Matthew 2

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.

星象家朝拜耶稣

1 希律王执政的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。那时，有几个星象家*"星象家"或译："智者"从东方来到耶路撒冷，2 说："那生下来作犹太人的王的在哪里？我们看见他的星出现，特来朝拜他。"3 希律王听见了就心里不安，全耶路撒冷的居民也是这样。4 他就召集所有的祭司长和民间的经学家，问他们基督应该生在哪里。5 他们回答："在犹太的伯利恒。因为有先知在经上这样说：

6 ‘犹大地的伯利恒啊！

你在犹大的领袖中，并不是最小的，

因为必有一位领袖从你那里出来，

牧养我的子民以色列。’"

7 希律暗中把星象家召来，仔细查问他们，那颗星甚么时候出现，8 然后派他们到伯利恒去，说："你们去细心寻访那小孩，找到了就向我报告，好叫我也去拜他。"9 他们听命去了。他们在东方看见的那颗星，忽然在他们前头，领他们到那小孩所在的地方，就在上头停住了。10 他们看见那颗星，欢喜极了；11 进了房子，看见小孩和他母亲马利亚，就俯伏拜他，并且打开宝盒，把黄金、乳香、没药作礼物献给他。12 后来他们在梦中得着指示不要回到希律那里去，就从别的路回乡去了。

逃往埃及

13 他们走了以后，主的使者在梦中向约瑟显现，说："起来，带着孩子和他母亲逃到埃及去，留在那里，直到我再指示你，因为希律要寻找这孩子，把他杀掉。"14 约瑟就起来，连夜带着孩子和他母亲往埃及去，15 住在那里，直到希律死了，为的是要应验主藉先知所说的："我从埃及召我的儿子出来。"

屠杀婴孩

16 希律见自己被星象家愚弄了，就大怒，于是照着他从星象家所问得的日子，下令把伯利恒和附近地方，两岁及以下的小孩全都杀死。17 这就应验了耶利米先知所说的：

18 "在拉玛听见有声音，

是痛哭、极大哀号的声音；

拉结为她的儿女哀哭，

不肯受安慰，因为他们都不在了。"

从埃及回来

19 希律死后，在埃及，主的使者在梦中向约瑟显现，20 说："那些要杀害这孩子的人已经死了。起来，带着孩子和他母亲回以色列地去吧。"21 约瑟就起来，带着小孩子和他母亲回到以色列地。22 只是听见亚基老接续他父亲希律作了犹太王，他就不敢到犹太地去；又在梦中得了指示，于是往加利利境去，23 来到拿撒勒城住下，这样就应验了先知所说的："他必称为拿撒勒人。"