Matthew 19
Jesus teaches on marriage and divorce, blesses little children, and tells a rich young man to sell all he has and follow Him. The young man goes away sorrowful, and Jesus tells His disciples it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; | When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went to the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. |
| 2 | And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. | Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. |
| 3 | The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? | Some Pharisees came to test Him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" |
| 4 | And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, | He answered, "Have You not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, |
| 5 | And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? | and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? |
| 6 | Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. | So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate." |
| 7 | They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? | "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" |
| 8 | He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. | Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of Your hard hearts. But it was not this way from the beginning. |
| 9 | And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. | I tell You that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery." |
| 10 | His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. | The disciples said to Him, "If that is how it is between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry." |
| 11 | But he said unto them, Not all men can receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. | Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this teaching — only those to whom it has been given. |
| 12 | For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. | Some are born without the ability to marry. Some are made that way by others. And some choose to live that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who can accept this accept it." |
| 13 | Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. | Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. |
| 14 | But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. | Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me and do not stop them. The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." |
| 15 | And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. | He placed His hands on them and then left from there. |
| 16 | And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? | A man came to Jesus and asked, "Master, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?" |
| 17 | And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. | Jesus said, "Why do You ask Me about what is good? There is only One who is good. If You want to enter life, keep the commandments." |
| 18 | He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, | "Which ones?" he asked. Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, |
| 19 | Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. | honor Your father and mother, and love Your neighbor as Yourself." |
| 20 | The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? | The young man said, "I have kept all these. What do I still lack?" |
| 21 | Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. | Jesus answered, "If You want to be perfect, go and sell what You own and give the money to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow Me." |
| 22 | But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. | When the young man heard this, He went away sad, because He had great wealth. |
| 23 | Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. | Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I tell You, it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. |
| 24 | And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. | Again I tell You, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." |
| 25 | When his disciples heard it, they were exceeding amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? | When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" |
| 26 | But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. | Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." |
| 27 | Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? | Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow You! What then will there be for us?" |
| 28 | And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. | Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell You, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. |
| 29 | And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. | And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. |
| 30 | But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. | But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. |