مَتَّى 23

١ 1 عِنْدَئِذٍ خَاطَبَ يَسُوعُ الْجُمُوعَ وَتَلامِيذَهُ،

Then Jesus addressed the people and his disciples,

٢ 2 وَقَالَ: «اعْتَلَى الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ كُرْسِيَّ مُوسَى:

saying, The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' chair;

٣ 3 فَاحْفَظُوا كُلَّ مَا يَقُولُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَاعْمَلُوا بِهِ. وَلَكِنْ لَا تَعْمَلُوا مِثْلَ مَا يَعْمَلُونَ؛ لأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ وَلا يَفْعَلُونَ،

therefore observe and do whatsoever they enjoin you; nevertheless, follow not their example; for they say and do not.

٤ 4 بَلْ يَحْزِمُونَ أَحْمَالاً ثَقِيلَةً لَا تُطَاقُ وَيَضَعُونَهَا عَلَى أَكْتَافِ النَّاسِ، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ هُمْ لَا يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُحَرِّكُوهَا بِطَرَفِ الإِصْبَعِ.

Heavy and intolerable burdens they prepare for other men's shoulders, burdens to which they themselves will not put a finger.

٥ 5 وَكُلُّ مَا يَعْمَلُونَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا يَعْمَلُونَهُ لِكَيْ يَلْفِتُوا نَظَرَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِمْ. فَهُمْ يَجْعَلُونَ عَصَائِبَهُمْ عَرِيضَةً وَيُطِيلُونَ أَطْرَافَ أَثْوَابِهِمْ؛

But whatever they do they do to be observed by men. For this they wear broader phylacteries than others, and larger tufts on their mantles;

٦ 6 وَيُحِبُّونَ أَمَاكِنَ الصَّدَارَةِ فِي الْوَلائِمِ، وَالأَمَاكِنَ الْمُتَقَدِّمَةَ فِي الْمَجَامِعِ،

and love the uppermost places at entertainments, and the principal seats in the synagogues,

٧ 7 وَأَنْ تُلْقَى عَلَيْهِمِ التَّحِيَّاتُ فِي السَّاحَاتِ، وَأَنْ يَدْعُوَهُمُ النَّاسُ:’يَا مُعَلِّمُ، يَا مُعَلِّمُ.‘

and salutations in public places; and to hear men addressing them, cry, Rabbi, Rabbi.

٨ 8 أَمَّا أَنْتُمْ، فَلا تَقْبَلُوا أَنْ يَدْعُوَكُمْ أَحَدٌ: يَا مُعَلِّمُ! لأَنَّ مُعَلِّمَكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، وَأَنْتُمْ جَمِيعاً إِخْوَةٌ.

But as for you, assume not the title of Rabbi; for you have only one teacher;

٩ 9 وَلا تَدْعُوا أَحَداً عَلَى الأَرْضِ أَباً لَكُمْ؛ لأَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، وَهُوَ الآبُ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ.

and style no man on earth your father, for he alone is your Father, who is in heaven; and all you are brothers.

١٠ 10 وَلا تَقْبَلُوا أَنْ يَدْعُوَكُمْ أَحَدٌ رُؤَسَاءَ، لأَنَّ رَئِيسَكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، وَهُوَ الْمَسِيحُ.

Neither assume the title of leaders, for you have only one leader--who is the Messiah.

١١ 11 وَلْيَكُنْ أَكْبَرُكُمْ خَادِماً لَكُمْ.

The greatest of you, on the contrary, shall be your servant;

١٢ 12 فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مَنْ يُرَفِّعُ نَفْسَهُ يُوْضَعُ، وَمَنْ يَضَعُ نَفْسَهُ يُرَفَّعُ.

for whosoever will exalt himself, shall be humbled; and whosoever will humble himself, shall be exalted.

١٣ 13 لَكِنِ الْوَيْلُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ! فَإِنَّكُمْ تُغْلِقُونَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ فِي وُجُوهِ النَّاسِ، فَلا أَنْتُمْ تَدْخُلُونَ، وَلا تَدَعُونَ الدَّاخِلِينَ يَدْخُلُونَ!

But alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees! hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; and will neither enter yourselves, nor permit others that would, to enter.

١٤ 14 الْوَيْلُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ! فَإِنَّكُمْ تَلْتَهِمُونَ بُيُوتَ الأَرَامِلِ وَتَتَبَاهُونَ بِإِطَالَةِ صَلَوَاتِكُمْ. لِذَلِكَ سَتَنْزِلُ بِكُمْ دَيْنُونَةٌ أَقْسَى!

Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees! hypocrite! because you devour the families of widows; and use long prayers for a disguise. This will but aggravate your punishment.

