Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

1Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2Then he began to teach them, saying:

2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.

5“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

7“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.

11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

13“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

14"You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.

14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.

15Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

17"Don't think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

17“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.

18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.

18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21"You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.

21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’

22But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, 'You fool!' will be subject to hellfire.

22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

23So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you're on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

26Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

26Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

27"You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

28But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

31"It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.

31“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

32But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33"Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.

33“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’

34But I tell you, don't take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God's throne;

34But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

35or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

36And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

37But let your 'yes' mean 'yes,' and your 'no' mean 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.

37Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

38"You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39But I tell you, don't resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

40And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

42Give to the one who asks you, and don't turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

42Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

43"You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

46For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don't even the Gentiles do the same?

47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.