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Matthew 5

New International Reader’s Version



1 Jesus saw the crowds. So he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. 



2 Then he began to teach them. He said, 3 ‘Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 4 Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted. 5 Blessed are those who are humble. They will be given the earth. 6 Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right. They will be filled. 7 Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are those whose hearts are pure. They will see God. 9 Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 11 ‘Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12 Be joyful and glad. Your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago. 



13 ‘You are the salt of the earth. But suppose the salt loses its saltiness. How can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything. It will be thrown out. People will walk all over it. 14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine so others can see it. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will bring glory to your Father who is in heaven. 



17 ‘Do not think I have come to get rid of what is written in the Law or in the Prophets. I have not come to do this. Instead, I have come to fulfil what is written. 18 What I’m about to tell you is true. Heaven and earth will disappear before the smallest letter disappears from the Law. Not even the smallest mark of a pen will disappear from the Law until everything is completed. 19 Do not ignore even one of the least important commands. And do not teach others to ignore them. If you do, you will be called the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. Instead, practise and teach these commands. Then you will be called important in the kingdom of heaven. 20 Here is what I tell you. You must be more godly than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. If you are not, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 



21 ‘You have heard what was said to people who lived long ago. They were told, “Do not commit murder. Anyone who murders will be judged for it.” (Ex 20:13) 22 But here is what I tell you. Do not be angry with a brother or sister. Anyone who is angry with them will be judged. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, “Raca”, must stand trial in court. And anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire in hell. 23 ‘Suppose you are offering your gift at the altar. And you remember that your brother or sister has something against you. 24 Leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and make peace with them. Then come back and offer your gift. 25 ‘Suppose someone has a claim against you and is taking you to court. Settle the matter quickly. Do this while you are still together on the way. If you don’t, you may be handed over to the judge. The judge may hand you over to the officer to be thrown into prison. 26 What I’m about to tell you is true. You will not get out until you have paid the very last penny! 



27 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery.” (Ex 20:14) 28 But here is what I tell you. Do not even look at a woman in the wrong way. Anyone who does has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. Your eye is only one part of your body. It is better to lose an eye than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. Your hand is only one part of your body. It is better to lose a hand than for your whole body to go into hell. 



31 ‘It has been said, “Suppose a man divorces his wife. If he does, he must give her a letter of divorce.” (De 24:1) 32 But here is what I tell you. Anyone who divorces his wife makes her a victim of adultery. And anyone who gets married to the divorced woman commits adultery. A man may divorce his wife only if she has not been faithful to him. 



33 ‘Again, you have heard what was said to your people long ago. They were told, “Do not break the promises you make to the Lord. Keep your promises to the Lord that you have made.” 34 But here is what I tell you. Do not make any promises like that at all. Do not make them in the name of heaven. That is God’s throne. 35 Do not make them in the name of the earth. That is the stool for God’s feet. Do not make them in the name of Jerusalem. That is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not make a promise in your own name. You can’t make even one hair of your head white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply “Yes” or “No”. Anything more than this comes from the evil one. 



38 ‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth.” (Ex 21:24; Le 24:20; De 19:21) 39 But here is what I tell you. Do not fight against an evil person. Suppose someone slaps you on your right cheek. Turn your other cheek to them also. 40 Suppose someone takes you to court to get your shirt. Let them have your coat also. 41 Suppose someone forces you to go one mile. Go 2 miles with them. 42 Give to the one who asks you for something. Don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow something from you. 



43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour. Hate your enemy.” (Le 19:18) 44 But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45 Then you will be children of your Father who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don’t. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the tax collectors do that. 47 If you greet only your own people, what more are you doing than others? Even people who are ungodly do that. 48 So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. 

