachel bewailing her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
19 When Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appearing in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, said,
20 Arise, take the child with his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought his life.
21 Accordingly, he arose, took the child with his mother, and came to the land of Israel;
22 but hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod in the throne of Judea, he was afraid to return thither; and being warned in a dream, retired into the district of Galilee,
23 and resided in a city named Nazareth; in this verifying the declarations of the Prophet concerning Jesus, that he should be called a Nazarene.
