< Matthew 19 >

1 And when Jesus had ended these discourses, he removed from Galilee, and came to the confines of Judaea on the other side of Jordan.
When Jesus had finished these discourses, He removed from Galilee and came into that part of Judaea which lay beyond the Jordan.
2 And great multitudes followed after him, and he healed them there.
And a vast multitude followed him, and He cured them there.
3 And Pharisees came to him, and tempted him and said: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?
Then came some of the Pharisees to Him to put Him to the proof by the question, "Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses?"
4 And he answered and said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made them at the beginning, made them a male and a female?
"Have you not read," He replied, "that He who made them 'made them' from the beginning 'male and female,
5 And he said: For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and adhere to his wife; and they two shall be one flesh.
and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one'?
6 Wherefore they were not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath united, let not man sunder.
Thus they are no longer two, but 'one'! What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
7 They say to him: Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorce, and to put her away?
"Why then," said they, "did Moses command the husband to give her 'a written notice of divorce,' and so put her away?"
8 He said to them: Moses, on account of the hardness of your heart, permitted you to divorce your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
"Moses," He replied, "in consideration of the hardness of your nature permitted you to put away your wives, but it has not been so from the beginning.
9 And I say to you, That whoever leaveth his wife not being an adulteress, and taketh another, committeth adultery. And whoever taketh her that is divorced, committeth adultery.
And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery."
10 His disciples say to him: If such is the case between man and wife, it is not expedient to take a wife.
"If this is the case with a man in relation to his wife," said the disciples to Him, "it is better not to marry."
11 But he said to them: Not every one is capable of that thing, but he only to whom it is given.
"It is not every man," He replied, "who can receive this teaching, but only those on whom the grace has been bestowed.
12 For there are some eunuchs, born so from their mother's womb; and there are some eunuchs, who were made eunuchs by men; and there are some eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that can be contented let him be contented.
There are men who from their birth have been disabled from marriage, others who have been so disabled by men, and others who have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of the Heavens. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."
13 Then they brought children to him, that he might lay his hand upon them and pray. And his disciples rebuked them.
Then young children were brought to Him for Him to put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples interfered.
14 But Jesus said to them: Allow children to come to me, and forbid them not; for of those that are like them is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus however said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs."
15 And he laid his hand upon them, and departed from there.
So He laid His hands upon them and went away.
16 And one came, drew near, and said to him: Good Teacher, what good thing must I do, that eternal life may be mine? (aiōnios g166)
"Teacher," said one man, coming up to Him, "what that is good shall I do in order to win the Life of the Ages?" (aiōnios g166)
17 And he said to him: Why callest thou me good? There is none good, except one, namely, God. But if thou wouldst enter into life, keep the commandments.
"Why do you ask me," He replied, "about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments."
18 He said to him, Which? And Jesus said to him: Thou shalt not kill; and thou shalt not commit adultery; and thou shalt not steal; and thou shalt not bear false testimony;
"Which Commandments?" he asked. Jesus answered, "'Thou shalt not kill;' 'Thou shalt not commit adultery;' 'Thou shalt not steal;' 'Thou shalt not lie in giving evidence;'
19 and honor thy father and thy mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
'Honour thy father and thy mother'; and 'Thou shalt love thy fellow man as much as thyself.'"
20 The young man saith to him: All these have I kept from my childhood. What do I lack?
"All of these," said the young man, "I have carefully kept. What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus saith to him: If thou desirest to be perfect, go, sell thy property, and give to the poor; and there shall be for thee a treasure in heaven; and come thou after me.
"If you desire to be perfect," replied Jesus, "go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and come, follow me."
22 And the young man heard that speech, and he went away in sadness; for he had much property.
On hearing those words the young man went away much cast down; for he had much property.
23 And Jesus said to his disciples: Verily I say to you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
So Jesus said to His disciples, "I solemnly tell you that it is with difficulty that a rich man will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens.
24 And again, I say to you: It is easier for a camel to enter the aperture of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God
Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
25 And when the disciples heard it, they wondered greatly, and said: Who then can attain to life!
These words utterly amazed the disciples, and they asked, "Who then can be saved?"
26 Jesus looked on them, and said to them: With men this is not practicable, but with God every thing is practicable.
Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible."
27 Then answered Cephas, and said to him: Lo, we have forsaken every thing, and come after thee: What therefore shall we receive?
Then Peter said to Jesus, "See, we have forsaken everything and followed you; what then will be our reward?"
28 Jesus said to them: Verily I say to you, that, as for you who have followed me, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory in the new world, ye also shall sit on twelve seats, and shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
"I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of Man has taken His seat on His glorious throne, all of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every man that relinquisheth houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
And whoever has forsaken houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands, for my sake, shall receive many times as much and shall have as his inheritance the Life of the Ages. (aiōnios g166)
30 But there are many first who shall be last, and last who shall be first.
"But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

< Matthew 19 >