The story of the Magi, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, and their visit to the Christ Child begins with the appearance of a star in the East and ends with the tragic slaughter of the babies in Judea by Herod the Great. He was called Great because of his achievements in politics and building which included the great temple in Jerusalem which was built on the spot where the Temple of Solomon had earlier stood. Herod tried to trick the Magi into revealing the whereabouts of the Christ Child, but they went home by another route, thus allowing Mary and Joseph time to flee with the child to Egypt. All of this was in God's plan to fulfill the words of the prophet: "Out of Egypt I will call my son." ... Editor.

a Saoithe Anoir Nuair a bhí Íosa saolaithe i mBeithil Iúdáia in aimsir Héaróid rí, tháinig saoithe ón aird thoir go dtí Iarúsailéim	1. After Jesus birth in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, magi from the east arrived one day in Jerusalem
2. ag fiafraí, "Cá bhfuil an leanbh seo atá saolaithe, Rí na nGiúdach? Mar chonaiceamar a réalta ag éirí, agus thángamar ag déanamh ómóis dó."	2. inquiring, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage."
3. Nuair a chuala Héaród rí an méíd sin, bhí sé corraithe, agus Iarúsailéim go léir mar an gcéanna.	3. At this news King Herod became deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4. Thionóil sé le chéile uachtaráin na sagart agus scríobhaithe an phobail, agus d’fhiafraigh díobh cén áit a raibh an Críost le saolú.	4. Summoning all of the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5. D’inis siad dó, "I mBeithil Iúdáia," óir sin é atá sa scríbhinn ón bhfáidh:"	5. "In Bethlehem of Judea," they informed him. "Here is what the prophet has written:"
6. "Thusa, a Bheithil, i dtalamh Iúdá, níl tú baol ar an té is lú i measc prionsaí Iúdá, óir is asat a thiocfaidh ceann urra a bheidh ina aoire ar mo phobalsa, Iosrael."	6. "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the princes of Judah, since from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel."
7. Ansin chuir Héaród fios ar na saoithe os íseal agus fuair tuairisc uathu ar an am a bhfacthas an réalta.	7. Herod called the magi aside and found out from them the exact time of the star's appearance.
8. Chuir sé go Beithil iad ansin agus dúirt: "Imígí agus cuirigí fiafraí ghéar ar an leanbh. Nuair a bhíonn sé faighte agaibh, cuirigí scéala chugam chun go rachainn féin ann ag déanamh ómóis dó."	8. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, after having instructed them "Go and get detailed information about the child. When you have found him, report it to me so that I may go and offer him homage too."
9. Nuair a chuala siad caint an rí, d’imigh siad leo. Agus an réalta, a bhí feicthe acu roimhe sin ag éirí, ghluais sí rompu go dtí gur stad sí os cionn na háite ina raibh an leanbh.	9. After their audience with the king, they set out. The star which they had observed at its rising went ahead of them until it came to a standstill over the place where the child was.
10. Nuair a chonaic siad an réalta, bhí áthas an-mhór orthu.	10. They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
11. agus ar dhul isteach sa teach dóibh, chonaic siad an leanbh le Muire a mháthair, agus d’umhlaigh siad go talamh ag déanamh ómóis dó. Agus d’oscail siad a gcistí agus d’ofráil siad tabhartais dó, ór agus túis agus miorra,	11. and on entering the house, found the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage . Then they opened their coffers and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12. Agus ó fuair siad foilsiúi mbrionglóid gan dul ar ais go dtí Héaród, ghabh siad bóthar eile abhaile chun a dtíre féin.	12. They received a message in a dream not to return to Herod, so they went back to their own country by another route.

"The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts. All kings shall bow down before him, and all the nations do him service." ... Psalm 72.

Courtesy of Vivian & Jack Hennessey,
IrishPage.com January 2006
Replay background music: Three kings of Orient.
Irish text from An Bíobla Naofa
courtesy of An Sagart
English text from the New American Bible
Editor: Seán Ó hAonaghusa;

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