| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” | 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" |
| 2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them | 2He called a child, had him stand among them, |
| 3and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. | 3and said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! |
| 4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. | 4Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. |
| 5“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, | 5And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. |
| 6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. | 6"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. |
| 7“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! | 7Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. |
| 8And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. | 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. |
| 9And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. | 9And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell. |
| 10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. | 10"See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. |
| 12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? | 12What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? |
| 13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. | 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. |
| 14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. | 14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost. |
| 15“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. | 15"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. |
| 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. | 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. |
| 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. | 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector. |
| 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. | 18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. |
| 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. | 19Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. |
| 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” | 20For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them." |
| 21Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” | 21Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?" |
| 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. | 22Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times! |
| 23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. | 23"For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. |
| 24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. | 24As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. |
| 25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. | 25Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. |
| 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ | 26Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.' |
| 27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. | 27The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. |
| 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ | 28After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe me!' |
| 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ | 29Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you.' |
| 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. | 30But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. |
| 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. | 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. |
| 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. | 32Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, 'Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! |
| 33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ | 33Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?' |
| 34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. | 34And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. |
| 35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” | 35So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart." |
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