2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 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 have 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 Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah; 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, inquired 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 until 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 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 unto Him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh.

¹² And being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

¹³ And when they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared 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 by the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children who were in Bethlehem and in all the region thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

¹⁷ Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

¹⁸ “In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they are no more.”

¹⁹ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared 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 who 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 reigned in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither. Notwithstanding, being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region 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.”

³⁹ And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth.

⁴⁰ And the Child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

⁴¹ Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast.

⁴³ And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.

⁴⁴ But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.

⁴⁵ And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

⁴⁶ And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

⁴⁸ And when they saw Him they were amazed, and His mother said unto Him, “Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.”

⁴⁹ And He said unto them, “How is it that ye sought Me? Knew ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”

⁵⁰ And they understood not the saying which He spoke unto them.

⁵¹ And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But His mother kept all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.