Holman Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

1When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

2Then He began to teach them, saying:

2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

3"The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

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

4Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.

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

5The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth.

5"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

6Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.

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

7The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy.

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

8The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God.

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

9The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.

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

10Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

10"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me.

11"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

12Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.

13"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

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

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

15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.

15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17"Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

17"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

18For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished.

18"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

19"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

20"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21"You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.

21"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'

22But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Fool!' will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, You moron!' will be subject to hellfire.

22"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

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

23"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

25Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you're on the way with him, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

25"Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

26I assure you: You will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!

26"Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

27"You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.

27"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';

28But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to 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 lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

29"If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts 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 the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!

30"If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

31"It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.

31"It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';

32But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of 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 for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33"Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.

33"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.'

34But I tell you, don't take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God's throne;

34"But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

35or by the earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

35or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.

36Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

36"Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

37But let your word 'yes be 'yes,' and your 'no be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.

37"But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes ' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of 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, don't resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

39"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

40"If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

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

41"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

42Give to the one who asks you, and don't turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

42"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43"You have heard that it was said, 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 tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

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

45so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

46"For 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 brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don't even the Gentiles do the same?

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

48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

48"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org