| Chapter 2 |
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. |