Matthew 2
1 After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judea, in the reign of King Herod, some astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
Now Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
2 ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.’
Where is he who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.
3 When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so too was all Jerusalem.
And Herod the king having heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 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.
And having gathered together all the chief priests and scholars of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ is born.
5 ‘At Bethlehem in Judea,’ was their answer, ‘for it is said in the prophet –
And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea. For thus it is written through the prophet,
6 “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.”’
And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of thee will come forth a man who rules, who will tend my people Israel.
7 Then Herod secretly sent for the astrologers. He found out from them the time of the appearance of the star.
Then Herod having called the wise men privately, ascertained from them what time the star appeared.
8 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.’
And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, After going, search diligently about the child. And when ye find him, report to me, so that I also having come, may worship him.
9 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.
And when they heard the king, they departed. And lo, the star that they saw in the east went before them until, having come, it stood over where the child was.
10 At the sight of the star they were filled with joy.
And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 Entering the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and fell at his feet and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having come into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and having fallen down, they worshiped him. And having opened their treasures, they brought to him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 But afterwards, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.
And divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country by another way.
13 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.’
Now after they departed, behold, an agent of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, After rising, take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and thou be there until I tell thee, for Herod is going to seek the child to destroy it.
14 Joseph woke up, and taking the child and his mother by night, went into Egypt,
And having awakened, he took the child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.
15 and there he stayed until Herod’s death. This was in fulfilment of these words of the Lord in the prophet, where he says – “Out of Egypt I called my Son.”
And he was there until the end of Herod, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, which says, Out of Egypt I called my Son.
16 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.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was scorned by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and having sent forth, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem, and in all the borders of it, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.
17 Then were fulfilled these words spoken in the prophet Jeremiah, where he says –
Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, which says,
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and mourning loudly; Rachel, weeping for her children, refusing all comfort for they were dead.”
A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children. And she did not want to be comforted, because they are not.
19 But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
But when Herod perished, behold, an agent of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
20 ‘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.’
After rising, take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those seeking the child's life have died.
21 He woke up, and taking the child and his mother, went into the Land of Israel.
And having awaken, he took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 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.
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And divinely warned in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee.
23 There he settled in the town of Nazareth, in fulfilment of these words in the prophets – “He will be called a Nazarene.”
And having come, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, that he will be called a Nazarene.
