< Matthew 2 >
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came certain wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 saying, Where is the king of the Jews that is born here? for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship Him.
3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him:
4 and having summoned together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he enquired of them where the Messiah was to be born: and they told him, at Bethlehem in Judea;
5 for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 "And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda art not the meanest among the cities of the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come forth a ruler, that shall feed my people Israel."
7 Then Herod called the wise men to him privately, and inquired of them exactly the time of the star's appearing:
8 and sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go and make diligent search for the child, and when ye have found Him, let me know, that I also may come and worship Him.
9 When they had heard the king, they went: and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went on before them, till it came and stood over the place where the child was.
10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy;
11 and coming into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they brought Him presents, of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Rise and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and continue there, untill I tell thee to return: for Herod will seek the child to destroy Him.
14 And he arose and took the child and his mother by night, and went away into Egypt:
15 and stayed there till the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spake by the prophet, saying, " Out of Egypt have I called my Son."
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was baffled by the wise-men, was very much enraged; and he sent and slew all the male-children in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly inquired of the wise-men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet,
18 saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 saying, Arise and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they, that sought the child's life, are dead.
21 And he arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel:
22 but when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither; however being warned of God in a dream, he retired into the district of Galilee.
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
