Matthew 2

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,

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem during King Herod's reign, wise men from the east journeyed to Jerusalem, filled with awe and anticipation.

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.

Asking, "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We've seen his star shining in the east and we've come to honor him."

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Upon hearing the news, King Herod was deeply disturbed, and his unease spread throughout Jerusalem.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

When he assembled all the religious leaders and scholars, he urgently asked them where the Messiah was to be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

They told him, "In Bethlehem, in Judea, that's what the prophet wrote."

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.

Dear Bethlehem, in the heart of Juda, you're not insignificant among Juda's leaders. From you, a powerful leader will emerge to guide my people of Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

In secret, Herod summoned the wise men, anxiously asking them when exactly the star had first shown itself.

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.

He directed them to Bethlehem, saying, "Find the child with all your heart. Once you've found him, let me know so I can join you in honoring him."

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.

After listening to the king, they set off. And there it was - the star they had seen in the east. It guided them, shining brightly, until it stopped right above the place where the child lay.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Upon seeing the star, their hearts overflowed with immense joy.

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.

Upon entering the home, they were met with the sight of the infant, cradled by his mother Mary. Overwhelmed with reverence, they knelt before him, offering their precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

In a dream, God cautioned them not to go back to Herod. So, they took a different route back to their homeland, filled with a sense of unease.

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.

After they had left, an angel of God visited Joseph in a dream. The angel urgently said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you it's safe to return because Herod is searching for the child to harm him."

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

As he woke up, he gently took the young child and his mother under the cover of darkness, and they quietly slipped away into Egypt.

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.

He stayed there until King Herod's death, fulfilling God's prophecy through His prophet: "I have summoned my son from Egypt."

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.

When Herod realized he'd been tricked by the wise men, he was filled with furious anger. In his rage, he ordered the murder of all boys in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas who were two years old and under, based on the timeline he'd learned from the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

The prophecy made by the prophet Jeremy was then realized, as he had said,

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.

In Rama, a heartbreaking cry echoed, filled with sorrow and deep grief. Rachel was in tears for her lost children, refusing any comfort, for they were no longer with her.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

After Herod's death, an angel from God visited Joseph in a dream while he was in Egypt.

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.

Get up, protect the child and his mother, and flee to Israel. The ones who wanted to harm the child are no longer a threat.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

With a surge of determination, he gently gathered the young child and his mother, and together, they journeyed back to their homeland, Israel.

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:

Upon hearing that Archelaus had taken his father Herod's throne in Judaea, fear gripped him. Yet, guided by a divine dream, he chose to divert his path towards Galilee instead.

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.

He arrived and made his home in a place known as Nazareth, fulfilling the ancient prophets' words that he would be known as a Nazarene.