International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the hill. After taking his seat, his disciples came to him,

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

2and he began to teach them:

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

3"How blessed are those who are destitute in spirit, because the kingdom from heaven belongs to them!

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

4"How blessed are those who mourn, because it is they who will be comforted!

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

5"How blessed are those who are humble, because it is they who will inherit the earth!

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

6"How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because it is they who will be satisfied!

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

7"How blessed are those who are merciful, because it is they who will receive mercy!

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

8"How blessed are those who are pure in heart, because it is they who will see God!

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

9"How blessed are those who make peace, because it is they who will be called God's children!

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

10"How blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, because the kingdom from heaven belongs to them!

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

11"How blessed are you whenever people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you falsely 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.

12Rejoice and be extremely glad, because your reward in heaven is great! That's how they persecuted the prophets who came 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 world. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty again? It's good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled on by people.

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 located on a hill can't be hidden.

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

15People don't light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone 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 people in such a way that they will see your good actions and glorify 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"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didn't come to destroy them, but to fulfill them,

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.

18because I tell all of you with certainty that until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter or one stroke of a letter will disappear from the Law until everything has been 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.

19So whoever sets aside one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom from heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom from 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.

20because I tell you, unless your righteousness greatly exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom from 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 told those who lived long ago, 'You are not to commit murder,' and, 'Whoever murders will be subject to punishment.'

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 say to you, anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to punishment. And whoever says to his brother 'Raka!' will be subject to the Council. And whoever says, 'You fool!' will be subject to hell fire.

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.

23"So if you are presenting your gift at the altar and remember there that your brother 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 before the altar and first go and be reconciled to your brother. 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.

25Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court, or your opponent may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, 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.

26I tell you with certainty, you will not get out of there until you pay back the last dollar!"

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, 'You are not to commit adultery.'

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

28But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her 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.

29So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body 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 from you. It is better for you to lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body 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 say to you, any man who divorces his wife, except for 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 told those who lived long ago, 'You must not swear an oath falsely,' but, 'You must fulfill 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 not to swear at all, neither 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,

35nor by the earth, because it is his footstool, nor 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.

36Nor should you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

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

37Instead, let your message be 'Yes' for 'Yes' and 'No' for 'No.' Anything more than that comes 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 not to resist an evildoer. On the contrary, whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

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.

40If anyone wants to sue you and take 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 two with him.

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

42Give to the person who asks you for something, and do not turn away from the person who wants to borrow something 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, 'You must 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 say to 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 will become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on both evil and good people, and he lets rain fall 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.

46If you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don't they?

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 relatives, that's no great thing you're doing, is it? Even the unbelievers do the same, don't they?

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

48So be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

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

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.