Matthew 5
1 And Jhesus, seynge the puple, wente vp in to an hil; and whanne he was set, hise disciplis camen to hym.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a hillside. He sat down [in order to teach] his disciples. They came near to him [to listen to him].
2 And he openyde his mouth, and tauyte hem, and seide,
Then he began to teach them by saying,
3 Blessed ben pore men in spirit, for the kyngdom of heuenes is herne.
[God] is pleased with people who recognize that they have a spiritual [need]; he will allow them to be the people whose lives he rules over.
4 Blessid ben mylde men, for thei schulen welde the erthe.
[God] is pleased with people who mourn [because they have sinned; ] they will be encouraged {he will encourage them.}
5 Blessid ben thei that mornen, for thei schulen be coumfortid.
[God] is pleased with people who are meek; they will inherit the earth [that God will recreate].
6 Blessid ben thei that hungren and thristen riytwisnesse, for thei schulen be fulfillid.
[God] is pleased with people who sincerely [desire to live] righteously [just like they] desire to eat and drink [MET]; they will be enabled {he will enable them} to do all that he desires [MET].
7 Blessid ben merciful men, for thei schulen gete merci.
[God] is pleased with people who act mercifully; he will act mercifully to them.
8 Blessid ben thei that ben of clene herte, for thei schulen se God.
[God] is pleased with people who think only about that which pleases him; [some day] they will [be where] God is and will see him.
9 Blessid ben pesible men, for thei schulen be clepid Goddis children.
[God] is pleased with people who help other people to live peacefully; they will be considered to be {he will consider that they are} his children [MET].
10 Blessid ben thei that suffren persecusioun for riytfulnesse, for the kingdam of heuenes is herne.
[God is pleased with] people to whom evil things are done {to whom [other people] do evil things} because they [conducted themselves] righteously; he will allow them to be where he rules over people.
11 `Ye schulen be blessid, whanne men schulen curse you, and schulen pursue you, and shulen seie al yuel ayens you liynge, for me.
[God is pleased with] you when [other] people insult you, when [other people] do evil things to you and when [other people] say falsely [that] you are evil because [you believe in] me.
12 Ioie ye, and be ye glad, for youre meede is plenteuouse in heuenes; for so thei han pursued `also profetis that weren bifor you.
[When that happens], rejoice and be glad [DOU], because [God will give] you a great reward in heaven. [God will think highly of you], just like [he thought highly of] the prophets whom your [ancestors persecuted] long ago.
13 Ye ben salt of the erthe; that if the salt vanysche awey, whereynne schal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth ouere, no but that it be cast out, and be defoulid of men.
“You are [able to influence] evil [people] [MTY] [and improve the way they live in order that they do not become more evil, just like] salt [is able to improve the flavor of food and to preserve it] [MET] [from spoiling]. Salt that no longer tastes salty cannot become salty again [RHQ]. As a result, that salt becomes useless. It is rejected by people, thrown on the ground, and walked on {People reject it, throw it on the ground and walk on it} [MET]. [Similarly, if the way you live no longer influences people to live in a godly manner, God will reject you].
14 Ye ben liyt of the world; a citee set on an hil may not be hid;
You [enable] evil [people] [MTY] [to perceive God’s truth as] a light [enables people to perceive what is around them. Just like] everyone can see [LIT] [the lights of] a city on a hill [MET], [other people can see what you do].
15 ne me teendith not a lanterne, and puttith it vndur a busschel, but on a candilstike, that it yyue liyt to alle that ben in the hous.
After people light a lamp, they never put it under a basket. Instead, [they put it] on a lampstand in their houses in order that it can shine on everyone there.
16 So schyne youre liyt befor men, that thei se youre goode werkis, and glorifie youre fadir that is in heuenes.
[Similarly], you need to do [what is right] [MET] in such a manner that other people can see the good deeds that you do, and as a result they will praise your Father [who is] in heaven.”
17 Nil ye deme, that Y cam to vndo the lawe, or the profetis; Y cam not to vndo the lawe, but to fulfille.
“I came to earth, not to annul the laws [that God gave Moses] or [what] the prophets [MTY] [wrote]. Instead, I [came] to cause to happen [what the authors of those books predicted would happen]. So do not think any longer that I have come [to earth] in order that I might annul [what they wrote].
18 Forsothe Y seie to you, til heuene and erthe passe, o lettir or o titel shal not passe fro the lawe, til alle thingis be doon.
Keep this in mind: [Every] point of those laws, [including those points that seem] least important, and even the smallest details of the laws [MTY] will surely be in effect [HYP, LIT] until the heavens and the earth disappear and until all [that God told their authors to write] happens.
19 Therfor he that brekith oon of these leeste maundementis, and techith thus men, schal be clepid the leste in the rewme of heuenes; `but he that doith, and techith, schal be clepid greet in the kyngdom of heuenes.
