1 The and Jesus being born in Bethleem of the Judea, in days of Herod the king, lo, wise–man from an east country came into Jerusalem, saying:

2 Where is the new–born king of the Jews? we saw for of him the star in the rising, and are come to do homage of him.

3 Having heard and Herod the king was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him;

4 and having called together all the chief–priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Anointed should be born.

5 They and said to him: In Bethleem of the Judea; thus for is written by the prophet;

6 And thou Bethleem, land of Juda; by no means least art among the princes of Juda; out of thee for shall come forth a prince, who shall govern the people of me, the Israel.

7 Then Herod privately having called the wise–men, learned exactly from them the time of the appearing a star,

8 and sending them into Bethleem, he said: Passing on your way, exactly inquire about the infant; as soon as and you have found, bring word to me, that I also going pay homage to him.

9 They and having heard the king departed. And lo, the star, which they saw in the rising, went before them, till going it stood over where was the infant.

10 Seeing and the star, they rejoiced a joy very great;

11 and being come into the house, they saw the infant with Mary the mother of it, and falling down did homage to it, and opening the treasuries of them, they offered to it gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, by another way they withdrew into the country of them.

13 Having withdrawn but of the, lo, a messenger of a Lord appears in a dream to the Joseph, saying: Arising take the infant and the mother of it, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there, till I speak to thee; is about for Herod to seek the infant, to kill it.

14 He then arising took the infant and the mother of it by night, and went into Egypt;

15 and he was there till the death of Herod; that might be fulfilled the word spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt I called the son of me.

16 Then Herod seeing that he was mocked by the wise–men, was enraged much; and sending forth he slew all the boys the in Bethleem and in all the borders of her, from two years and under, according to the time which he exactly learnt from the wise–men.

17 Then was fulfilled the word spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and weeping and mourning great; Rachel bewailing the children of her; and not is willing to be comforted because not they are.

19 Having died and of the Herod, lo, a messenger of a Lord in a dream appears to the Joseph in Egypt, saying:

20 Arising take the infant and the mother of it, and go thou into land Israel; they are dead for the seeking the life of the infant.

21 He and arising took the infant and the mother of it, and came into land Israel.

22 Hearing and, that Archelaus was reigning over the Judea instead of Herod the father of him, he was afraid there to go; being warned and in a dream, he withdrew into regions of the Galilee.

23 And coming he dwelt into a city named Nazareth; that might be fulfilled the words spoken through the prophets, that a Nazarene he will be called.

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod. Astrologers arrived in Jerusalem from the east.

2 They asked: »Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and came to offer him praise.«

3 King Herod was troubled when he heard this. Jerusalem was also troubled.

4 He called together all the chief priests and teachers of the Law and asked where will the Messiah be born?

5 »Bethlehem in Judea,« they answered. This is what the prophet wrote:

6 »Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are not the least of the leading cities of Judah. A leader will come out of you. He will shepherd my people Israel.«

7 Then Herod secretly called the astrologers to find out exactly the time the star appeared.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem. He said: »Search diligently for the young child. When you find him, bring me word so I may come and bow down to him also.«

9 After they heard the king, they followed the star until it stopped over the place where the child was.

10 They were overwhelmed with joy to see the star.

11 They entered the house and saw the young child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and paid him homage. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

12 God warned the astrologers in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they departed for their country by a different road.

13 When they left, the angel of God appeared to Joseph in a dream and said: »Herod is looking to kill the young child. Arise, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you to leave.«

14 Joseph took the child and his mother to Egypt.

15 They did not return until the death of Herod. The words spoken by Jehovah through the prophet were fulfilled: »I called my son out of Egypt.« (Hosea 11:1)

16 Herod saw that the astrologers tricked him and he was furious. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys two years old and younger in or near Bethlehem. This matched the time he learned from the astrologers.

17 Jeremiah’s prophecy came true:

18 »A sound was heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel is weeping for her children. She would not be comforted, because they were dead.«

19 After Herod died God’s angel appeared in a dream to Joseph who was in Egypt.

20 The angel told him: »Take the child and his mother and go to Israel. Those who tried to kill the child are dead.«

21 Joseph took the child and his mother to Israel.

22 When he heard that Archelaus succeeded his father, Herod, as king of Judea, Joseph feared going. Warned in a dream, he left for Galilee instead.

23 He made his home in Nazareth. Thus the prophecy came true: »He Jesus will be called a Nazarene.«