Matthew 18
1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
At that hour his disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is really greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,
When he had called a little child to him, Jesus set him among them, and answered.
3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
"In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will not even enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
"Whoever therefore will humble himself like this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven;
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:
"and whoever receives one such child for my sake, receives me.
6 but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and [that] he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.
"But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung about his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!
"Woe unto the world because of such stumbling-blocks! They will surely come, but woe unto each man by whom they come!
8 And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. (aiōnios g166)
"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, than to keep both hands or both feet and be cast into the everlasting burning. (aiōnios g166)
9 And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire. (Geenna g1067)
"If your eye keeps causing you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with only one eye, than to keep both eyes and be cast into the Gehenna of fire. (Geenna g1067)
10 See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
"See to it that you never despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father in heaven.
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?
"How does it seem to you, when a man has a hundred sheep and loses one of them? Will he not leave the ninety and nine on the hills, to go and search for the one that has strayed?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.
"And if he succeeds in finding it, I tell you solemnly that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that never strayed away.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
"Just so it is not the will of my Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him, between yourself and him alone. If he listens, you have won your brother.
16 But if he hear [thee] not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.
"But if he will not listen to you, take one or two others along, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he will not listen to them, tell the church;
17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.
"but if he will not heed the church, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.
18 Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
"I tell you all in solemn truth that whatever you forbid upon earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.
"And again I tell you that if two of you on earth symphonize your praying concerning anything for which you have asked, it shall be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
"For wherever there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I among them."
21 Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?
Just then Peter came to him, and asked him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
"I do not tell you ‘till seven times,’"answered Jesus, "but till seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.
"Thus the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.
"But when he began to settle, one of them was brought before him who owed him fifteen million dollars.
25 But forasmuch as he had not [wherewith] to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
"And since he was unable to pay, his master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, toward the payment of the debt.
26 The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
"Thereupon his slave threw himself on his knees before him, crying, "‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!’
27 And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
"So then the master pitied his slave, and let him go, and forgave him his debt.
28 But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.
"But on his way out, that slave met a fellow slave who owed him fifty dollars. Seizing him by the throat, and nearly choking him, he exclaimed, "‘Pay me what you owe me!’
29 So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.
"Then his fellow slave fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, "‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you.’
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.
"But he would not; on the contrary he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
"When therefore his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very angry; and they went and explained to their master all that had happened.
32 Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:
"Immediately his master summoned him and said. "‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me.
33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?
"‘Ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow slave, just as I had pity on you?’
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.
"Then in hot anger his master handed him over to the torturers, until he should pay him all his debt.
35 So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
"So will my heavenly Father do to you also, unless from your heart each one of you forgive his brother."
