¹⁸ The circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

¹⁹ But Joseph her husband, being a kind-hearted man and unwilling publicly to disgrace her, had determined to release her privately from the betrothal.

²⁰ But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit.

²¹ She will give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name JESUS for He it is who will save His People from their sins."

²² All this took place in fulfilment of what the Lord had spoken through the Prophet,

²³ <"Mark! The maiden will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call His name Immanuel"> --a word which signifies <`God with us'>.

²⁴ When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and brought home his wife,

²⁵ but did not live with her until she had given birth to a son. The child's name he called JESUS.

¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men 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 forth a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.'"

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 that they shouldn't return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.