Matthew 27
1 But whanne the morowtid was comun, alle the princis of prestis, and the eldre men of the puple token counsel ayens Jhesu, that thei schulden take hym to the deeth.
Very early the next morning all the chief priests and Jewish elders decided how [to arrange for the Romans] to execute Jesus.
2 And thei ledden him boundun, and bitoken to Pilat of Pounce, iustice.
They tied his hands and took him to Pilate, the [Roman] governor.
3 Thanne Judas that bitraiede hym, say that he was dampned, he repentide, and brouyte ayen the thretti pans to the princis of prestis, and to the elder men of the puple,
When Judas, the one who had (betrayed/enabled Jesus’ enemies to seize) him, realized that they had decided to have Jesus executed, he was very sorry [about what he had done]. He took the 30 coins back to the chief priests and elders.
4 and seide, Y haue synned, bitraiynge riytful blood. And thei seiden, What to vs? bise thee.
He said, “I have sinned. I have (betrayed/enabled you to seize) a man who (is innocent/has not done anything wrong).” They replied, “(That means nothing to us!/What does that mean to us?) [RHQ] That is your problem!”
5 And whanne he hadde cast forth the siluer in the temple, he passide forth, and yede, and hongide hym silf with a snare.
So Judas [took] the money [and] threw it inside the Temple. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 And the princis of prestis token the siluer, and seide, It is not leueful to putte it in to the treserie, for it is the prijs of blood.
[Later] the high priests [found] the coins. They picked them up and said, “This is money that we paid [to have a man killed] [MTY], and our law does not allow [such money] to be put {us to put [such money]} into the [Temple treasury].”
7 And whanne thei hadden take counsel, thei bouyten with it a feeld of a potter, in to biryyng of pilgrymys.
So they decided to use that money to buy the field where clay was dug for making pots {men dug ground for making pots}. [They made that field] a place where they buried strangers [who died in Jerusalem].
8 Herfor thilke feeld is clepid Acheldemac, that is, a feeld of blood, in to this dai.
That is why that place is still called {why they still call that place} ‘The field of blood’.
9 Thanne that was fulfillid, that was seid bi the prophete Jeremye, seiynge, And thei han takun thretti pans, the prijs of a man preysid, whom thei preiseden of the children of Israel;
[By buying that field], they fulfilled these words that the prophet Jeremiah wrote [long ago]: They took the 30 silver coins; That was what the leaders of Israel decided [that he was worth];
10 and thei yauen hem in to a feeld of a potter, as the Lord hath ordenyd to me.
and with that money they bought the field where clay was dug for potters. They did that as the Lord had commanded me.
11 And Jhesus stood bifor the domesman; and the iustice axide him, and seide, Art thou king of Jewis?
Jesus stood in front of [Pilate], the governor. The governor asked Jesus, “Do you [claim to be] the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “[It is] as you have [just] said.”
12 Jhesus seith to hym, Thou seist. And whanne he was accusid of the princis of prestis, and of the eldere men of the puple, he answeride no thing.
When he was accused by the chief priests and elders {When the chief priests and elders accused him} about various things, he did not answer.
13 Thanne Pilat seith to him, Herist thou not, hou many witnessyngis thei seien ayens thee?
So Pilate said to him, “You hear how many things they are saying to accuse you; [are you not going to reply]?”
14 And he answeride not `to hym ony word, so that the iustice wondride greetli.
But [even though he was not guilty], Jesus did not say anything. He did not reply to any of the things about which they were accusing him. As a result, the governor was very surprised.
15 But for a solempne dai the iustice was wont to delyuere to the puple oon boundun, whom thei wolden.
It was the governor’s custom [each year] during the [Passover] celebration to release [one person who was in prison]. [He released] whichever prisoner the people wanted.
16 And he hadde tho a famous man boundun, that was seid Barrabas.
At that time there was [in Jerusalem] a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas.
17 Therfor Pilate seide to hem, whanne thei weren to gidere, Whom wolen ye, that Y delyuere to you? whether Barabas, or Jhesu, that is seid Crist?
So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which [prisoner] would you like me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus, whom [some of you] claim to be the Messiah?”
