Matthew 18

1 The same time the disciples came vnto Iesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdome of heauen?

On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him, ‘Who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’

2 And Iesus called a litle childe vnto him, and set him in the mids of them,

Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said,

3 And sayd, Verely I say vnto you, except ye be conuerted, and become as litle children, ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen.

‘I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven at all.

4 Whosoeuer therefore shall humble himselfe as this litle childe, the same is the greatest in the kingdome of heauen.

Therefore, anyone who will humble themselves like this child – that person will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whosoeuer shall receiue one such litle childe in my name, receiueth me.

And anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.

6 But whosoeuer shall offend one of these litle ones which beleeue in me, it were better for him, that a milstone were hanged about his necke, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

But, if anyone puts temptation in the way of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be best for them to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung round their neck.

7 Wo be vnto the world because of offences: for it must needes be that offences shall come, but wo be to that man by whome the offence commeth.

Alas for the world because of such temptations! There cannot but be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!

8 Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foote cause thee to offend, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life, halt, or maimed, then hauing two hands, or two feete, to be cast into euerlasting fire. (aiōnios g166)

‘If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the fire that never goes out. (aiōnios g166)

9 And if thine eye cause thee to offende, plucke it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, then hauing two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Geenna g1067)

If your eye causes you to sin, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fires of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)

10 See that ye despise not one of these litle ones: for I say vnto you, that in heauen their Angels alwayes behold the face of my Father which is in heauen.

Beware of despising one of these little ones, for in heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

11 For the Sonne of man is come to saue that which was lost.

12 How thinke ye? If a man haue an hundreth sheepe, and one of them be gone astray, doeth he not leaue ninetie and nine, and go into the mountaines, and seeke that which is gone astray?

‘What think you? If a person owns a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will the person not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and search for the one that is straying?

13 And if so be that he finde it, verely I say vnto you, he reioyceth more of that sheepe, then of the ninetie and nine which went not astray:

And, if they succeed in finding it, I tell you that they rejoice more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray.

14 So is it not ye wil of your Father which is in heauen, that one of these litle ones should perish.

So, too, it is the will of my Father who is in heaven that not one of these little ones should be lost.

15 Moreouer, if thy brother trespasse against thee, goe and tell him his fault betweene thee and him alone: if he heare thee, thou hast wonne thy brother.

‘If your brother or sister does wrong, go to them and convince them of their fault when you are both alone. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

16 But if he heare thee not, take yet with thee one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery worde may be confirmed.

But, if they do not listen to you, take with you one or two others, so that on the evidence of two or three witnesses, every word may be put beyond dispute.

17 And if he refuse to heare them, tell it vnto the Church: and if he refuse to heare the Church also, let him be vnto thee as an heathen man, and a Publicane.

If they refuse to listen to them, speak to the church; and, if they also refuse to listen to the church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.

18 Verely I say vnto you, Whatsoeuer ye bind on earth, shall be bound in heauen: and whatsoeuer ye loose on earth, shalbe loosed in heauen.

‘I tell you, all that you forbid on earth will be held in heaven to be forbidden, and all that you allow on earth will be held in heaven to be allowed.

19 Againe, verely I say vnto you, that if two of you shall agree in earth vpon any thing, whatsoeuer they shall desire, it shall be giuen them of my Father which is in heauen.

Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they will pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in heaven.

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

For where two or three have come together in my name, I am present with them.’

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Master, howe oft shall my brother sinne against me, and I shall forgiue him? vnto seuen times?

Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus, ‘Master, how often am I to forgive someone who wrongs me? As many as seven times?’

22 Iesus said vnto him, I say not to thee, Vnto seuen times, but, Vnto seuentie times seuen times.

But Jesus answered, ‘Not seven times, but seventy times seven.

23 Therefore is the kingdome of heauen likened vnto a certaine King, which would take an account of his seruants.

Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought vnto him, which ought him ten thousand talents.

When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him ten thousand bags of gold;

25 And because he had nothing to pay, his Lord commanded him to be solde, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and the dette to be payed.

and, as he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, together with his wife, and his children, and everything that he had.

26 The seruant therefore fell downe, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, refraine thine anger toward me, and I will pay thee all.

The servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said “Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.”

27 Then that seruants Lord had compassion, and loosed him, and forgaue him the dette.

The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt.

28 But when the seruant was departed, hee found one of his felow seruants, which ought him an hundred pence, and he layde hands on him, and thratled him, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

But, on going out, that same servant came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. Seizing him by the throat, he said “Pay what you owe me.”

29 Then his fellow seruant fell downe at his feete, and besought him, saying, Refraine thine anger towards me, and I will pay thee all.

His fellow servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. “Have patience with me,” he said, “and I will pay you.”

30 Yet he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the dette.

But the other would not, but went and put him in prison until he should pay his debt.

31 And when his other felowe seruants sawe what was done, they were very sory, and came, and declared vnto their Lord all that was done.

When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him.

32 Then his Lord called him vnto him, and sayd to him, O euil seruant, I forgaue thee all that dette, because thou prayedst me.

So the master sent for the servant, and said to him “You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt.

33 Oughtest not thou also to haue had pitie on thy fellowe seruant, euen as I had pitie on thee?

Shouldn’t you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?”

34 So his Lord was wroth, and deliuered him to the tormentours, till he should pay all that was due to him.

Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt.

35 So likewise shall mine heauenly Father doe vnto you, except ye forgiue from your hearts, eche one to his brother their trespasses.

So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.’