2 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.

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.

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.

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.

⁴¹ And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch,

⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,

⁴³ And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not.

⁴⁴ And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.

⁴⁵ And not finding him, they returned into 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, hearing them, and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers.

⁴⁸ And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

⁴⁹ And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business?

⁵⁰ And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them.

⁵¹ And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.

² As it is written in Isaias the prophet: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare the way before thee.

³ A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

⁴ John was in the desert baptizing, and preaching the baptism of penance, unto remission of sins.

⁵ And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all they of Jerusalem, and were baptized by him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁶ And John was clothed with camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and he ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷ And he preached, saying: There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

3 And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea.

² And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

³ For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

⁴ And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

⁵ Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan:

⁶ And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?

⁸ Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.

⁹ And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

¹⁰ For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire.

¹² Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina;

² Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert.

³ And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins;

⁴ As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

⁵ Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain;

⁶ And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

⁷ He said therefore to the multitudes that went forth to be baptized by him: Ye offspring of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?

⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance; and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

⁹ For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down and cast into the fire.

¹⁰ And the people asked him, saying: What then shall we do?

¹¹ And he answering, said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner.

¹² And the publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Master, what shall we do?

¹³ But he said to them: Do nothing more than that which is appointed you.

¹⁴ And the soldiers also asked him, saying: And what shall we do? And he said to them: Do violence to no man; neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay.

¹⁵ And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ;

¹⁶ John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

¹⁷ Whose fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

¹⁸ And many other things exhorting, did he preach to the people.

⁹ And it came to pass, in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

¹⁰ And forthwith coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit as a dove descending, and remaining on him.

¹¹ And there came a voice from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

¹³ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him.

¹⁴ But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?

¹⁵ And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered him.

¹⁶ And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.

¹⁷ And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

²¹ Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened;

²² And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon him; and a voice came from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.