1 Depois que Jesus nasceu em Belém da Judéia, nos dias do rei Herodes, magos vindos do Oriente chegaram a Jerusalém2 e perguntaram: "Onde está o recém-nascido rei dos judeus? Vimos a sua estrela no Oriente e viemos adorá-lo".3 Quando o rei Herodes ouviu isso, ficou perturbado, e com ele toda a Jerusalém.4 Tendo reunido todos os chefes dos sacerdotes do povo e os mestres da lei, perguntou-lhes onde deveria nascer o Cristo.5 E eles responderam: "Em Belém da Judéia; pois assim escreveu o profeta:6 ‘Mas tu, Belém, da terra de Judá, de forma alguma és a menor entre as principais cidades de Judá; pois de ti virá o líder que, como pastor, conduzirá Israel, o meu povo’ ".7 Então Herodes chamou os magos secretamente e informou-se com eles a respeito do tempo exato em que a estrela tinha aparecido.8 Enviou-os a Belém e disse: "Vão informar-se com exatidão sobre o menino. Logo que o encontrarem, avisem-me, para que eu também vá adorá-lo".9 Depois de ouvirem o rei, eles seguiram o seu caminho, e a estrela que tinham visto no Oriente foi adiante deles, até que finalmente parou sobre o lugar onde estava o menino.10 Quando tornaram a ver a estrela, encheram-se de júbilo.11 Ao entrarem na casa, viram o menino com Maria, sua mãe, e, prostrando-se, o adoraram. Então abriram os seus tesouros e lhe deram presentes: ouro, incenso e mirra.12 E, tendo sido advertidos em sonho para não voltarem a Herodes, retornaram a sua terra por outro caminho.13 Depois que partiram, um anjo do Senhor apareceu a José em sonho e disse-lhe: "Levante-se, tome o menino e sua mãe, e fuja para o Egito. Fique lá até que eu lhe diga, pois Herodes vai procurar o menino para matá-lo".14 Então ele se levantou, tomou o menino e sua mãe durante a noite, e partiu para o Egito,15 onde ficou até a morte de Herodes. E assim se cumpriu o que o Senhor tinha dito pelo profeta: "Do Egito chamei o meu filho".16 Quando Herodes percebeu que havia sido enganado pelos magos, ficou furioso e ordenou que matassem todos os meninos de dois anos para baixo, em Belém e nas proximidades, de acordo com a informação que havia obtido dos magos.17 Então se cumpriu o que fora dito pelo profeta Jeremias:18 "Ouviu-se uma voz em Ramá, choro e grande lamentação; é Raquel que chora por seus filhos e recusa ser consolada, porque já não existem".19 Depois que Herodes morreu, um anjo do Senhor apareceu em sonho a José, no Egito,20 e disse: "Levante-se, tome o menino e sua mãe, e vá para a terra de Israel, pois estão mortos os que procuravam tirar a vida do menino".21 Ele se levantou, tomou o menino e sua mãe, e foi para a terra de Israel.22 Mas, ao ouvir que Arquelau estava reinando na Judéia em lugar de seu pai Herodes, teve medo de ir para lá. Tendo sido avisado em sonho, retirou-se para a região da Galiléia23 e foi viver numa cidade chamada Nazaré. Assim cumpriu-se o que fora dito pelos profetas: Ele será chamado Nazareno.

1 Now after the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judaea in the reign of King Herod, excitement was produced in Jerusalem by the arrival of certain Magi from the east,2 inquiring, »Where is the newly born king of the Jews? For we have seen his Star in the east, and have come here to do him homage.«3 Reports of this soon reached the king, and greatly agitated not only him but all the people of Jerusalem.4 So he assembled all the High Priests and Scribes of the people, and anxiously asked them where the Christ was to be born.5 »At Bethlehem in Judaea,« they replied; »for so it stands written in the words of the Prophet,6 »`And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, by no means the least honorable art thou among princely places in Judah! For from thee shall come a prince–one who shall be the Shepherd of My People Israel.'«7 Thereupon Herod sent privately for the Magi and ascertained from them the exact time of the star's appearing.8 He then directed them to go to Bethlehem, adding, »Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and do him homage.«9 After hearing what the king said, they went to Bethlehem, while, strange to say, the star they had seen in the east led them on until it came and stood over the place where the babe was.10 When they saw the star, the sight filled them with intense joy.11 So they entered the house; and when they saw the babe with His mother Mary, they prostrated themselves and did Him homage, and opening their treasure-chests offered gifts to Him–gold, frankincense, and myrrh.12 But being forbidden by God in a dream to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by a different route.13 When they were gone, and angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, »Rise: take the babe and His mother and escape to Egypt, and remain there till I bring you word. For Herod is about to make search for the child in order to destroy Him.«14 So Joseph roused himself and took the babe and His mother by night and departed into Egypt.15 There he remained till Herod's death, that what the Lord had said through the Prophet might be fulfilled, »Out of Egypt I called My Son.«16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious, and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the Magi.17 Then were these words, spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, fulfilled,18 »A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and bitter lamentation: It was Rachel bewailing her children, and she refused to be comforted because there were no more.«19 But after Herod's death an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said to him,20 »Rise from sleep, and take the child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead.«21 So he roused himself and took the child and His mother and came into the land of Israel.22 But hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod on the throne of Judaea, he was afraid to go there; and being instructed by God in a dream he withdrew into Galilee,23 and went and settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that these words spoken through the Prophets might be fulfilled, »He shall be called a Nazarene.«