Matthew 2
Hawai‘i Pidgin
Da Smart Guys Who Know Plenny Bout Da Stars
2 Jesus, he born Betlehem town, Judea side. Herod, he da king dat time. An you know wat? Had dese smart guys who know plenny bout da stars, wen come Jerusalem town from one far place, from da east side. Dey saying, 2 “Wea da boy dat born, da King fo da Jews? We wen spock one star come up da east side dat show dat he born awready, an we come hea fo go down in front him an show him plenny respeck.” 3 King Herod hear dat, an he all shook up an scared. All da peopo inside Jerusalem town, dey all shook up an scared too.
4 Den Herod wen tell fo come by him all da main priest guys an all da teacha guys who teach Godʼs Rules to da peopo. He say, “Try tell me wea Godʼs Spesho Guy goin born.” 5 Dey tell um, “He goin born Betlehem, Judea side. Cuz da guy Micah wen say (he one guy dat talk fo God long time ago),
6 ‘Eh! You Betlehem guys, ova dea Judah side!
All da leadas inside Judah
Tink Betlehem importan.
Cuz from dea goin come one leada.
He goin take care Godʼs peopo,
Da Israel peopo.’ ”
7 Den Herod tell da guys who know plenny bout da stars fo come by him. Dey wen come, but dey neva tell nobody. He find out from dem wat time da star wen show up inside da sky. 8 Den he send um Betlehem. He say, “Go! Look all ova da place till you find da boy. Den come back ova hea an tell me. Cuz I like go dea, fo go down in front him an show him respeck too.”
9 Afta dey hear wat da king say, dey go. An you know wat? Dat same star, da one dey wen see befo, wen dey wen stay east side, dat star go in front dem, an stop right ova da place wea da boy stay. 10 Dey wen spock da star, an eh! dey wen feel real good inside.
11 Dey go inside da house. Dey see da boy an his mudda Mary. Dey go down in front him an show him respeck. Den dey take out dea rich stuffs, an give um to Jesus. Dey give um gold, incense, an spesho kine perfume. 12 Afta dat dey get one dream from God. He tell um, “You guys betta not go back by King Herod.” So dey go home one diffren way.
Dey Run Away Egypt Side
13 Afta da guys who know plenny bout da stars wen go home, you know wat? Had one angel guy from da Boss Up Dea come by Joseph, wen he stay dreaming. Da angel guy tell him, “Eh Joseph! Wake up! Take yoa boy an his mudda, an go run Egypt side. Stay ova dea till I tell you fo come back. King Herod, he goin look fo da boy fo kill him, dass why.” 14 So Joseph get up, an take his boy an Mary, an dey wen run Egypt side, dat nite.
15 Dey stay dea till Herod wen mahke. Wen all dis happen, was jalike Hosea wen say, da guy dat talk fo God long time ago, “I wen tell my boy fo come outa Egypt.”
Herod Kill da Kids
16 King Herod, he wen find out eh, dat da guys dat know plenny bout da stars wen fool him, an he wen come so wild, he wen go send his army guys an tell um, “Go kill all da small boys inside Betlehem an all da odda place ova dea.” Den dey wen kill all da boys two years old an mo younga. Herod wen figga da time, cuz da guys who know plenny bout da stars wen tell him wat time da star wen show up first time.
17 Dis happen jalike Jeremiah wen say, da guy dat talk fo God long time ago:
18 “Dey hear one voice from inside Ramah,
Rachel, she stay crying real hard,
She real sore inside,
Crying fo her kids,
She no like nobody come by her,
Cuz da kids mahke awready.”
Dey Come Back From Egypt Side
19 Lata, King Herod wen mahke. One angel messenja guy from da Boss come by Joseph wen he stay dreaming ova dea Egypt side. Da angel guy tell him, 20 “Eh Joseph! Wake up! Take yoa boy an his mudda, an go Israel side. Da guys dat like kill da boy, stay mahke awready.”
21 So den Joseph wen get up, fo take Jesus an Mary. Dey wen go back Israel side. 22 But he hear dat Arkelaus wen come king Judea side afta his fadda Herod wen mahke. Joseph scared fo go ova dea. God tell him inside one dream, “You betta not go ova dea.” So he go Galilee side, 23 an make house Nazaret town. Dis happen jalike da guys who talk fo God long time ago wen say, “Dey goin call him ‘da Nazaret guy.’ ”
Matthew 2
King James Version
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea 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 are 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 Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: 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, enquired 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, till 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 were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth 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 of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts 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 Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth 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 which 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 did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts 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.
Matthew 2
English Standard Version
The Visit of the Wise Men
2 Now (A)after Jesus was born in (B)Bethlehem of Judea (C)in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from (D)the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born (E)king of the Jews? For we saw (F)his star when it rose[b] and have come to (G)worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where (H)the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 (I)“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will (J)shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, (K)they offered him gifts, (L)gold and (M)frankincense and (N)myrrh. 12 And (O)being warned (P)in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
The Flight to Egypt
13 Now when they had departed, behold, (Q)an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. (R)This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, (S)“Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Herod Kills the Children
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 (T)Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 (U)“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they (V)are no more.”
The Return to Nazareth
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for (W)those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and (X)being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called (Y)Nazareth, (Z)so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Footnotes
- Matthew 2:1 Greek magi; also verses 7, 16
- Matthew 2:2 Or in the east; also verse 9
Copyright © 2000 by Wycliffe Bible Translators International. All rights reserved
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