18 For he wiste, that bi enuye thei bitraieden hym.
[He asked that question] because he realized that the chief priests [wanted to have Jesus executed]. They had brought Jesus to him [only] because they were jealous of Jesus. [And Pilate thought that the crowd would prefer that he release Jesus].
19 And while he sat for domesman, his wijf sente to hym, and seide, No thing to thee and to that iust man; for Y haue suffrid this dai many thingis for hym, bi a visioun.
While Pilate was sitting on the platform [where he made] judicial [decisions], his wife sent him [this message]: “Early this morning I had a bad dream because of that man. So do not condemn that righteous man!”
20 Forsothe the prince of prestis, and the eldere men counseiliden the puple, that thei schulden axe Barabas, but thei schulden distrye Jhesu.
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask [Pilate to] release Barabbas, and to [order] that Jesus be executed {that [his soldiers] execute Jesus}.
21 But the iustice answeride, and seide to hem, Whom of the tweyn wolen ye, that be delyuerit to you? And thei seiden, Barabas.
So when the governor asked them, “Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?” They replied, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilat seith to hem, What thanne schal Y do of Jhesu, that is seid Crist?
Pilate, [very astonished], asked, “So what shall I do with Jesus who [some of you] say is the Messiah?” They all answered, “[Command that] he be crucified! {[Command your soldiers] (to crucify him/to nail him to a cross)}!”
23 Alle seien, `Be he crucified. The iustice seith to hem, What yuel hath he doon? And thei crieden more, and seiden, Be he crucified.
Pilate replied, “Why? What crime has he committed?” But they shouted even louder, “[Have] him crucified {[Command that your soldiers] crucify him}!”
24 And Pilat seynge that he profitide no thing, but that the more noyse was maad, took watir, and waischide hise hondis bifor the puple, and seide, Y am giltles of the blood of this riytful man; bise you.
Pilate realized that he was accomplishing nothing. He saw that instead, the people were starting to riot. So he took [a basin of] water and washed his hands as the crowd was watching. He said, “[By washing my hands I am showing you that] if this man dies [MTY], it is [your] fault, [not mine]!”
25 And al the puple answeride, and seide, His blood be on vs, and on oure children.
And all the people answered, “The guilt for causing him to die [MTY] will be on us, and it will be on our children, too!”
26 Thanne he deliuerede to hem Barabas, but he took to hem Jhesu scourgid, to be crucified.
Then he [ordered the soldiers to] release Barabbas for them. But he [ordered that his soldiers] flog Jesus. And then he turned Jesus over to the soldiers for them (to nail Jesus to a cross/to crucify him).
27 Thanne knyytis of the iustice token Jhesu in the moot halle, and gadriden to hym al the cumpeny `of knyytis.
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the government headquarters. The whole (cohort/group of soldiers) gathered around him.
28 And thei vnclothiden hym, and diden aboute hym a reed mantil;
They pulled off [his clothes], and [pretending he was a king, they] put a purple robe on him.
29 and thei foldiden a coroun of thornes, and putten on his heed, and a rehed in his riyt hoond; and thei kneliden bifore hym, and scornyden hym, and seiden, Heil, kyng of Jewis.
They [took some branches with] thorns and wove them to make a crown and put it on his head. They put in his right hand a reed [like a staff that a king would hold]. Then they knelt in front of him and made fun of him, saying, “Hooray for the king of the Jews [IRO]!”
30 And thei speten on hym, and tooken a rehed, and smoot his heed.
They kept spitting on him. They took the staff and kept striking him on the head with it.
31 And aftir that thei hadden scorned him, thei vnclothiden hym of the mantil, and thei clothiden hym with hise clothis, and ledden hym to `crucifien hym.
When they had finished ridiculing him, they pulled off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to [the place where they] would nail him to a cross.
32 And as thei yeden out, thei founden a man of Cirenen comynge fro the toun, Symont bi name; thei constreyneden hym to take his cross.
[After Jesus carried his cross] a short distance, [the soldiers] saw a man named Simon, [who was] from Cyrene [city]. They forced him to carry the cross for Jesus.
