Matthew 2
1 Now after the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judaea in the reign of King Herod, excitement was produced in Jerusalem by the arrival of certain Magi from the east,
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 inquiring, "Where is the newly born king of the Jews? For we have seen his Star in the east, and have come here 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 Reports of this soon reached the king, and greatly agitated not only him but all the people of Jerusalem.
When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so too was all Jerusalem.
4 So he assembled all the High Priests and Scribes of the people, and anxiously asked them where the Christ was to 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 "At Bethlehem in Judaea," they replied; "for so it stands written in the words of the Prophet,
‘At Bethlehem in Judea,’ was their answer, ‘for it is said in the prophet –
6 "'And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, by no means the least honorable art thou among princely places in Judah! For from thee shall come a prince--one who shall be the Shepherd of 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 Thereupon Herod sent privately for the Magi and ascertained from them the exact time of the star's appearing.
Then Herod secretly sent for the astrologers. He found out from them the time of the appearance of the star.
8 He then directed them to go to Bethlehem, adding, "Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too 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 After hearing what the king said, they went to Bethlehem, while, strange to say, the star they had seen in the east led them on until it came and stood over the place where the babe 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 When they saw the star, the sight filled them with intense joy.
At the sight of the star they were filled with joy.
11 So they entered the house; and when they saw the babe with His mother Mary, they prostrated themselves and did Him homage, and opening their treasure-chests offered gifts to Him--gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
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.
12 But being forbidden by God in a dream to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by a different route.
But afterwards, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.
13 When they were gone, and angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise: take the babe and His mother and escape to Egypt, and remain there till I bring you word. For Herod is about to make search for the child in order to destroy Him."
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 So Joseph roused himself and took the babe 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 There he remained till Herod's death, that what the Lord had said through the Prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
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.”
16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious, and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained 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 were these words, spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, fulfilled,
Then were fulfilled these words spoken in the prophet Jeremiah, where he says –
18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and bitter lamentation: It was Rachel bewailing her children, and she refused to be comforted because there were no more."
“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and mourning loudly; Rachel, weeping for her children, refusing all comfort for they were dead.”
19 But after Herod's death an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said to him,
But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20 "Rise from sleep, and take the child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life 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 So he roused himself and took the child and His 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 hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod on the throne of Judaea, he was afraid to go there; and being instructed by God in a dream he withdrew into 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 went and settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that these words spoken through the Prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
There he settled in the town of Nazareth, in fulfilment of these words in the prophets – “He will be called a Nazarene.”
