King James Bible

New Living Translation

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

1About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

2Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.

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.

3Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

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

4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

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.

6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

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!

7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

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.

8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.

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.

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

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.

10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. Parable of the Lost Sheep

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

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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?

12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?

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.

13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!

14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish. Correcting Another Believer

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.

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

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.

16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

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.

17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

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.

18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted 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.

19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.

20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor

21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

21Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

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

22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

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

23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.

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

24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.

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.

25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

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

26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’

27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

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.

28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

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

29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded.

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

30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

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

31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened.

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:

32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.

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

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

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

34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

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

35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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.