After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judea, in the reign of King Herod, some Astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem, asking:

When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so, too, was all Jerusalem.

Then Herod secretly sent for the Astrologers, and ascertained from them the date of the appearance of the star;

The Astrologers heard what the King had to say, and then continued their journey. And the star which they had seen in the east led them on, until it reached, and stood over, the place where the child was.

But afterwards, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.

After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said: "Awake, take the child and his mother, and seek refuge in Egypt; and stay there until I bid you return, for Herod is about to search for the child, to put him to death."

And there he stayed until Herod's death; in fulfillment of these words of the Lord in the Prophet, where he says--'Out of Egypt I called my Son.'

When Herod found that he had been trifled with by the Astrologers, he was very angry. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that neighborhood, who were two years old or under, guided by the date which he had ascertained from the Astrologers.

'A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and much lamentation; Rachel, weeping for her children, Refused all comfort because they were not.'

But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said:

But, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as King of Judea, he was afraid to go back there; and having been warned in a dream, he went into the part of the country called Galilee.

When Jesus heard that John had been committed to prison, he retired to Galilee.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

You have heard that to our ancestors it was said--'Thou shalt not commit murder,' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to answer for it to the Court.'

You have heard that it was said--'Thou shalt not commit adultery.'

I, however, say to you that any one who looks at a woman with an impure intention has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Again, you have heard that to our ancestors it was said--'Thou shalt not break an oath, but thou shall keep thine oaths as a debt due to the Lord.'

You have heard that it was said--'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

You have heard that it was said--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thy enemy.'

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Beware of false Teachers--men who come to you in the guise of sheep, but at heart they are ravenous wolves.

But, when he saw the crowds, his heart was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and harassed, 'like sheep without a shepherd';

Now John had heard in prison what the Christ was doing, and he sent a message by his disciples,

'Behold! the Servant of my Choice, My Beloved, in whom my heart delights! I will breathe my spirit upon him, And he shall announce a time of judgment to the Gentiles.

But the Pharisees heard of it and said: "He drives out demons only by the help of Baal-zebub the chief of the demons."

You brood of vipers! how can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips.

For, just as 'Jonah was inside the sea-monster three days and three nights,' so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

For I tell you that many Prophets and good men have longed for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them.

At that time Prince Herod heard of the fame of Jesus,

For Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and shut him up in prison, to please Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip.

Yet, though Herod wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people, because they looked on John as a Prophet.

But, when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before his guests, and so pleased Herod,

When Jesus heard of it, he retired privately in a boat to a lonely spot. The people, however, heard of his going, and followed him in crowds from the towns on foot.

On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them; and he cured all the sick among them.

But the things that come out from the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile a man;

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts--murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander.

Afterwards Jesus called his disciples to him, and said: "My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, for fear that they should break down on the way."

So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his Brother from his heart."

At this, Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you that a rich man will find it hard to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they collected together.

His answer was: "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.'

Therefore practice and lay to heart everything that they tell preach but do not practice.

The man who had received the six hundred pounds came up, too, and said 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed;

"I am sad at heart," he said, "sad even to death; wait here and watch with me."

Then the High Priest tore his robes. "This is blasphemy!" he exclaimed. "Why do we want any more witnesses? You have just heard his blasphemy!

Some of those standing by heard this, and said: "The man is calling for Elijah!"

And teaching them to lay to heart all the commands that I have given you; and, remember, I myself am with you every day until the close of the age."