Matthew 5
1 On seeing the crowds of people, Jesus went up the hill; and, when he had taken his seat, his disciples came up to him;
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 and he began to teach them, saying:
He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are the mourners, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely for my sake.
12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward in heaven will be great; this is the way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you.
Rejoice and be very glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For in this way people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.
13 ‘You are salt for the world. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown away, and trampled underfoot.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost its taste, how can it be made salty again? It is never again good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 It is you who are the light of the world. A town that stands on a hill cannot be hidden.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp-stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but rather on the lampstand, and it shines for everyone in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before the eyes of others so that, seeing your good actions, they will praise your Father who is in heaven.
Let your light shine before people in such a way that they see your good deeds and praise your Father who is in heaven.
17 ‘Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law or the prophets; I have not come to do away with them, but to complete them.
Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have come not to destroy them, but to fulfill them.
18 For I tell you, until the heavens and the earth disappear, not even the smallest letter, nor one stroke of a letter, will disappear from the Law until all is done.
For truly I say to you that until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things have been accomplished.
19 Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these commandments, even the least of them, and teaches others to do so, will be the least esteemed in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps them, and teaches others to do so, will be esteemed great in the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore whoever breaks the least one of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 Indeed I tell you that, unless you obey God’s commands better than of the teachers of the Law, and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will in no way enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 ‘You have heard that to our ancestors it was said – “You must not commit murder,” and “Whoever commits murder will be brought to trial.”
You have heard that it was said to them in ancient times, 'Do not kill,' and, 'Whoever kills will be in danger of the judgment.'
22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry at their brother or sister will be brought to trial; and whoever insults their brother or sister will be brought before the High Council, while whoever calls them a fool will be in danger of the fires of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be in danger of the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, 'You worthless person!' will be in danger of the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Geenna g1067)
23 Therefore, when presenting your gift at the altar, if even there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
24 leave your gift there, before the altar, go and be reconciled to them, first, then come and present your gift.
leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go on your way. First be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Be ready to make friends with your opponent, even when you meet them on your way to the court; otherwise they might hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the judicial officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
Agree with your accuser quickly while you are with him on the way to court, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
26 I tell you, you will not come out until you have paid the last cent.
Truly I say to you, you will never come out from there until you have paid the last bit of money you owe.
27 ‘You have heard that it was said – “You must not commit adultery.”
You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman and desires her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say to you that everyone who looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away. It would be best for you to lose one part of your body, and not to have the whole of it thrown into Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your body parts should perish than that your whole body should be thrown into hell. (Geenna g1067)
30 And, if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It would be best for you to lose one part of your body, and not to have the whole of it go down to Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your body parts should perish than that your whole body should go into hell. (Geenna g1067)
31 ‘It was also said – “Let anyone who divorces his wife serve her with a notice of separation.”
It was also said, 'Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of some serious sexual sin, leads to her committing adultery; while anyone who marries her after her divorce is guilty of adultery.
But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress. Whoever marries her after she has been divorced commits adultery.
33 Again, you have heard that our ancestors were told – “Do not break your oaths, keep your vows to the Lord.”
Again, you have heard that it was said to those in ancient times, 'Do not swear a false oath, but carry out your oaths to the Lord.'
34 But I say to you that you must not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne,
But I say to you, swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
35 or by the earth, since that is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the Great King.
nor by the earth, for it is the footstool for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Nor should you swear by your head, since you cannot make a single hair either white or black.
Neither swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37 Let your words be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from what is evil.
But let your speech be 'Yes, yes,' or 'No, no.' Anything that is more than this is from the evil one.
38 ‘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, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I say to you that you must not resist those who wrong you; but, if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to them also.
But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. Instead, whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 If someone sues you for your shirt, let them have your cloak as well.
If anyone wishes to go to court with you and takes away your coat, let that person also have your cloak.
41 If you are forced to carry a soldier’s pack for one mile, carry it two.
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to anyone who asks and, if someone wants to borrow from you, do not turn them away.
Give to anyone who asks you, and do not turn away from anyone who wishes to borrow from you.
43 You have heard that it was said – “You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy.”
You have heard that it was said, 'You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But what I tell you is this: love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may become children of your Father who is in heaven; for he causes his sun to rise on bad and good alike, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
46 For, if you love only those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do this!
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you get? Do not even the tax collectors do the same thing?
47 And, if you only welcome your brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do this!
If you greet only your brothers, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same thing?
48 You, then, must become perfect – as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Therefore you must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