Since [all God’s laws are important], if anyone disobeys any of those commandments, [even if it would be] one of the least [important ones], and if that person teaches people [to disobey any of those commandments], it will be said {[God] will say} that that person is the least [important] of those in the place where [EUP] God rules. But those who obey [those commandments] and teach [other people to obey them, it will be said] {[God] will say} that they are very important among those that God rules.
20 And Y seie to you, that but your riytfulnesse be more plenteuouse than of scribis and of Farisees, ye schulen not entre into the kyngdom of heuenes.
Keep this in mind: [You assume that] the Pharisees and the men who teach our laws [faithfully obey] what God commands. But if you do not obey those laws better than they obey them, you will by no means enter the place where God rules.”
21 Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not slee; and he that sleeth, schal be gilti to doom.
“You have heard [your religious teachers say] that it was said {that [Moses] said} to your ancestors, ‘Do not murder [anyone.’ This implied that] if someone murders [another person], the judge will condemn that person [and] sentence him to be [executed] {[say that someone must execute him]}.
22 But Y seie to you, that ech man that is wrooth to his brothir, schal be gilti to doom; and he that seith to his brother, Fy! schal be gilti to the counseil; but he that seith, Fool, schal be gilti to the fier of helle. (Geenna g1067)
But what I say to you is this: [If you are] angry with someone, [God] will judge you. If you say to someone, ‘[You are worthless],’ the Jewish Council will judge you. If you [hate someone], and say to them 'You fool!' you. yourself, will be in danger of being thrown into the fires in hell. (Geenna g1067)
23 Therfor if thou offrist thi yifte `at the auter, and ther thou bithenkist, that thi brothir hath sum what ayens thee,
So, when you take your gift [for God] to the altar, if you remember that you have offended someone,
24 leeue there thi yifte bifor the auter, and go first to be recounselid to thi brothir, and thanne thou schalt come, and schalt offre thi yifte.
leave your gift by the altar, and first go [to the person you have offended]. Tell that person that you are sorry for what you have done, and ask that person to forgive you. Then go back and offer your gift [to God].
25 Be thou consentynge to thin aduersarie soone, while thou art in the weie with hym, lest perauenture thin aduersarie take thee to the domesman, and the domesman take thee to the mynystre, and thou be sent in to prisoun.
[Also], when a fellow citizen [takes you to court in order to] accuse you, settle accounts with that person quickly while you are walking with that person [to court]. Do that [while there still is time to do so] in order that he will not take you to the judge, [because if] the judge [favors the person who is accusing you, he will declare that you are guilty and send you] to the prison guard, and the prison guard will put you in prison.
26 Treuli Y seie to thee, thou shalt not go out fro thennus, til thou yelde the last ferthing.
Keep this in mind: [If you go to prison], you will never get out [because you will never be able to] pay all that the judge says that you owe [MET]. [And remember also that] you [ought to settle accounts with God before you die, too].”
27 Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt `do no letcherie.
“You have heard [God’s] commandment, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
28 But Y seie to you, that euery man that seeth a womman for to coueite hir, hath now do letcherie bi hir in his herte.
But what I say to you is this: If a man only looks at a woman desiring to have sex with her, [God considers that] his doing that [MET] is sin.
29 That if thi riyt iye sclaundre thee, pulle hym out, and caste fro thee; for it spedith to thee, that oon of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in to helle. (Geenna g1067)
If because of what you see [MTY] you [are tempted to] sin, [stop looking at those things! Even if you have to] gouge out one of your eyes and throw it away [HYP] [to avoid sinning, do it!] It is good [that you not sin and] as a result [go to heaven, even though while you are still here on earth] you lack one [or both of] your eyes. But it is not good [that you continue to have two eyes and sin and, as a result, God] sends your whole body to hell. (Geenna g1067)
30 And if thi riyt hond sclaundre thee, kitte hym aweye, and caste fro thee; for it spedith to thee that oon of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in to helle. (Geenna g1067)
If you are [tempted to] use one of your hands to sin [MTY], [stop using your hand. Even if you have to] cut your hand off and throw it away [to avoid sinning, do it] [HYP]! It is good [that you do not sin and as a result you go to heaven, even though while you are still here on earth] you lack one [or both] of your [hands]. But it is not good [that you sin and, as a result, God] sends your whole body to hell.” (Geenna g1067)
31 And it hath be seyd, Who euere leeueth his wijf, yyue he to hir a libel of forsakyng.
“It is written {[Moses] wrote}, ‘If a man is divorcing his wife, he should write a document [on which he states that he is] divorcing her.’
32 But Y seie to you, that euery man that leeueth his wijf, outtakun cause of fornycacioun, makith hir to do letcherie, and he that weddith the forsakun wijf, doith auowtrye.
But [now listen to what] I say to you: [A man] may [divorce his wife] only if she has committed adultery, [and not for any other reason]. If a man divorces his wife [for any other reason, and he has sex with another woman], he makes his wife become one against whom he has committed adultery, [because in God’s estimation she still is his wife]. Also, if a man marries a woman who is divorced {whose husband has divorced her}, [God considers] him [guilty of] committing adultery.”
