Mateus 2

A vinda dos magos do oriente

1 E, tendo nascido Jesus em Belém de Judeia, no tempo do rei Herodes, eis que uns magos vieram do oriente a Jerusalém, 2 Dizendo: Onde está aquele que é nascido rei dos judeus? Porque vimos a sua estrela no oriente, e viemos a adorá-lo.

3 E o rei Herodes, ouvindo isto, perturbou-se, e toda Jerusalém com ele. 4 E, congregados todos os principais sacerdotes, e os escribas do povo, perguntou-lhes onde havia de nascer o Cristo. 5 E eles lhe disseram: Em Belém de Judeia; porque assim está escrito pelo profeta:

6 E tu, Belém, terra de Judá, de modo nenhum és a menor entre as capitais de Judá; porque de ti sairá o Guia que há de apascentar o meu povo Israel.

7 Então Herodes, chamando secretamente os magos, inquiriu exatamente deles acerca do tempo em que a estrela lhes aparecera. 8 E, enviando-os a Belém, disse: Ide, e perguntai diligentemente pelo menino e, quando o achardes, participai-mo, para que também eu vá e o adore.

9 E, tendo eles ouvido o rei, partiram; e eis que a estrela, que tinham visto no oriente, ia adiante deles, até que, chegando, se deteve sobre o lugar onde estava o menino. 10 E, vendo eles a estrela, regozijaram-se muito com grande alegria. 11 E, entrando na casa, acharam o menino com Maria sua mãe e, prostrando-se, o adoraram; e abrindo os seus tesouros, ofertaram-lhe dádivas: ouro, incenso e mirra.

12 E, sendo por divina revelação avisados num sonho para que não voltassem para junto de Herodes, partiram para a sua terra por outro caminho.

A fuga rumo ao Egito

13 E, tendo eles se retirado, eis que o anjo do Senhor apareceu a José num sonho, dizendo: Levanta-te, e toma o menino e sua mãe, e foge para o Egito, e demora-te lá até que eu te diga; porque Herodes há de procurar o menino para o matar.

14 E, levantando-se ele, tomou o menino e sua mãe, de noite, e foi para o Egito. 15 E esteve lá, até à morte de Herodes, para que se cumprisse o que foi dito da parte do Senhor pelo profeta, que diz: Do Egito chamei o meu Filho.

O extermínio dos meninos de Belém

16 Então Herodes, vendo que tinha sido iludido pelos magos, irritou-se muito, e mandou matar todos os meninos que havia em Belém, e em todos os seus contornos, de dois anos para baixo, segundo o tempo que diligentemente inquirira dos magos. 17 Então se cumpriu o que foi dito pelo profeta Jeremias, que diz:

18 Em Ramá se ouviu uma voz, lamentação, choro e grande pranto: Raquel chorando os seus filhos, e não quer ser consolada, porque já não existem.

O regresso do Egito

19 Morto, porém, Herodes, eis que o anjo do Senhor apareceu num sonho a José no Egito,

20 Dizendo: Levanta-te, e toma o menino e sua mãe, e vai para a terra de Israel; porque já estão mortos os que procuravam a morte do menino.

21 Então ele se levantou, e tomou o menino e sua mãe, e foi para a terra de Israel. 22 E, ouvindo que Arquelau reinava na Judeia em lugar de Herodes, seu pai, receou ir para lá; mas avisado num sonho, por divina revelação, foi para as partes da Galileia. 23 E chegou, e habitou numa cidade chamada Nazaré, para que se cumprisse o que foi dito pelos profetas: Ele será chamado Nazareno.

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.