Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 2:1-12:

They came from the east when Herod was king in Judea.
They were authorities themselves, authorities about stars, and they asked in Jerusalem,
       “Where is the child born to be king of your nation?
In the east we saw the star that signaled his birth,
       and we have come to worship him.”

This news worried King Herod and everyone else in town.
So Herod called together the religious authorities and asked,
       “Where is this new king supposed to be born?”

They replied, “In Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote:
‘Bethlehem — so important in Judea—from you will come
       One with absolute authority over God’s flock.’”

Herod was sly, and after he had sent for the star-authorities,
he said, “Go to Bethlehem and return with all the details,
       so I can worship this new king.”

The eastern authorities followed the star
until it had settled over the child’s home —
       they were overwhelmed with joy…

When they entered the house,
       they saw him with Mary his mother.
So they knelt down and worshiped the child,
       placing at his feet the treasures they had brought.
Later — after being warned in a dream –
       they returned home by a different route.