33 Eftsoone ye han herd, that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not forswere, but thou schalt yelde thin othis to the Lord.
“You have also heard [your religious teachers say] that it was written {that [Moses] wrote} to your ancestors, ‘Make sure that you do what you promised the Lord that you would do!’ [DOU]
34 But Y seie to you, that ye swere not `for ony thing; nethir bi heuene, for it is the trone of God;
But [now listen to what] I say to you: Never promise to do anything and then ask a superior being to affirm [that what you are saying will happen. For example, do] not [promise that you will give something and then ask spiritual beings in] heaven [MTY] [to affirm that you will do it], because heaven is where God [sits] on his throne [MTY] [to rule over people].
35 nether bi the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; nether bi Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; nether thou shalt not swere bi thin heed,
[Also, do] not [promise that you will give something and then ask spiritual beings] on earth [MTY] [to affirm that you will do it], because the earth is where God rests his feet [MET]. [Also, do] not [promise that you will do something and ask religious authorities] in Jerusalem [to affirm that you will do it], because Jerusalem is the city where [God], the great King [rules].
36 for thou maist not make oon heere white, ne blacke;
[Also, do not promise that you will do something and then say that] your head [should be cut off] {[someone should cut off] your head} [if you do not do it]. You are not [even] able to [change the color of the hair of your head by] making one [black] hair white or one [white] hair black.
37 but be youre word, Yhe, yhe; Nay, nay; and that that is more than these, is of yuel.
[If you talk about doing something], just say ‘Yes, I [will do it],’ or ‘No, I [will not do it].’ [If you say] anything more than that, it is from [Satan], the Evil One.”
38 Ye han herd that it hath be seid, Iye for iye, and tothe for tothe.
“You have heard [your religious teachers say] that [it is written] {[Moses wrote]}, ‘[Retaliate like this]: [If someone damages] one of your eyes, [someone should damage] one of that person’s eyes. [If someone damages] one of your teeth, [someone should damage] one of that person’s teeth.’
39 But Y seie to you, that ye ayenstonde not an yuel man; but if ony smyte thee in the riyt cheke, schewe to him also the tothir;
But [now listen to what] I say to you: Do not take revenge for evil [deeds done] {[that other people do]} [to you]. Instead, if someone [insults you by] striking you on one cheek, turn your other cheek toward that person [in order that he can strike it also].
40 and to hym that wole stryue with thee in doom, and take awey thi coote, leeue thou `to him also thi mantil;
If someone wants to sue you and take your (inner garment/shirt), give him your (outer garment/coat) also.
41 and who euer constreyneth thee a thousynde pacis, go thou with hym othir tweyne.
If a [military authority] compels you to go with him one mile [and carry his gear], go with him two miles [and carry his gear].
42 Yyue thou to hym that axith of thee, and turne not awey fro hym that wole borewe of thee.
Also, if someone asks you for [something], give [him what he is asking for]. If someone requests you to lend him [something], do not refuse [to lend it to him].”
43 Ye han herd that it was seid, Thou shalt loue thi neiybore, and hate thin enemye.
“You have heard [your religious teachers say that it is written that Moses wrote], ‘Love the citizens of your country and hate your enemies.’
44 But Y seie to you, loue ye youre enemyes, do ye wel to hem that hatiden you, and preye ye for hem that pursuen, and sclaundren you;
But [now listen to what] I say to you: Love your enemies [as well as your friends], and pray for those who cause you to suffer.
45 that ye be the sones of your fadir that is in heuenes, that makith his sunne to rise vpon goode `and yuele men, and reyneth on iust men and vniuste.
Do that in order to imitate what [God], your Father [who is] in heaven, does. He desires that you [MET] do [like he does]. [He acts kindly to all people. For example, he causes] the sun to shine [equally] on wicked [people] and on good [people], and [he sends] rain [both] on righteous [people] and on unrighteous [people].
46 For if ye louen hem that louen you, what mede schulen ye han? whether pupplicans doon not this?
If you love [only] the people who love you, ([do not expect God to] reward you [in heaven]!/will [God] reward you [in heaven]?) [RHQ] [This is based on the fact that everyone], even the tax collectors, [who you think are very great sinners], love [RHQ] those who love them. [If you act like them], ([you are not any different from tax collectors!/in what way are you different from tax collectors]?) [RHQ]
47 And if ye greten youre britheren oonli, what schulen ye do more? ne doon not hethene men this?
If you want [God] to bless only your friends, (you are not acting any better than other people!/are you acting any better than other people?) [RHQ] Even the non-Jews, [who you think sin very much] (OR, [you think are unacceptable to God]), want God to bless their friends [RHQ], [but God does not reward them for that].
48 Therfore be ye parfit, as youre heuenli fadir is parfit.
[You need to love those who do not love you], and in that way become perfect as [God] your Father, [who is] in heaven, is perfect.”
