1 S eeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him.

Jesus saw many people. He went up on the mountain and sat down. His followers came to Him.

2 T hen He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

He began to teach them, saying,

3 B lessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

“Those who know there is nothing good in themselves are happy, because the holy nation of heaven is theirs.

4 B lessed and enviably happy '> happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

Those who have sorrow are happy, because they will be comforted.

5 B lessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

Those who have no pride in their hearts are happy, because the earth will be given to them.

6 B lessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.

7 B lessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!

Those who show loving-kindness are happy, because they will have loving-kindness shown to them.

8 B lessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

Those who have a pure heart are happy, because they will see God.

9 B lessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

Those who make peace are happy, because they will be called the sons of God.

10 B lessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Those who have it very hard for doing right are happy, because the holy nation of heaven is theirs.

11 B lessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.

You are happy when people act and talk in a bad way to you and make it very hard for you and tell bad things and lies about you because you trust in Me.

12 B e glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Be glad and full of joy because your reward will be much in heaven. They made it very hard for the early preachers who lived a long time before you. Jesus Teaches about Salt and Light

13 Y ou are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

“You are the salt of the earth. If salt loses its taste, how can it be made to taste like salt again? It is no good. It is thrown away and people walk on it.

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

You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that is on a mountain.

15 N or do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Men do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. They put it on a table so it gives light to all in the house.

16 L et your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven. Jesus Teaches about the Law

17 D o not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them.

“Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses or the writings of the early preachers. I have not come to do away with them but to complete them.

18 F or truly I tell you, until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook will pass from the Law until all things are accomplished.

I tell you, as long as heaven and earth last, not one small mark or part of a word will pass away of the Law of Moses until it has all been done.

19 W hoever then breaks or does away with or relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but he who practices them and teaches others to do so shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Anyone who breaks even the least of the Law of Moses and teaches people not to do what it says, will be called the least in the holy nation of heaven. He who obeys and teaches others to obey what the Law of Moses says, will be called great in the holy nation of heaven.

20 F or I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

I tell you, unless you are more right with God than the teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers, you will never get into the holy nation of heaven. Jesus Teaches about Anger and Killing

21 Y ou have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court.

“You have heard that men were told long ago, ‘You must not kill another person. If someone does kill, he will be guilty and will be punished for his wrong-doing.’

22 B ut I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool! shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire.

But I tell you that whoever is angry with his brother will be guilty and have to suffer for his wrong-doing. Whoever says to his brother, ‘You have no brains,’ will have to stand in front of the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be sent to the fire of hell.

23 S o if when you are offering your gift at the altar you there remember that your brother has any against you,

If you take your gift to the altar and remember your brother has something against you,

24 L eave your gift at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift.

leave your gift on the altar. Go and make right what is wrong between you and him. Then come back and give your gift.

25 C ome to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way traveling with him, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

Agree with the one who is against you while you are talking together, or he might take you to court. The court will hand you over to the police. You will be put in prison.

26 T ruly I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last fraction of a penny.

For sure, I tell you, you will not be let out of prison until you have paid every piece of money of the fine. Jesus Teaches about Husband and Wife

27 Y ou have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.

“You have heard that it was said long ago, ‘You must not do sex sins.’

28 B ut I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

But I tell you, anyone who even looks at a woman with a sinful desire of wanting her has already sinned in his heart.

29 I f your right eye serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be cast into hell (Gehenna).

If your right eye is the reason you sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

30 A nd if your right hand serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your entire body should be cast into hell (Gehenna).

If your right hand is the reason you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go to hell. Jesus Teaches about Marriage

31 I t has also been said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.

“It has been said, ‘Whoever wants to divorce his wife should have it put in writing, telling her he is leaving her.’

32 B ut I tell you, Whoever dismisses and repudiates and divorces his wife, except on the grounds of unfaithfulness (sexual immorality), causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery.

But I tell you, whoever divorces his wife except if she has not been faithful to him, makes her guilty of a sex sin. Whoever marries a woman who has been divorced is guilty of a sex sin. Jesus Teaches about What to Say

33 A gain, you have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not swear falsely, but you shall perform your oaths to the Lord.

“You have heard that it was said long ago, ‘You must not make a promise you cannot keep. You must carry out your promises to the Lord.’

34 B ut I tell you, Do not bind yourselves by an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

I tell you, do not use strong words when you make a promise. Do not promise by heaven. It is the place where God is.

35 O r by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

Do not promise by earth. It is where He rests His feet. Do not promise by Jerusalem. It is the city of the great King.

36 A nd do not swear by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black.

Do not promise by your head. You are not able to make one hair white or black.

37 L et your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be simply No; anything more than that comes from the evil one.

Let your yes be YES. Let your no be NO. Anything more than this comes from the devil. Jesus Teaches about Fighting

38 Y ou have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

“You have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 B ut I say to you, Do not resist the evil man; but if anyone strikes you on the right jaw or cheek, turn to him the other one too.

But I tell you, do not fight with the man who wants to fight. Whoever hits you on the right side of the face, turn so he can hit the other side also.

40 A nd if anyone wants to sue you and take your undershirt (tunic), let him have your coat also.

If any person takes you to court to get your shirt, give him your coat also.

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

Whoever makes you walk a short way, go with him twice as far.

42 G ive to him who keeps on begging from you, and do not turn away from him who would borrow '> at interest] from you.

Give to any person who asks you for something. Do not say no to the man who wants to use something of yours. Jesus Teaches about Loving Those Who Hate You

43 Y ou have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy;

“You have heard that it has been said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate those who hate you.’

44 B ut I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

But I tell you, love those who hate you. (Respect and give thanks for those who say bad things to you. Do good to those who hate you.) Pray for those who do bad things to you and who make it hard for you.

45 T o show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers.

Then you may be the sons of your Father Who is in heaven. His sun shines on bad people and on good people. He sends rain on those who are right with God and on those who are not right with God.

46 F or if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?

If you love those who love you, what reward can you expect from that? Do not even the tax-gatherers do that?

47 A nd if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that?

If you say hello only to the people you like, are you doing any more than others? The people who do not know God do that much.

48 Y ou, therefore, must be perfect '> maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

You must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.