English Standard Version

King James Bible

The Sermon on the Mount

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

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The Sermon on the Mount

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

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The Beatitudes

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

2

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

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

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The Beatitudes

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

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

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

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“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

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

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

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

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“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

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Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

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

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

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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sonsa of God.

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

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“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

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“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

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

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

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

13

Salt and Light

“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.

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Salt and Light

Ye 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.

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

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

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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.

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Neither 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.

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In the same way, let your light shine before others, so thatb they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

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

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Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

“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.

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Jesus Fulfills the Law

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

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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.

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For 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.

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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.

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Whosoever 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.

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

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For 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.

21

Anger

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’

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Anger and Reconciliation

Ye 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:

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But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherc will be liable to judgment; whoever insultsd his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the helle of fire.

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But 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.

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

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

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leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

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

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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.

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Agree 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.

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Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.f

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

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Lust

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

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Adultery

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

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But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

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

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.

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And 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.

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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.

30

And 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.

31

Divorce

“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

31

Divorce

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

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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.

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But 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.

33

Oaths

“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.’

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Vows

Again, 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:

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But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

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

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or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

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

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And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

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

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Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.g

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

38

Retaliation

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

38

Love Your Enemies

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

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.

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

40

And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,h let him have your cloak as well.

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

41

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

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

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Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

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

43

Love Your Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

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

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But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

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But 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;

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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.

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That 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.

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For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

46

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

47

And if you greet only your brothers,i what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

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

48

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

48

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

Parallel

English Standard Version

King James Bible

Matthew 5

Matthew 5