Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, suddenly wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet,

'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah: for out of you shall come forth a ruler, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.'"

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."

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.