Matthew 2:1–12

Wise Men Visit Jesus

2 Now after* Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its risinga and have come to worship him.” 3 And when* King Herod heard it,* he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and after* calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired from them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,

for from you will go out a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”b

7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and* determined precisely from them the time when* the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and* said, “Go, inquire carefully concerning the child, and when you have found him, report to me so that I also may come and* worship him.” 9 After* they listened to the king, they went out, and behold, the star which they had seen at its risingc led them until it came and* stood above the place where the child was. 10 Now when they* saw the star, they rejoiced with very great joy. 11 And when they* came into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and* worshiped him. And opening their treasure boxes, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.