[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 is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and
have come to worship him." [3] When Herod the king heard it, he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] Gathering together all the chief
priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be
born. [5] They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written
through the prophet, [6] `You Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are in no way least
among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come forth a governor, Who
shall shepherd my people, Israel`". [7] Then Herod secretly called the wise
men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. [8] He sent
them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child.
When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship
him." [9] They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the
star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood
over where the young child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceedingly great joy. [11] They came into the house and saw the young
child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Opening
their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
[12] Being warned in a dream that they shouldn`t return to Herod, they went
back to their own country another way. [13] Now when they had departed,
behold, 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." [14] He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and
departed 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." [16] Then Herod, when he saw that
he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent forth, 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 wise men. [17] Then that which was
spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, [18] "A voice was
heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for
her children; She wouldn`t be comforted, because they are no more." [19]
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt, saying, [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." [21] He arose and took the young child and his
mother, and came 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, [23] and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: "He will be called a
Nazarene."