33 And thei camen in to a place that is clepid Golgatha, that is, the place of Caluarie.
They came to a place called Golgotha. That name means ‘the place [like] a skull’.
34 And thei yauen hym to drynke wyne meynd with galle; and whanne he hadde tastid, he wolde not drynke.
When [they got there], they mixed with wine something that tasted very bitter. They gave it to [Jesus] to drink [so that he would not feel so much pain when they nailed him on the cross]. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. [Some soldiers took his clothes].
35 And aftir that thei hadden crucified hym, thei departiden his clothis, and kesten lotte, to fulfille that is seid bi the prophete, seiynge, Thei partiden to hem my clothis, and on my clooth thei kesten lott.
Then they nailed him to the cross. Afterwards, they divided his clothes among themselves by gambling with something like dice [to decide which piece of clothing each one would get].
36 And thei seten, and kepten him;
Then the soldiers sat down there to guard him, [to prevent anyone from trying to rescue him].
37 and setten aboue his heed his cause writun, This is Jhesu of Nazareth, kyng of Jewis.
They fastened [to the cross] above Jesus’ head a [sign on which had been] {[they had]} written why [they] were nailing him to the cross. [But all] it said was, ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews’.
38 Thanne twey theues weren crucified with hym, oon on the riythalf, and oon on the lefthalf.
Two bandits were also nailed {They also nailed two bandits} on crosses. One was nailed to a cross on the right side [of Jesus] and one to a cross on the left side.
39 And men that passiden forth blasfemeden hym,
The people who were passing by insulted him by shaking their heads [as if he were an evil man].
40 mouynge her heedis, and seiynge, Vath to thee, that distriest the temple of God, and in the thridde dai bildist it ayen; saue thou thi silf; if thou art the sone of God, come doun of the cross.
They said, “You [said you] would destroy the Temple, and then you would build it again within three days! [So if you could do that], you [should be able to] save yourself! If you are the man who is also God (OR, If you are the Son of God), come down from the cross!”
41 Also and princis of prestis scornynge, with scribis and elder men,
Similarly, the chief priests, the men who taught the [Jewish] laws and the elders made fun of him. [Various ones of them] said things like,
42 seiden, He made othere men saaf, he may not make hym silf saaf; if he is kyng of Israel, come he now doun fro the crosse, and we bileuen to hym;
“He [claims that he] saved others [IRO] [from their sicknesses], but he cannot help himself!” “He [says that he] is [IRO] the King of Israel. So he should come down from the cross. Then we would believe him!”
43 he tristide in God; delyuer he hym now, if he wole; for he seide, That Y am Goddis sone.
“He [says that he] trusts in God, and that he is the man who is also God. So if God is pleased with him, God should rescue him now!”
44 And the theues, that weren crucified with hym, vpbreididen hym of the same thing.
And the [two] bandits who had been crucified with him also insulted him, saying similar things.
45 But fro the sixte our derknessis weren maad on al the erthe, to the nynthe our.
At noon it became dark over the whole land. [It stayed dark] until three o’clock [in the afternoon].
46 And aboute the nynthe our Jhesus criede with a greet vois, and seide, Heli, Heli, lamazabatany, that is, My God, my God, whi hast thou forsake me?
At about three o’clock Jesus shouted loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That means, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’
47 And summen that stoden there, and herynge, seiden, This clepith Helye.
When some of the people standing there heard [the word ‘Eli’, misunderstanding it], they said, “He is calling for [the prophet] Elijah!”
48 And anoon oon of hem rennynge, took and fillide a spounge with vynegre, and puttide on a rehed, and yaf to hym to drynke.
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with sour wine. Then he put the sponge on [the tip of] a reed and [held it up in order that Jesus] could suck out [the wine that was in it].
49 But othir seiden, Suffre thou; se we whether Helie come to deliuer hym.
But the other [people there] said, “Wait! Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him!”
50 Forsothe Jhesus eftsoone criede with a greet voyce, and yaf vp the goost.
Then after Jesus shouted out loudly again, he died, giving his spirit over [to God].
