[1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, [2] "Where
is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the
East, and have come to worship him." [3] When Herod the king heard this, he
was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; [4] and assembling all the chief
priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was
to be born. [5] They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written
by the prophet: [6] `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no
means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who
will govern my people Israel.'" [7] Then Herod summoned the wise men
secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; [8] and he
sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child,
and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship
him." [9] When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the
star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest
over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they
rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; [11] and going into the house they saw
the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then,
opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and
myrrh. [12] And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they
departed to their own country by another way. [13] Now when they had
departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and
said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain
there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to
destroy him." [14] And he rose and took the child and his mother by night,
and departed to Egypt, [15] and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt
have I called my son." [16] Then Herod, when he saw that he had been
tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all
the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years
old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise
men. [17] Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: [18]
"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping
for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more."
[19] But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt, saying, [20] "Rise, take the child and his mother, and
go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."
[21] And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of
Israel. [22] But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place
of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream
he withdrew to the district of Galilee. [23] And he went and dwelt in a
city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be
fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
