Matthew 2
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, learned men from the east arrived in 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 was born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
“Where is the new-born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and have come to do homage to him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, 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 Herod brought together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and he asked them, “Where is the Christ 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 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what was written by the prophet,
“At Bethlehem in Judea,” was their answer; “for it is said in the Prophet —
6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the leaders of Judah, for from you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”
‘And thou, Bethlehem in Judah’s land, art in no way least among the chief cities of Judah; for out of thee will come a Chieftain — one who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called the learned men to ask them exactly what time the star had appeared.
Then Herod secretly sent for the Astrologers, and ascertained from them the date of the appearance of the star;
8 He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
and, sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and make careful inquiries about the child, and, as soon as you have found him, bring me word, that I, too, may go and do homage to him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star that they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stood still over where the young child was.
The Astrologers heard what the King had to say, and then continued their journey. And 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 rejoiced with very great joy.
At the sight of the star they were filled with joy.
11 They went into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother. They fell down and worshiped him. They opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Entering the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and fell at his feet and did homage to him. Then they unpacked their treasures, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod, so they departed to their own country by 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 After they had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Remain 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: “Awake, take the child and his mother, and seek refuge in Egypt; and stay there until I bid you return, for Herod is about to search for the child, to put him to death.”
14 That night Joseph rose and took the young child and his mother and departed into Egypt.
Joseph awoke, and taking the child and his mother by night, went into Egypt,
15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
and there he stayed until Herod’s death; 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 had been mocked by the learned men, was very angry. He sent and killed all the male children that were in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old and under, according to the time that he had determined exactly from the learned men.
When Herod found that he had been trifled with by the Astrologers, he was very angry. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that neighbourhood, who were two years old or under, guided by the date which he had ascertained from the Astrologers.
17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet,
Then were fulfilled these words spoken in the Prophet Jeremiah, where he says —
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.”
‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lamentation; Rachel, weeping for her children, refused all comfort because they were not.’
19 When Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,
But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said:
20 “Get up and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.”
“Awake, 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 Joseph rose, took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
And he awoke, 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. After God warned him in a dream, he left for 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 went and lived in a city called Nazareth. This fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
And there he settled in the town of Nazareth, in fulfilment of these words in the Prophets — ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’
