English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him,

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

2and he began to teach them. The Beatitudes

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

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

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

4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

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

5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

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

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

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

7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

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

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

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

9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

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

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

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

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

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

12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. Teaching about Salt and Light

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.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

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

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

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.

15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone 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 who is in heaven.

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Teaching about the Law

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.

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

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.

18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

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.

19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in 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.

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Teaching about Anger

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

21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’

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.

22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

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

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,

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

24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

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.

25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

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

26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny. Teaching about Adultery

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

27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

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

28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

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.

29 So if your eye—even your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to 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 your members than that your whole body go into hell.

30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand —causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. Teaching about Divorce

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

31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’

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.

32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. Teaching about Vows

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.’

33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the LORD .’

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

34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

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

35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King.

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

36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black.

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

37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one. Teaching about Revenge

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

38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

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.

39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

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

40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.

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

41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

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

42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. Teaching about Love for Enemies

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

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.

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

44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

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.

45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

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

46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

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

47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

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

48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.