[1] Now when the birth of Jesus took place in Beth-lehem of Judaea, in the
days of Herod the king, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, [2]
Saying, Where is the King of the Jews whose birth has now taken place? We
have seen his star in the east and have come to give him worship. [3] And
when it came to the ears of Herod the king, he was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him. [4] And he got together all the chief priests and
scribes of the people, questioning them as to where the birth-place of the
Christ would be. [5] And they said to him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea; for so
it is said in the writings of the prophet, [6] You Beth-lehem, in the land
of Judah, are not the least among the chiefs of Judah: out of you will come
a ruler, who will be the keeper of my people Israel. [7] Then Herod sent
for the wise men privately, and put questions to them about what time the
star had been seen. [8] And he sent them to Beth-lehem and said, Go and
make certain where the young child is; and when you have seen him, let me
have news of it, so that I may come and give him worship. [9] And after
hearing the king, they went on their way; and the star which they saw in
the east went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the
young child was. [10] And when they saw the star they were full of joy.
[11] And they came into the house, and saw the young child with Mary, his
mother; and falling down on their faces they gave him worship; and from
their store they gave him offerings of gold, perfume, and spices. [12] And
it was made clear to them by God in a dream that they were not to go back
to Herod; so they went into their country by another way. [13] And when
they had gone, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream, saying, Get
up and take the young child and his mother, and go into Egypt, and do not
go from there till I give you word; for Herod will be searching for the
young child to put him to death. [14] So he took the young child and his
mother by night, and went into Egypt; [15] And was there till the death of
Herod; so that the word of the Lord through the prophet might come true,
Out of Egypt have I sent for my son. [16] Then Herod, when he saw that he
had been tricked by the wise men, was very angry; and he sent out, and put
to death all the male children in Beth-lehem and in all the parts round
about it, from two years old and under, acting on the knowledge which he
had got with care from the wise men. [17] Then the word of Jeremiah the
prophet came true, [18] In Ramah there was a sound of weeping and great
sorrow, Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted for
their loss. [19] But when Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord came in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt, [20] Saying, Get up and take the young child and
his mother, and go into the land of Israel: because they who were
attempting to take the young child's life are dead. [21] And he got up, and
took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. [22]
But when it came to his ears that Archelaus was ruling over Judaea in the
place of his father Herod, he was in fear of going there; and God having
given him news of the danger in a dream, he went out of the way into the
country parts of Galilee. [23] And he came and was living in a town named
Nazareth: so that the word of the prophets might come true, He will be
named a Nazarene.
