Matthew 5

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

1Jesus saw the big crowds of people. So he went up on a mountain and sat down. His followers came to him.

2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

2He began to teach them. This is what he said.

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

3God blesses people who know they need him. The kingdom of heaven, where God is king, belongs to them.

4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

4God blesses people who are sad and crying. They will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

5God blesses people who are gentle and humble. The earth will belong to them.

6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

6God blesses people who want to do what is right. They want it the way hungry people want food. They will be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

7God blesses people who show mercy, which means being kind instead of paying someone back. They will be shown mercy too.

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

8God blesses people whose hearts are clean inside. They will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

9God blesses people who help others stop fighting. They will be called God's children.

10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

10God blesses people who are treated badly because they do what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

11God blesses you when people insult you and treat you badly. He blesses you when they tell all kinds of lies about you because of me.

12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

12Be happy and very glad. A great reward is waiting for you in heaven. People treated the prophets the same way long ago. Prophets were people who told others what God said.

13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

13You are like salt for the whole earth. But if salt loses its taste, nothing can make it salty again. Then it is no good for anything. People throw it out, and it gets walked on.

14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

14You are like light for the whole world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

15People do not light a lamp and then hide it under a basket. They set it up high on a stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house.

16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

16Let your light shine where people can see it. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will praise your Father in heaven.

17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

17Do not think I came to get rid of the Law or the Prophets. The Law is God's rules, and the Prophets are the books of God's messengers. I did not come to get rid of them. I came to do everything they say.

18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

18I am telling you the truth. Heaven and earth will pass away one day. Until then, not one tiny letter or tiny pen mark will disappear from the Law. It all stays until everything in it comes true.

NoteThe KJV says 'one jot or one tittle.' A jot was the smallest letter in Hebrew writing, and a tittle was a tiny pen stroke.

19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

19Someone might break even the smallest of these rules and teach others to break it too. That person will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys these rules and teaches them will be called great there.

20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

20I tell you this. The scribes and Pharisees were teachers who kept the rules very carefully. If you do not do right even more than they do, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

21You have heard what people were told long ago. 'Do not murder. Anyone who murders must go before the judge.'

22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

22But I tell you this. If you are angry with your brother for no good reason, you must answer to the judge. If you call your brother 'Raca,' you must answer to the high court. And if you call him a fool, you are in danger of the fire of hell.

Note'Raca' was an insult word in the language Jesus spoke. It meant something like 'empty-headed' or 'worthless.' The 'council' was the highest Jewish court.

23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

23So you might be bringing your gift to the altar. The altar is the table where people gave gifts to God. And there you remember that your brother is upset with you.

24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

24Leave your gift there in front of the altar. Go and make peace with your brother first. Then come back and give your gift.

25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

25Someone might take you to court. Settle with him quickly while you are still on the way. If you do not, he may hand you over to the judge. The judge may hand you over to the guard. Then you may be put in jail.

26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

26I am telling you the truth. You will not get out of there until you have paid the very last penny.

27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

27You have heard what people were told long ago. 'Do not commit adultery.' That means a married person must not be unfaithful to their husband or wife.

28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

28But I tell you this. A man who looks at a woman and wants her that way has already been unfaithful with her in his heart.

29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

29If your right eye makes you sin, pull it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body. That is better than your whole body being thrown into hell.

30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30If your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body. That is better than your whole body going into hell.

31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

31People were also told this. 'A man who sends his wife away must give her a paper that ends the marriage.'

32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

32But I tell you this. A man might send his wife away when she has not been unfaithful. Then he makes her guilty of adultery. And any man who marries a woman who was sent away is guilty too.

33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

33Again, you have heard what people were told long ago. 'Do not break your promise. Keep the promises you make to the Lord.'

34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

34But I tell you, do not swear by anything at all. Do not swear by heaven, because heaven is God's throne.

35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

35Do not swear by the earth, because the earth is where God rests his feet. Do not swear by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

36Do not swear by your own head. You cannot even make one hair white or black.

37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

37Just say 'Yes' when you mean yes. Say 'No' when you mean no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.

38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

38You have heard that people were told, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'

39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

39But I tell you, do not fight back against someone who is evil. If someone hits you on the right cheek, turn and let him hit the other cheek too.

40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

40If someone takes you to court to get your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

41If someone forces you to walk one mile with him, walk two miles with him.

NoteRoman soldiers were allowed to make people carry their loads for one mile. That is the kind of forcing Jesus is talking about.

42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

42Give to anyone who asks you. Do not turn away from someone who wants to borrow from you.

43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

43You have heard that people were told, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

44But I tell you, love your enemies. Say kind words to people who say bad things about you. Do good to people who hate you. Pray for people who treat you badly and hurt you.

45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

45Then you will be children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on bad people and on good people. He sends rain on people who do right and on people who do wrong.

46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

46If you love only the people who love you, what reward is that? Even tax collectors do that much.

47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

47If you say hello only to your own brothers and friends, you are doing nothing special. Even tax collectors do that.

48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

48So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.