International Standard Version

King James Bible

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

1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

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

2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set 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, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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

4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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

5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth 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 whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were 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!

7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

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.

8Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting 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 thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell 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.

10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

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

11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

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?

12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone 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 so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

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

14Even so it is not the will of your Father which 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.

15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy 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 will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

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.

17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

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.

18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall 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 unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is 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 together in my name, there am I in the midst of 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 came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

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

22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

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

23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

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

24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which 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.

25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and 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!'

26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

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

27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed 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 the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

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

29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

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

30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till 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.

31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

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 lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

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

33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

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

34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

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

35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.