Matthew 5
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him.
When Jesus saw the crowds following him he went up a mountain. There he sat down together with his disciples.
2 And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:
He began teaching them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually poor, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who are kind for they will own the whole world.
6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are those whose greatest desire is to do what is right, for they will be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are those who have pure minds, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those who work to bring peace, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those persecuted for what is right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and accuse you of all kinds of evil things because of me.
12 Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.
Be glad, be really glad, for you will receive a great reward in heaven—for they persecuted the prophets who came before you in just the same way.
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.
You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless, how can you make it salty again? It's good for nothing, so it's thrown out and trodden down.
14 You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill can't be hidden.
15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a bucket. No, it's placed on a lamp-stand and it provides light to everyone in the house.
16 So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
In the same way you should let your light shine before everyone so they can see the good things you do and praise your heavenly Father.
17 Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Don't think I came to abolish the law or the writings of the prophets. I didn't come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
18 For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.
I assure you, until heaven and earth come to an end, not a single letter, not a single dot of the law will come to an end before everything is fulfilled.
19 He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
So whoever disregards the least important commandment, and teaches people to do so, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches the commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
I tell you, unless your moral rightness is more than that of the religious teachers and the Pharisees, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.
You've heard that the law said to the people of long ago: ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who commits murder will be condemned as guilty.’
22 But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Geenna g1067)
But I tell you, anyone who is angry with his brother will be condemned as guilty. Whoever calls his brother an idiot has to answer to the council, but whoever verbally abuses others is liable to the fire of judgment. (Geenna g1067)
23 If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee;
If you're at the altar making an offering, and remember that your brother has something against you,
24 Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.
leave your offering on the altar and go and make peace with him first, and afterwards come back and make your offering.
25 Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
While you're on the way to court with your opponent, make sure you settle things quickly. Otherwise your opponent might hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the court official, and you will be thrown into jail.
26 Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing.
I tell you the truth: you won't get out of there until you've paid every last penny.
27 You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
You've heard that the law said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
28 But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I tell you that everyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his mind.
29 And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. (Geenna g1067)
If your right eye leads you to sin, then tear it out and throw it away, because it's better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into the fire of judgment. (Geenna g1067)
30 And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. (Geenna g1067)
If your right hand leads you to sin, then cut it off and throw it away, for it's better for you to lose one of your limbs than for your whole body to go into the fire of judgment. (Geenna g1067)
31 And it hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.
The law also said, ‘If a man divorces his wife, he should give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.
But I tell you that any man who divorces his wife except for sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.
And again, you've heard that the law said to the people of long ago, ‘You shall not perjure yourself. Instead make sure you keep the oaths you swear to the Lord.’
34 But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God:
But I tell you, don't swear at all. Don't swear by heaven, because it's the throne of God.
35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:
Don't swear by the earth, because it's God's footstool. Don't swear by Jerusalem, because it's the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Don't even swear by your head, because you're not able to make a single hair white or black.
37 But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.
Simply say yes or no—more than this comes from the evil one.
38 You have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
You've heard that the law said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other:
But I tell you, don't resist someone who is evil. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to them as well.
40 And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him.
If someone wants to sue you in court and takes your shirt, give them your coat too.
41 And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two,
If someone demands that you go one mile, go with them two.
42 Give to him that asketh of thee and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away.
Give to those who ask you, and don't turn away those who want to borrow from you.
43 You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy.
You've heard that the law said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.
so you may become children of your heavenly Father. For his sun shines on both the good and the bad; and he makes the rain fall on both those who do right and those who do wrong.
46 For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this?
For if you only love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax-collectors do that?
47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?
If you only speak kindly to your family, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the heathen do that!
48 Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.
Grow up and become completely trustworthy, just as your heavenly Father is trustworthy.