51 And lo! the veil of the temple was to-rent in twey parties, fro the hiest to the lowest. And the erthe schoke, and stoonus weren cloue; and birielis weren openyd,
At that moment the [heavy thick] curtain [that closed off the most holy place] in the Temple split into two pieces from top to bottom. [That signified that ordinary people could now go into the presence of God]. The earth shook, and [some large] rocks split open.
52 and many bodies of seyntis that hadden slepte, rysen vp.
[Some] tombs opened up, and the bodies of many godly people who had died became alive again.
53 And thei yeden out of her birielis, and aftir his resurreccioun thei camen in to the holi citee, and apperiden to many.
They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus became alive again, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people [there].
54 And the centurien and thei that weren with hym kepinge Jhesu, whanne thei saien the erthe schakynge, and tho thingis that weren doon, thei dredden greetli,
The officer who supervised the soldiers [who nailed Jesus to the cross was standing nearby]. His soldiers who had been on guard [so that no one would rescue] Jesus [were also there]. When they [felt] the earthquake and saw all the [other] things that happened, they were terrified. They exclaimed, “Truly he was both man and God! (OR, a Son of God).”
55 and seiden, Verili this was Goddis sone. And ther weren there many wymmen afer, that sueden Jhesu fro Galilee, and mynystriden to hym.
Many women were there, watching from a distance. They were women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee [district] in order to provide the things he needed.
56 Among whiche was Marie Magdalene, and Marie, the modir of James, and of Joseph, and the modir of Zebedees sones.
Among these women were Mary from Magdala [town], [another] Mary who was the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John.
57 But whanne the euenyng was come, ther cam a riche man of Armathi, Joseph bi name, and he was a disciple of Jhesu.
When it was [almost] evening, a rich man named Joseph came [there]. He was from Arimathea [town]. He also was a disciple of Jesus.
58 He wente to Pilat, and axide the bodi of Jhesu.
He then went to Pilate and asked Pilate to [allow him to take] the body of Jesus [and bury it]. Pilate ordered that [he] be allowed to {[his soldiers] let [Joseph]} take [the body].
59 Thanne Pilat comaundide the bodie to be youun. And whanne the bodi was takun, Joseph lappide it in a clene sendel,
So Joseph [and others] took the body and wrapped it in a clean white cloth.
60 and leide it in his newe biriel, that he hadde hewun in a stoon; and he walewide a greet stoon to the dore of the biriel, and wente awei.
Then they placed it in Joseph’s own new tomb that had been dug out of the rock [cliff]. They rolled a huge [circular flat] stone in front of the entrance to the tomb. Then they left.
61 But Marie Maudelene and anothir Marie weren there, sittynge ayens the sepulcre.
Mary from Magdala and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb, [watching].
62 And on `the tother dai, that is aftir pask euen, the princis of prestis and the Farisees camen togidere to Pilat,
The next day was Saturday, the Jewish day of rest. The chief priests and [some of] the Pharisees went to Pilate.
63 and seiden, Sir, we han mynde, that thilke giloure seide yit lyuynge, Aftir thre daies Y schal rise ayen to lijf.
They said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive, he said, ‘Three days after I [die I] will become alive again.’
64 Therfor comaunde thou, that the sepulcre be kept in to the thridde dai; lest hise disciplis comen, and stelen hym, and seie to the puple, He hath rise fro deeth; and the laste errour schal be worse than the formere.
So we ask you to order that the tomb be guarded {that [soldiers] guard the tomb} for three days. If you do not do that, his disciples may come and steal the body. Then they will tell people that he has risen from the dead. If they deceive [people by saying that], it will be worse than the way he deceived people before [by saying that he was the Messiah].”
65 Pilat seide to hem, Ye han the kepyng; go ye, kepe ye as ye kunnen.
Pilate replied, “You [can] take some soldiers. Go to the tomb and make it as secure as you know how.”
66 And thei yeden forth, and kepten the sepulcre, markynge the stoon, with keperis.
So they went and made the tomb secure by [fastening a cord from] the stone [that was in front of the entrance to the rock cliff on each side] and sealing it. They also [left some soldiers there to] guard [the tomb].
