Matthew 2
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of King Herod, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem.
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 who has been born?” they asked. “We saw his star in the east and we've come to worship him.”
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard about it, he was very disturbed, and the whole of Jerusalem with him.
When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so too was all Jerusalem.
4 Herod summoned all the chief priests and religious teachers of the people, and asked them where the Messiah was supposed 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 “Bethlehem in Judea,” they told him, “for that's what the prophet wrote:
“At Bethlehem in Judea,” was their answer, “for it is said in the prophet –
6 ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judea, you are certainly not the least important of Judah's leading cities, for a leader will come from you who will be the shepherd for 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 called the wise men and met with them in private and found out from them exactly when the star appeared.
Then Herod secretly sent for the astrologers. He found out from them the time of the appearance of the star.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem, telling them, “When you get there, search for the child. Once you find him let me know so that I can come and worship him too.”
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 they had heard what the king had to say they went on their way, and the star which they had seen in the east led them until it stopped right above the place where the 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 When they saw the star they couldn't contain their happiness!
At the sight of the star they were filled with joy.
11 They went into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. They bowed and worshiped him. Then they opened their bags of treasure and presented him with gifts of gold, 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 Warned by a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by a different route.
But afterward, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.
13 After they'd left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and told him, “Get up, and take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Remain there until I tell you, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill 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 got up and took the boy and his mother, and left during the night for Egypt.
Joseph woke up, and taking the child and his mother by night, went into Egypt,
15 They stayed there until Herod's death. This fulfilled what the Lord said through the prophet, “I called my son out of Egypt.”
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 When Herod realized he'd been fooled by the wise men, he got very angry. He sent men to kill all the young boys in Bethlehem and the regions nearby who were two years old and under. This was based on the time frame he'd discovered from the wise men.
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 In this way Jeremiah's prophecy was fulfilled:
Then were fulfilled these words spoken in the prophet Jeremiah, where he says –
18 “The sound of terrible weeping and mourning was heard in Rama, Rachel crying for her children. They are dead, and she can't be comforted.”
‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and mourning loudly; Rachel, weeping for her children, refusing all comfort for they were dead.’
19 After Herod died the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and told him,
But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20 “Get up! Take the child and his mother, and return to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the 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 So Joseph got up and took the boy and his mother, and returned to the land of Israel.
He woke up, and taking the child and his mother, went into the Land of Israel.
22 But Joseph was afraid to go there after he learned that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea. Warned in a dream, Joseph went to the Galilee area
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 settled down in Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said, “He will be called a Nazarene.”
There he settled in the town of Nazareth, in fulfillment of these words in the prophets – ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’
