Matthew 5
1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
On seeing the crowds of people, Jesus went up the hill; and, when he had taken his seat, his disciples came up to him;
2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
and he began to teach 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 those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the mourners, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
‘Blessed are you when people insult you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.
12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Be glad and rejoice, because your reward in heaven will be great; this is the way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
‘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.
14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.
It is you who are the light of the world. A town that stands on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
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.
16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
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.
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
‘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.
18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
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.
19 Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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.
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
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.
21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
‘You have heard that to our ancestors it was said – “You must not commit murder,” and “Whoever commits murder will be brought to trial.”
22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna (Geenna g1067).
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)
23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
Therefore, when presenting your gift at the altar, if even there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
leave your gift there, before the altar, go and be reconciled to them, first, then come and present your gift.
25 Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
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.
26 Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
I tell you, you will not come out until you have paid the last cent.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’
‘You have heard that it was said – “You must not commit adultery.”
28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman and desires her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna (Geenna g1067).
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)
30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna (Geenna g1067).
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)
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’
‘It was also said – “Let anyone who divorces his wife serve her with a notice of separation.”
32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
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.
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’
Again, you have heard that our ancestors were told – “Do not break your oaths, keep your vows to the Lord.”
34 but I tell you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
But I say to you that you must not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne,
35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
or by the earth, since that is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the Great King.
36 Neither shall you swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Nor should you swear by your head, since you cannot make a single hair either white or black.
37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
Let your words be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from what is evil.
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 tell you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
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.
40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.
If someone sues you for your shirt, let them have your cloak as well.
41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
If you are forced to carry a soldier’s pack for one mile, carry it two.
42 Give to him who asks you, and do not turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
Give to anyone who asks and, if someone wants to borrow from you, do not turn them away.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
You have heard that it was said – “You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy.”
44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
But what I tell you is this: love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children 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.
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.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
For, if you love only those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do this!
47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And, if you only welcome your brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do this!
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
You, then, must become perfect – as your heavenly Father is perfect.