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Matthew 5

English Standard Version



1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. (Mt 15:29; Lu 4:20) 



2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: (Ps 78:2) 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Isa 61:1; Isa 66:2; Lu 6:20; Lu 12:32) 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Isa 61:2; Joh 16:20; 2Co 1:7; 2Co 7:10; Jas 4:9; Re 21:4) 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Ps 37:11) 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Ps 42:2; Isa 55:1; Mt 6:33; Joh 7:37; 2Ti 2:22) 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (Pr 19:17; Mt 18:33; Mt 25:34; Lu 6:36; 2Ti 1:16; Heb 6:10) 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Ps 24:4; 1Co 13:12; 2Ti 2:22; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:2; Re 22:4) 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[1] of God. (Ro 8:14; Jas 3:18; 1Jo 3:1) 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:3; 2Ti 2:12; Jas 5:11; 1Pe 3:14) 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (Joh 15:21; Heb 11:26; 1Pe 4:14) 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt 21:35; Ac 5:41; Ro 5:3; 2Co 12:10; Col 1:11; Col 1:24; Heb 10:34; Jas 1:2; 1Pe 4:13) 



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. (Mr 9:50; Lu 14:34) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Joh 8:12; Eph 5:8; Php 2:15) 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (Mr 4:21; Lu 8:16; Lu 11:33) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[2] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Mt 9:8; Joh 15:8; 2Co 9:13; Php 1:11; Phm 1:6; 1Pe 2:12) 



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. (Mt 7:12; Ro 3:31; Ro 10:4; Ro 13:8; Ga 3:24) 18 For 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. (Mt 24:35; Lu 16:17) 19 Therefore 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. (Mt 11:11; Mt 18:1; 1Co 3:12; Ga 3:10; Jas 2:10) 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Joh 3:5; Ro 10:3; Php 3:9) 



21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ (Ex 20:13; De 5:17; De 16:18; Mt 5:27; Mt 5:31; Mt 5:33; Mt 5:38; Mt 5:43; Mt 19:18; Mr 10:19; Lu 18:20; Ro 13:9; Jas 2:11) 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[3] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[4] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[5] of fire. (Mt 5:21; Mt 5:29; Mt 18:9; Mr 9:43; Jas 3:6; 1Jo 3:15) 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, (Mt 6:15; Mt 8:4; Mt 23:18; Mr 11:25) 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come 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. (Lu 12:58) 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[6] (Mt 18:34) 



27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ (Ex 20:14; De 5:18; Mt 5:21) 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (2Sa 11:2; Job 31:1; Pr 6:25) 29 If 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. (Mt 5:22; Mt 10:28; Mt 13:41; Mt 18:8; Mt 23:15; Mt 23:33; Mr 9:43; Lu 12:5; Lu 17:1) 30 And 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. (Mt 5:29) 



31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ (De 24:1; Jer 3:1; Mt 5:27; Mt 19:7) 32 But 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. (Mt 19:9; Mr 10:11; Lu 16:18; Ro 7:3; 1Co 7:10) 



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.’ (Le 19:12; Nu 30:2; De 23:21; Ec 5:4; Mt 5:27; 1Ti 1:10) 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, (Isa 66:1; Mt 23:22; Ac 7:49; Jas 5:12; Re 4:2) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. (Ps 48:2) 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.[7] (Pr 10:19) 



38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ (Ex 21:24; Le 24:20; De 19:21; Mt 5:27) 39 But 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. (Isa 50:6; La 3:30; Mt 26:67; Lu 6:29; Ro 12:17; 1Pe 2:23) 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[8] let him have your cloak as well. (Mt 5:39) 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Mt 27:32) 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (De 15:8; Ps 37:21; Ps 37:26; Ps 112:5; Pr 21:26; Lu 6:34) 



43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ (Le 19:18; Mt 5:21; Mt 19:19) 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Ex 23:4; Job 31:29; Ps 7:4; Lu 6:27; Lu 23:34; Ac 7:60; Ro 12:20; 2Ti 4:16; 1Pe 3:9) 45 so 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. (Lu 6:35; Ac 14:17; Eph 5:1; Php 2:15) 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Lu 6:32) 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[9] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (Mt 6:7; Mt 6:32) 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Ge 17:1; Le 19:2; Mt 19:21; Lu 6:36; 1Co 2:6; Php 3:15; Col 1:28; Col 4:12; Jas 1:4; Jas 3:2; 1Pe 1:15) 

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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.