New King James Version

New International Version

Wise Men from the East

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [a]wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

1

The Magi Visit the Messiah

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magia from the east came to Jerusalem

2

saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

2

and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

3

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

4

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

4

When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.

5

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

5

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

6

“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’b”

7

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the [b]wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

7

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

8

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

8

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

9

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

10

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

10

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

11

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

11

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

12

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

12

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

13

The Flight into Egypt

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

13

The Escape to Egypt

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14

When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

14

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,

15

and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

15

where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”c

16

Massacre of the Innocents

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

16

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

17

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

17

Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”

18

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”d

19

The Home in Nazareth

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

19

The Return to Nazareth

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

20

saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”

20

and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

21

Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

21

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

22

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

22

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district 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.”

23

and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Parallel

New King James Version

New International Version

Matthew 2

Matthew 2