Wise men follow a star to worship the young child. King Herod, threatened, orders the boys of Bethlehem killed, but Joseph is warned in a dream and flees with the family to Egypt, later settling in Nazareth.
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king , behold , there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem ,
2 Saying , Where is he that is born King of the Jews ? for we have seen his star in the east , and are come to worship him .
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled , and all Jerusalem with him .
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together , he demanded of them where Christ should be born .
5 And they said unto him , In Bethlehem of Judaea : for thus it is written by the prophet ,
6 And thou Bethlehem , in the land of Juda , art not the least among the princes of Juda : for out of thee shall come a Governor , that shall rule my people Israel .
7 Then Herod , when he had privily called the wise men , enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared .
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem , and said , Go and search diligently for the young child ; and when ye have found him, bring me word again , that I may come and worship him also .
9 When they had heard the king , they departed ; and , lo , the star , which they saw in the east , went before them , till it came and stood over where the young child was .
10 When they saw the star , they rejoiced with exceeding great joy .
11 And when they were come into the house , they saw the young child with Mary his mother , and fell down , and worshipped him : and when they had opened their treasures , they presented unto him gifts ; gold , and frankincense , and myrrh .
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod , they departed into their own country another way .
13 And when they were departed , behold , the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream , saying , Arise , and take the young child and his mother , and flee into Egypt , and be thou there until I bring thee word : for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him .
14 When he arose , he 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 of the Lord by the prophet , saying , Out of Egypt have I called my son .
16 Then Herod , when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men , was exceeding wroth , and sent forth , and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem , and in all the coasts thereof , from two years old and under , according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men .
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet , saying ,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard , lamentation , and weeping , and great mourning , Rachel weeping for her children , and would not be comforted , because they are not .
19 But when Herod was dead , behold , an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ,
20 Saying , Arise , and take the young child and his mother , and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead which sought the young child's life .
21 And he arose , and took the young child and his mother , and came into the land of Israel .
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod , he was afraid to go thither : notwithstanding , being warned of God in a dream , he turned aside into the parts of Galilee :
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets , He shall be called a Nazarene .