Matthew 5
Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, beginning with the Beatitudes. He teaches about the law, anger, lust, oaths, loving one's enemies, and the calling of His followers to be salt and light in the world.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: | Seeing the crowds, He went up on a mountain. When He sat down, His disciples came to Him. |
| 2 | And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, | He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: |
| 3 | Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
| 4 | Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. | Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. |
| 5 | Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. | Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. |
| 6 | Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. | Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. |
| 7 | Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. | Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. |
| 8 | Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. |
| 9 | Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. | Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. |
| 10 | Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. | Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
| 11 | Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. | Blessed are You when men insult You, persecute You, and falsely say all kinds of evil against You for My sake. |
| 12 | Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. | Rejoice and be greatly glad, for great is Your reward in heaven. In the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before You. |
| 13 | Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. | You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything — it is thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. |
| 14 | Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. | You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. |
| 15 | Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. | No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but on a lampstand. It gives light to everyone in the house. |
| 16 | Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. | Let Your light shine before men in this way, so that they may see Your good works and glorify Your Father who is in heaven. |
| 17 | Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. | Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. |
| 18 | For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. | Truly I tell You, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. |
| 19 | Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. | Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. |
| 20 | For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. | I tell You that unless Your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, You will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. |
| 21 | Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: | You have heard that it was said to the people of old, 'You shall not murder,' and 'Whoever murders will be in danger of judgment.' |
| 22 | But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. | But I tell You that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of judgment. Whoever says to his brother, 'Raca,' will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, 'You fool,' will be in danger of hell fire. |
| 23 | Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; | So if You bring Your gift to the altar and there remember that Your brother has something against You, |
| 24 | Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. | leave Your gift there before the altar. Go and be reconciled to Your brother first, and then come and offer Your gift. |
| 25 | Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. | Settle quickly with Your opponent while You are on the way to court with Him. Otherwise He may hand You over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and You will be thrown into prison. |
| 26 | Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. | Truly I tell You, You will not get out until You have paid the very last penny. |
| 27 | Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: | You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' |
| 28 | But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. | But I tell You that anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in His heart. |
| 29 | And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. | If Your right eye causes You to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for You that one part of Your body perish than that Your whole body be thrown into hell. |
| 30 | And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. | If Your right hand causes You to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for You that one part of Your body perish than that Your whole body go into hell. |
| 31 | It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: | It has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' |
| 32 | But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. | But I tell You that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. |
| 33 | Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: | Again, You have heard that it was said to the people of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall keep the oaths You made to the Lord.' |
| 34 | But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: | But I tell You, do not swear at all — not by heaven, for it is God's throne; |
| 35 | Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. | not by the earth, for it is His footstool; not by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. |
| 36 | Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. | Do not swear by Your head, for You cannot make one hair white or black. |
| 37 | But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. | Let Your word be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no.' Whatever is more than this comes from evil. |
| 38 | Ye have heard that it hath been 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 unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. | But I tell You, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other to Him as well. |
| 40 | And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. | If someone wants to sue you and take your coat, let him have Your cloak as well. |
| 41 | And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. | If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. |
| 42 | Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. | Give to the one who asks you. Do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. |
| 43 | Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. | You have heard that it was said, 'Love Your neighbor and hate Your enemy.' |
| 44 | But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; | But I tell You, love Your enemies. Bless those who curse You. Do good to those who hate You. Pray for those who mistreat You and persecute You. |
| 45 | That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. | This is how You show You are children of Your Father in heaven. He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good. He sends rain on the just and on the unjust. |
| 46 | For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? | If You love only those who love You, what reward do You have? Even the tax collectors do the same. |
| 47 | And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? | If You greet only Your brothers, what more are You doing than others? Even the tax collectors do the same. |
| 48 | Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. | Be perfect, therefore, as Your Father in heaven is perfect." |