Matthew 18

1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is greater in the kingdom of the heavens?

Just then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who ranks higher than others in the Kingdom of the Heavens?"

2 And having called in a child, Jesus set it in the midst of them.

So He called a young child to Him, and, bidding him stand in the midst of them,

3 And he said, Truly I say to you, if ye are not turned, and become as children, ye will, no, not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

said, "In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no case be admitted into the Kingdom of the Heavens.

4 He therefore who will make himself lowly as this child, this man is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens.

Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this young child, he it is who is superior to others in the Kingdom of the Heavens.

5 And whoever will receive one such child in my name receives me.

And whoever for my sake receives one young child such as this, receives me.

6 But whoever may cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is advantageous for him that a donkey-powered millstone were hanged on his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

But whoever shall occasion the fall of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung round his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7 Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks. For it is necessary that the stumbling-blocks come, yet woe to that man through whom the stumbling-block comes.

"Alas for the world because of causes of falling! They cannot but come, but alas for each man through whom they come!

8 And if thy hand or thy foot causes thee to stumble, cut them off and cast from thee. It is good for thee to enter into life crippled or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. (aiōnios g166)

If your hand or your foot is causing you to fall into sin, cut it off and away with it. It is better for you to enter into Life crippled in hand or foot than to remain in possession of two sound hands or feet but be thrown into the fire of the Ages. (aiōnios g166)

9 And if thine eye causes thee to stumble, remove it and cast it from thee. It is good for thee to enter into life one-eyed, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire. (Geenna g1067)

And if your eye is causing you to fall into sin, tear it out and away with it; it is better for you to enter into Life with only one eye, than to remain in possession of two eyes but be thrown into the Gehenna of fire. (Geenna g1067)

10 See that ye not disparage one of these little ones, for I say to you, that in the heavens their agents do always behold the face of my Father in the heavens.

"Beware of ever despising one of these little ones, for I tell you that in Heaven their angels have continual access to my Father who is in Heaven.

11 For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.

12 What does it seem to you? If it happens a hundred sheep are with some man, and one of them went astray, after going (having left the ninety-nine on the mountains), does he not seek the one going astray?

What do you yourselves think? Suppose a man gets a hundred sheep and one of them strays away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go and look for the one that is straying?

13 And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you, that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.

And if he succeeds in finding it, in solemn truth I tell you that he rejoices over it more than he does over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.

14 So, it is not a purpose before your Father in the heavens, that one of these little ones should perish.

Just so it is not the will of your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

15 But if thy brother should sin against thee, go and reprove him between thee and him alone. If he should hear thee, thou have gained thy brother.

"If your brother acts wrongly towards you, go and point out his fault to him when only you and he are there. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

16 But if he should not hear, take with thee one or two besides, so that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

But if he will not listen to you, go again, and ask one or two to go with you, that every word spoken may be attested by two or three witnesses.

17 And if he is heedless of them, speak to the church. But if he is also heedless of the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the tax collector.

If he refuses to hear them, appeal to the Church; and if he refuses to hear even the Church, regard him just as you regard a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.

18 Truly I say to you, however many things ye may bind on the earth will be things that are bound in heaven, and however many things ye may loose on the earth will be things that that are loosed in heaven.

I solemnly tell you that whatever you as a Church bind on earth will in Heaven be held as bound, and whatever you loose on earth will in Heaven be held to be loosed.

19 Again I say to you truly, that if two of you should agree on the earth concerning every matter, whatever they might ask, it will happen for them from my Father in the heavens.

I also solemnly tell you that if two of you here on earth agree together concerning anything whatever that they shall ask, the boon will come to them from my Father who is in Heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

For where there are two or three assembled in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

21 Then Peter having come to him, he said, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?

At this point Peter came to Him with the question, "Master, how often shall my brother act wrongly towards me and I forgive him? seven times?"

22 Jesus says to him, I say to thee, not until seven times, but until seventy times seven.

"I do not say seven times," answered Jesus, "but seventy times seven times.

23 Because of this the kingdom of the heavens is compared to a man, a king, who wanted to settle account with his bondmen.

"For this reason the Kingdom of the Heavens may be compared to a king who determined to have a settlement of accounts with his servants.

24 And when he began to settle, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought to him.

But as soon as he began the settlement, one was brought before him who owed 10,000 talents,

25 But of him not having to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all things, as many as he had, and payment to be made.

and was unable to pay. So his master ordered that he and his wife and children and everything that he had should be sold, and payment be made.

26 The bondman therefore having fallen down, worshiped him, saying, Lord, be patient toward me and I will pay thee all.

The servant therefore falling down, prostrated himself at his feet and entreated him. "'Only give me time,' he said, 'and I will pay you the whole.'

27 And having felt compassion, the lord of that bondman released him, and forgave him the debt.

"Whereupon his master, touched with compassion, set him free and forgave him the debt.

28 But after going out, that bondman found one of his fellow bondmen who owed him a hundred denarii. And having grabbed him, he choked him, saying, Pay me if thou owe anything.

But no sooner had that servant gone out, than he met with one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 shillings; and seizing him by the throat and nearly strangling him he exclaimed, "'Pay me all you owe.'

29 So his fellow bondman having fallen down at his feet, besought him, saying, Be patience toward me, and I will pay thee.

"His fellow servant therefore fell at his feet and entreated him, "'Only give me time,' he said, 'and I will pay you.'

30 But he would not, instead, having left him, he cast him into prison until he would pay that which was owed.

"He would not, however, but went and threw him into prison until he should pay what was due.

31 And when his fellow bondmen saw the things that happened, they were extremely sorry. And after coming, they reported to their lord all the things that happened.

His fellow servants, therefore, seeing what had happened, were exceedingly angry; and they came and told their master without reserve all that had happened.

32 Then his lord having summoned him, he says to him, Thou evil bondman, I forgave thee all that debt because thou besought me.

At once his master called him and said, "'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you entreated me:

33 Was it not necessary for thee also to be merciful to thy fellow bondman, as I also was merciful to thee?

ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'

34 And having become angry, his lord delivered him to the tormentors until he would pay all that was due to him.

"So his master, greatly incensed, handed him over to the jailers until he should pay all he owed him.

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye do not forgive each man his brother, from your hearts, their trespasses.

"In the same way my Heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts."