¶ When Iesus was born in Bethlehem a town of Jury, in the time of king Herod. Behold, there came wise men from the east to Ierusalem saying: Where is he that is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
¶ Herod the king, after he had heard this, was troubled, and all Ierusalem with him, and he sent for all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and demanded of them where Christ should be born. They said unto him: in Bethlehem a town of Jury. For thus it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem in the land of Jury, shalt not be the least as pertaining to the princes of Iuda. For out of thee shall come a captain, which shall govern my people Israhel.
¶ Then Herod privily called the wise men, and diligently enquired of them, the time of the star that appeared. And sent them to Bethlehem saying: when ye be come thither search diligently for the child. And when ye have found him bring me word, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed, and lo the star which they saw in the east went before them, until it came and stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were marvellously glad. And entered into the house, and found the child with Mary his mother, and kneeled down and worshipped him, and opened their treasures, and offered unto him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And after they were warned in their sleep, that they should not go again to Herod, they returned into their own country another way.
¶ After that they were departed, lo the angel of the Lord appeared to Ioseph in his sleep saying: arise and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt, and abide there till I bring thee word. For Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Then he arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there unto the death of Herod, to fulfil that which was spoken of the Lord, by the prophet, which saith: out of Egypt have I called my son.
¶ Then Herod perceiving 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, as many as were two year old and under, according to the time which he had diligently searched out of the wise men.
¶ Then was fulfilled, that which was spoken by the prophet Ieremy, saying: On the hills was a voice heard, mourning, weeping, and great lamentation. Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were not.
¶ When Herod was dead, lo an angel of the Lord appeared unto Ioseph in Egypt saying: arise and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israhel. For they are dead, which sought the child's death. Then he arose up, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israhel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Jury, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither. Notwithstanding after he was warned in his sleep, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee, and went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, to fulfil, that which was spoken by the prophets: He shall be called of Nazareth.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1525