International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom from heaven?"

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2Calling a little child forward, he had him stand among them.

2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

3Then he said, "I tell all of you with certainty, unless you change and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom from heaven.

3and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

4Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom from heaven,

4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5and whoever receives a little child like this in my name receives me."

5“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

6"If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea.

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.

7How terrible it will be for the world due to its temptations to sin! Temptations to sin are bound to happen, but how terrible it will be for that person who causes someone to sin!

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!

8"So 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 injured or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

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.

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 to have two eyes and be thrown into hell 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.

10"See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, because I tell you, their angels in heaven always have access to my Father in heaven.

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.

11For the Son of Man came to save the lost."

11

12"What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays, he leaves the 99 in the hills and goes to look for the one that has strayed, doesn't he?

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?

13If he finds it, I tell all of you with certainty that he rejoices over it more than over the 99 that haven't strayed.

13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

14In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost."

14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

15"If your brother sins against you, go and confront him while the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.

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.

16But if he doesn't listen, take one or two others with you so that 'every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

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.

17If, however, he ignores them, tell it to the congregation. If he also ignores the congregation, regard him as an unbeliever and a tax collector.

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.

18"I tell all of you with certainty, whatever you prohibit on earth will have been prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted in heaven.

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.

19Furthermore, I tell all of you with certainty that if two of you agree on earth about anything you request, it will be done for you by my Father 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.

20because where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them."

20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

21Then Peter came up and asked him, "Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I have to forgive him? Seven times?"

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?”

22Jesus told him, "I tell you, not just seven times, but 77 times!

22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23"That is why the kingdom from heaven may be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

24When he had begun to settle the accounts, a person who owed him 10,000 talents was brought to him.

24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

25Because he couldn't pay, his master ordered him, his wife, his children, and everything that he owned to be sold so that payment could be made.

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.

26Then the servant fell down and bowed low before him, saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything!'

26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’

27The master of that servant had compassion and released him, canceling his debt.

27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

28"But when that servant went away, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, seized him by the throat, and said, 'Pay what you owe!'

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.’

29Then his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, 'Be patient with me and I will repay you!'

29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’

30But he refused and had him thrown into prison until he could repay the debt.

30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

31"When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very disturbed and went and reported to their master everything that had occurred.

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.

32Then his master sent for him and told him, 'You evil servant! I canceled that entire debt for you because you begged me.

32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?'

33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’

34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers until he could repay the entire debt.

34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

35This is how my heavenly Father will treat each one of you unless you forgive your brother from your hearts."

35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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.