١٥ 15 الْوَيْلُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ الْمُرَاؤُونَ! فَإِنَّكُمْ تَطُوفُونَ الْبَحْرَ وَالْبَرَّ لِتَكْسَبُوا مُتَهَوِّداً وَاحِداً؛ فَإِذَا تَهَوَّدَ جَعَلْتُمُوهُ أَهْلاً لِجَهَنَّمَ ضِعْفَ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ! (Geenna g1067)

Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees! hypocrites! because you traverse sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is gained, you make him a son of hell doubly more than yourselves. (Geenna g1067)

١٦ 16 الْوَيْلُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْقَادَةُ الْعُمْيَانُ! تَقُولُونَ: مَنْ أَقْسَمَ بِالْهَيْكَلِ، فَقَسَمُهُ غَيْرُ مُلْزِمٍ؛ أَمَّا مَنْ أَقْسَمَ بِذَهَبِ الْهَيْكَلِ، فَقَسَمُهُ مُلْزِمٌ!

Alas for you, blind guides, who say, To swear by the temple binds not, but swear by the gold of the temple is binding.

١٧ 17 أَيُّهَا الْجُهَّالُ وَالْعُمْيَانُ! أَيُّ الاِثْنَيْنِ أَعْظَمُ: الذَّهَبُ أَمِ الْهَيْكَلُ الَّذِي يَجْعَلُ الذَّهَبَ مُقَدَّساً؟

Foolish and blind! which is more sacred, the gold, or the temple that consecrates the gold?

١٨ 18 وَتَقُولُونَ: مَنْ أَقْسَمَ بِالْمَذْبَحِ، فَقَسَمُهُ غَيْرُ مُلْزِمٍ؛ أَمَّا مَنْ أَقْسَمَ بِالْقُرْبَانِ الَّذِي عَلَى الْمَذْبَحِ، فَقَسَمُهُ مُلْزِمٌ!

and, to swear by the altar, binds not, but to swear by the offering that is upon it is binding.

١٩ 19 أَيُّهَا الْعُمْيَانُ! أَيُّ الاِثْنَيْنِ أَعْظَمُ: الْقُرْبَانِ أَمِ الْمَذْبَحُ الَّذِي يَجْعَلُ الْقُرْبَانَ مُقَدَّسَاً؟

Foolish and blind! which is more sacred, the offering, or the altar that consecrates the offering?

٢٠ 20 فَإِنَّ مَنْ أَقْسَمَ بِالْمَذْبَحِ، فَقَدْ أَقْسَمَ بِهِ وَبِكُلِّ مَا عَلَيْهِ؛

Whoever, therefore, swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.

٢١ 21 وَمَنْ أَقْسَمَ بِالْهَيْكَلِ، فَقَدْ أَقْسَمَ بِهِ وَبِالسَّاكِنِ فِيهِ؛

And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it, and by Him who dwells in it;

٢٢ 22 وَمَنْ أَقْسَمَ بِالسَّمَاءِ، فَقَدْ أَقْسَمَ بِعَرْشِ اللهِ وَبِالْجَالِسِ عَلَيْهِ!

and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by Him who sits on it.

٢٣ 23 الْوَيْلُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ! فَإِنَّكُمْ تُقَدِّمُونَ حَتَّى عُشُورَ النَّعْنَعِ وَالشِّبِثِّ وَالْكَمُّونِ، وَقَدْ أَهْمَلْتُمْ أَهَمَّ مَا فِي الشَّرِيعَةِ: الْعَدْلَ وَالرَّحْمَةَ وَالأَمَانَةَ. كَانَ يَجِبُ أَنْ تَفْعَلُوا هَذِهِ وَلا تُغْفِلُوا تِلْكَ!

Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees! hypocrites! because you pay the tithe of mint, dill, and cummin, and omit the more important articles of the law, justice, humanity, and fidelity. These you ought to have practiced without omitting those.

٢٤ 24 أَيُّهَا الْقَادَةُ الْعُمْيَانُ! إِنَّكُمْ تُصَفُّونَ الْمَاءَ مِنَ الْبَعُوضَةِ، وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَبْلَعُونَ الْجَمَلَ!

Blind guides! you are skimming off the gnat, and swallowing the camel.

٢٥ 25 الْوَيْلُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ! فَإِنَّكُمْ تُنَظِّفُونَ الْكَأْسَ وَالصَّحْنَ مِنَ الْخَارِجِ، وَلَكِنْ دَاخِلَهُمَا مُمْتَلِئٌ بِمَا كَسَبْتُمْ بِالنَّهْبِ وَالطَّمَعِ!

Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees! hypocrites! because you cleanse the outside of those cups and platters, which within are laid with rapine and iniquity.

٢٦ 26 أَيُّهَا الْفَرِّيسِيُّ الأَعْمَى، نَظِّفْ أَوَّلاً دَاخِلَ الْكَأْسِ لِيَصِيرَ خَارِجُهَا أَيْضاً نَظِيفاً!

