Matthew 5
1 On seeing the crowds of people, Jesus went up the hill; and, when he had taken his seat, his disciples came up to him;
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain. And when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 and he began to teach them, saying:
Then he opened his mouth and taught 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 the mourners, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.
Blessed are you when others reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward in heaven will be great; this is the way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you.
Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 ‘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.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its flavor, with what shall it be seasoned? It is no longer fit for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 It is you who are the light of the world. A town that stands on a hill cannot be hidden.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden,
15 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.
nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines for all who are in the house.
16 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.
Let your light shine before others in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 ‘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.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
18 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.
For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter or stroke of a letter will by any means pass from the law until all is accomplished.
19 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.
Therefore whoever does away with one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 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.
For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 ‘You have heard that to our ancestors it was said – “You must not commit murder,” and “Whoever commits murder will be brought to trial.”
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘Yoʋ shall not murder,’ and, ‘Whoever murders will be subject to judgment.’
22 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)
But I say to you that everyone who is rashly angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Yoʋ idiot,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. And whoever says, ‘Yoʋ fool,’ will be subject to the fires of hell. (Geenna g1067)
23 Therefore, when presenting your gift at the altar, if even there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
So if yoʋ are offering yoʋr gift at the altar and there remember that yoʋr brother has something against yoʋ,
24 leave your gift there, before the altar, go and be reconciled to them, first, then come and present your gift.
leave yoʋr gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to yoʋr brother, and then come and offer yoʋr gift.
25 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.
Make friends with yoʋr adversary quickly while yoʋ are on the way with him, lest yoʋr adversary hand yoʋ over to the judge, and the judge hand yoʋ over to the guard, and yoʋ be thrown into prison.
26 I tell you, you will not come out until you have paid the last cent.
Truly I say to yoʋ, yoʋ will certainly not come out of there until yoʋ have paid the last penny.
27 ‘You have heard that it was said – “You must not commit adultery.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Yoʋ shall not commit adultery.’
28 But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman and desires her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 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)
So if yoʋr right eye causes yoʋ to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from yoʋ. For it is better for yoʋ to have one of yoʋr members perish, than for yoʋr whole body to be thrown into hell. (Geenna g1067)
30 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)
And if yoʋr right hand causes yoʋ to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from yoʋ. For it is better for yoʋ to have one of yoʋr members perish, than for yoʋr whole body to be thrown into hell. (Geenna g1067)
31 ‘It was also said – “Let anyone who divorces his wife serve her with a notice of separation.”
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 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.
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, apart from a matter of fornication, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 Again, you have heard that our ancestors were told – “Do not break your oaths, keep your vows to the Lord.”
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘Yoʋ shall not break an oath, but shall keep yoʋr oaths to the Lord.’
34 But I say to you that you must not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne,
But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
35 or by the earth, since that is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the Great King.
nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Nor should you swear by your head, since you cannot make a single hair either white or black.
Neither shall yoʋ swear by yoʋr head, for yoʋ cannot make one hair white or black.
37 Let your words be simply “Yes” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from what is evil.
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’; for whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
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 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.
But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. Rather, if anyone slaps yoʋ on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 If someone sues you for your shirt, let them have your cloak as well.
If anyone wants to sue yoʋ and take away yoʋr tunic, let him have yoʋr cloak also.
41 If you are forced to carry a soldier’s pack for one mile, carry it two.
And if anyone presses yoʋ into service for one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to anyone who asks and, if someone wants to borrow from you, do not turn them away.
Give to everyone who asks of yoʋ, and do not turn away from anyone who wants to borrow from yoʋ.
43 You have heard that it was said – “You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Yoʋ shall love yoʋr neighbor and hate yoʋr enemy.’
44 But what I tell you is this: love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
But I say to 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,
45 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.
so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 For, if you love only those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do this!
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And, if you only welcome your brothers and sisters, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do this!
And if you greet only your friends, what are you doing that is out of the ordinary? Do not even the tax collectors do that?
48 You, then, must become perfect – as your heavenly Father is perfect.
You therefore shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
