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The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 2 -

(Micah 5:1–6)
1
When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, 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 are come to adore him.
3
And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4
And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.
5
But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet:
6
And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.
7
Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them;
8
And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore him.
9
Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.
10
And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11
And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12
And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

The Flight to Egypt

(Hosea 11:1–7)
13
And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.
14
Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod:
15
That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Weeping and Great Mourning

(Jeremiah 31:1–25)
16
Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders 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 Jeremias the prophet, saying:
18
A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

The Return to Nazareth

(Luke 2:39–40)
19
But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,
20
Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child.
21
Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22
But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee.
23
And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene.
(Micah 5:1–6)
1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men (a) from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
2
“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
3
When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.
5
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
6
‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”(b)
7
Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
8
He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
9
They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, 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 exceedingly great joy.
11
They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12
Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

The Flight to Egypt

(Hosea 11:1–7)
13
Now when they had departed, behold, an 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 stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
14
He arose and 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 by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”(c)

Weeping and Great Mourning

(Jeremiah 31:1–25)
16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
17
Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
18
“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”(d)

The Return to Nazareth

(Luke 2:39–40)
19
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
20
“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
21
He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
23
and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene.

Footnotes

(a)2:1 The word for “wise men” (magoi) can also mean teachers, scientists, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, or sorcerers.
(b)2:6 ℘ Micah 5:2
(c)2:15 ℘ Hosea 11:1
(d)2:18 ℘ Jeremiah 31:15
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