Blind Pharisee! begin with cleansing the inside of the cup, and of the platter, if you would make even the outside clean.

٢٧ 27 الْوَيْلُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ! فَإِنَّكُمْ كَالْقُبُورِ الْمُبَيَّضَةِ: تَبْدُو جَمِيلَةً مِنَ الْخَارِجِ، وَلَكِنَّهَا مِنَ الدَّاخِلِ مُمْتَلِئَةٌ بِعِظَامِ الْمَوْتَى وَكُلِّ نَجَاسَةٍ!

Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees! hypocrites! because you resemble whitened sepulchers, which without indeed, are beautiful, but within are full of corruption, and of dead men's bones.

٢٨ 28 كَذَلِكَ أَنْتُمْ أَيْضاً، تَبْدُونَ لِلنَّاسِ صَالِحِينَ، وَلَكِنَّكُمْ مِنَ الدَّاخِلِ مُمْتَلِئُونَ بِالنِّفَاقِ وَالْفِسْقِ!

Thus you outwardly appear righteous to men; but are inwardly fraught with subtlety and injustice.

٢٩ 29 الْوَيْلُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَا الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ! فَإِنَّكُمْ تَبْنُونَ قُبُورَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَتُزَيِّنُونَ مَدَافِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ،

Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees! hypocrites! because you build the sepulchers of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous,

٣٠ 30 وَتَقُولُونَ: لَوْ عِشْنَا فِي زَمَنِ آبَائِنَا لَمَا شَارَكْنَاهُمْ فِي سَفْكِ دَمِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ.

and say, Had we lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their accomplices in the slaughter of the prophets.

٣١ 31 فَبِهَذَا تَشْهَدُونَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ بِأَنَّكُمْ أَبْنَاءُ قَاتِلِي الأَنْبِيَاءِ!

Thus you testify against yourself, that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.

٣٢ 32 فَأَكْمِلُوا مَا بَدَأَهُ آبَاؤُكُمْ لِيَطْفَحَ الْكَيْلُ!

Fill you up, then, the measure of your fathers.

٣٣ 33 أَيُّهَا الْحَيَّاتُ، أَوْلادَ الأَفَاعِي! كَيْفَ تُفْلِتُونَ مِنْ عِقَابِ جَهَنَّمَ؟ (Geenna g1067)

Ah! serpents, offspring of vipers! how can you escape the punishment of hell? (Geenna g1067)

٣٤ 34 لِذَلِكَ: هَا أَنَا أُرْسِلُ إِلَيْكُمْ أَنْبِيَاءَ وَحُكَمَاءَ وَمُعَلِّمِينَ، فَبَعْضَهُمْ تَقْتُلُونَ وَتَصْلِبُونَ، وَبَعْضَهُمْ تَجْلِدُونَ فِي مَجَامِعِكُمْ، وَتُطَارِدُونَهُمْ مِنْ مَدِينَةٍ إِلَى أُخْرَى.

Therefore, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will scourge in your synagogues, and banish from city to city;

٣٥ 35 وَبِهَذَا يَقَعُ عَلَيْكُمْ كُلُّ دَمٍ زَكِيٍّ سُفِكَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ: مِنْ دَمِ هَابِيلَ الْبَارِّ إِلَى دَمِ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ بَرَخِيَّا الَّذِي قَتَلْتُمُوهُ بَيْنَ الْهَيْكَلِ وَالْمَذْبَحِ.

so that all the innocent blood shed upon the earth shall be charged upon you, from the blood of righteous Abel, to the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, whom you slew between the altar and the sanctuary.

٣٦ 36 الْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ: إِنَّ عِقَابَ ذلِكَ كُلِّهِ سَيَنْزِلُ بِهَذَا الْجِيلِ.

Indeed, I say to you, all shall be charged upon this generation.

٣٧ 37 يَا أُورُشَلِيمُ، يَا أُورُشَلِيمُ، يَا قَاتِلَةَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَرَاجِمَةَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَيْهَا! كَمْ مَرَّةٍ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَجْمَعَ أَوْلادَكِ كَمَا تَجْمَعُ الدَّجَاجَةُ فِرَاخَهَا تَحْتَ جَنَاحَيْهَا، فَلَمْ تُرِيدُوا!

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! who killest the prophets, and stonest them whom God sends to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you would not!

٣٨ 38 هَا إِنَّ بَيْتَكُمْ يُتْرَكُ لَكُمْ خَرَاباً!

Soon shall your habitation be turned into a desert;

٣٩ 39 فَإِنِّي أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَرَوْنِي مِنَ الآنَ، حَتَّى تَقُولُوا: مُبَارَكٌ الآتِي بِاسْمِ الرَّبِّ!»

for know, that you shall not henceforth see me, until you say, Blessed be He, who comes in the name of the Lord.

Jesus Preaches to the Multitude