Matthew 2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, look, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
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 he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have 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 And when King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so too was all Jerusalem.
4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Messiah would 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 And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet,
‘At Bethlehem in Judea,’ was their answer, ‘for it is said in the prophet –
6 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come forth a ruler who will shepherd 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 secretly called the Magi, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
Then Herod secretly sent for the astrologers. He found out from them the time of the appearance of the star.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."
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 And they, having heard the king, went their way; and look, the star which they saw in the east went before them, until it came and stood over where the young 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 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
At the sight of the star they were filled with joy.
11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: 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 Being warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
But afterwards, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.
13 Now when they had departed, look, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child 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 And he arose and took the young child 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 and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "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, when he saw that he was mocked by the Magi, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned 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 that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
Then were fulfilled these words spoken in the prophet Jeremiah, where he says –
18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she would not be comforted, because they are 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 when Herod was dead, look, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20 "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young 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 And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
He woke up, and taking the child and his mother, went into the Land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of 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 came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he will be called a Nazorean.
There he settled in the town of Nazareth, in fulfilment of these words in the prophets – “He will be called a Nazarene.”
