Matthew 18
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus inquiring, Who shall be the greatest in the Reign of Heaven?
At that time the disciples approached Jesus saying, “Who then is greater in the kingdom of the heavens?”
2 Jesus calling to him a child, placed him in the midst of them,
So Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3 and said, Indeed, I say to you, unless you be changed, and become as children, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.
and said: “Assuredly I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of the heavens.
4 Whosoever, therefore, shall become humble like this child.
Therefore whoever will humble himself like this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens.
5 Nay, whosoever receives one such child, in my name, receives me:
“Whoever receives one little child like this in my name, receives me;
6 but whosoever shall ensnare any of these little ones, who believe in me, it were better for him that an upper millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were sunk in the ocean.
but whoever should cause one of these little ones who believe into me to fall, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung on his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea!
7 Alas for the world because of snares! Snares indeed there must be; nevertheless, alas for the ensnarer!
Woe to the world because of offenses! Now it is necessary that offenses come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes!
8 Wherefore, if your hand or foot ensnare you, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter lame or maimed into life, than having two hands or feet to be cast into the everlasting fire. (aiōnios g166)
“If your hand or your foot is causing you to fall, cut them off and throw them away! It is better for you to enter into the life lame or maimed than to be thrown into the everlasting fire, having two hands or two feet. (aiōnios g166)
9 And if your eye ensnare you, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter one-eyed into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Geenna g1067)
And if your eye is causing you to fall, tear it out and throw it away! It is better for you to enter into the life one eyed than to be thrown into the fiery Hell, having two eyes. (Geenna g1067)
10 Beware of contemning any of these little ones; for I assure you, that in heaven, their angels continually behold the face of my heavenly Father:
“See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father, who is in the heavens.
11 and the Son of Man is come to recover the lost.
For the Son of the Man came to save the lost.
12 What think you? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them has strayed, will he not leave the ninety-nine upon the mountains, and go in quest of the stray?
What do you think? If some man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains to go and search for the stray?
13 And if he happens to find it, indeed, I say to you, he derives greater joy from it, than from the ninety-nine which went not astray.
And if he happens to find it, assuredly I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14 Thus it is not the will of your Father in heaven, that any of these little ones should be lost.
Likewise it is not a desire, in the view of your Father in heaven, that one of these little ones should be wasted.
15 Wherefore, if your brother trespass against you, go and expostulate with him, when you and he are alone together. If he hear you, you have gained your brother;
“Now if your brother sins against you, go, confront him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have won your brother.
16 but if he will not hear, take one or two along with you, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses everything may be ascertained.
But should he not hear, take along with you one or two more, so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.
17 If he despises them, tell the congregation; and if he despise the congregation also, let him be to you as a pagan or a publican.
And should he refuse to hear them, tell it to the congregation. But should he refuse to hear even the congregation, let him be to you just like the heathen and the tax collector.
18 Indeed, I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
“Assuredly I say to you, whatever (pl.) you (pl.) may bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you may loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.
19 Again, I say to you, whatever two of you upon the earth shall agree to ask, shall be granted them by my Father, who is in heaven.
Assuredly again, I say to you that if two of you should agree on earth about any subject whatever that they may ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
20 For wherever two or three are assembled in my name, I am in the midst of them.
Because where there are two or three gathered together into my name, there I am in their midst!”
21 Then Peter approaching, said to him, Master, if my brother repeatedly trespass against me, how often must I forgive him? must I seven times?
Then Peter approached Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him; up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, I say to you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times.
Jesus says to him: “Not, I tell you, up to seven, but up to seventy-seven times!
23 In this the Administration of Heaven resembles a king, who determined to settle accounts with his servants.
“Therefore the kingdom of the heavens is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 Having begun to reckon, one was brought, who owed him ten thousand talents.
And as he began to settle up, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25 But that servant not having the means to pay; his master, to obtain payment, commanded that he, and his wife and children, and all that he had should be sold.
But since he had nothing with which to repay, his lord commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and everything he had, so as to be repaid.
26 Then the servant, throwing himself prostrate before his master, cried, Have patience with me, my lord, and I will pay the whole.
So then the servant fell down and did obeisance to him saying, ‘Lord, be patient with me and I will repay you all.’
27 And his master had compassion upon him, and dismissed him, remitting the debt.
So the lord of that servant, having compassion, released him and forgave him the loan.
28 But this servant, as he went out, meeting one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii, seized him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe.
“But when that servant went out he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and grabbing him he started choking him saying, ‘Pay me back what you owe!’
29 His fellow-servant, falling down, besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you.
So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and kept begging him saying, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay you back.’
30 And he would not, but instantly caused him to be imprisoned, until he should discharge the debt.
But he would not; instead he went and threw him into prison until he should pay back what was owed.
31 His fellow-servants seeing this, were deeply affected, and went, and informed their master of all that had passed.
But when his fellow servants saw what had happened they were really grieved, and they went and reported to their lord everything that had happened.
32 Then his master, having given orders to call him, said to him, You wicked servant: all that debt I forgave you, because you besought me.
Then summoning him the lord says to him: ‘Malignant servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Ought not you to have shown such pity to your fellow-servant, as I showed to you?
Were you also not obligated to have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’
34 So his master, being provoked, delivered him to the jailors, to remain in their hands until he should clear the debt.
So in anger the lord handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed to him.
35 Thus will my heavenly Father treat every one of you, who forgives not, from his heart, his brother.
“My heavenly Father will handle you just like that, if each of you does not forgive his brother his trespasses, from the heart.”
