1:1An oracle: the word of Yahweh to Israel by Malachi.
1:2"I have loved you," says Yahweh.
Yet you say, "How have you loved us?"
"Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother?" says Yahweh, "Yet I loved Jacob;1:3but Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness."1:4Whereas Edom says, "We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places;" thus says Yahweh of Armies, "They shall build, but I will throw down; and men will call them 'The Wicked Land,' even the people against whom Yahweh shows wrath forever."
1:5Your eyes will see, and you will say, "Yahweh is great--even beyond the border of Israel!"
1:6"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says Yahweh of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, 'How have we despised your name?'1:7You offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, 'How have we polluted you?' In that you say, 'Yahweh's table contemptible.'1:8When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn't that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn't that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?" says Yahweh of Armies.
1:9"Now, please entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?" says Yahweh of Armies.
1:10"Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you," says Yahweh of Armies, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand.1:11For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations," says Yahweh of Armies.1:12"But you profane it, in that you say, 'Yahweh's table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.'1:13You say also, 'Behold, what a weariness it is!' and you have sniffed at it," says Yahweh of Armies; "and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?" says Yahweh.
1:14"But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King," says Yahweh of Armies, "and my name is awesome among the nations."
2:1"Now, you priests, this commandment is for you.2:2If you will not listen, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name," says Yahweh of Armies, "then will I send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.2:3Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.2:4You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi," says Yahweh of Armies.2:5"My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him who he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of my name.2:6The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.2:7For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies.2:8But you have turned aside out of the way. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says Yahweh of Armies.2:9"Therefore I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law.2:10Don't we all have one father? Hasn't one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?2:11Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.2:12Yahweh will cut off, to the man who does this, him who wakes and him who answers, out of the tents of Jacob, and him who offers an offering to Yahweh of Armies.2:13This again you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn't regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand.2:14Yet you say, 'Why?' Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant.2:15Did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.2:16For I hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with violence!" says Yahweh of Armies. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you don't deal treacherously.2:17You have wearied Yahweh with your words. Yet you say, 'How have we wearied him?' In that you say, 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of Yahweh, and he delights in them;' or 'Where is the God of justice?'
3:1"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of Armies.3:2"But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap;3:3and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.3:4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Yahweh, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.3:5I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don't fear me," says Yahweh of Armies.3:6"For I, Yahweh, don't change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.3:7From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says Yahweh of Armies. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'3:8Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In tithes and offerings.3:9You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation.3:10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this," says Yahweh of Armies, "if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for.3:11I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before its time in the field," says Yahweh of Armies.3:12"All nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says Yahweh of Armies.
3:13"Your words have been stout against me," says Yahweh. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against you?'3:14You have said, 'It is vain to serve God;' and 'What profit is it that we have followed his instructions, and that we have walked mournfully before Yahweh of Armies?3:15Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt God, and escape.'3:16Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name.3:17They shall be mine," says Yahweh of Armies, "my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.3:18Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him.
4:1"For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day that comes will burn them up," says Yahweh of Armies, "that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.4:2But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall.4:3You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make," says Yahweh of Armies.
4:4"Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.4:5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.4:6He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
1:1The book of the genealogy of JesusChrist, the son of David, the son of Abraham.1:2Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.1:3Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.1:4Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.1:5Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.1:6Jesse became the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.1:7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.1:8Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.1:9Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.1:10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.1:11Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon.1:12After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.1:13Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.1:14Azor became the father of Sadoc. Sadoc became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.1:15Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.1:16Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was bornJesus, who is called Christ.1:17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
1:18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.1:19Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.1:20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.1:21She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins."
1:22Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
1:24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;1:25and didn't know her sexually until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
2:1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold,wise menfrom the east came to Jerusalem, saying,2:2"Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him."2:3When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.2:4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.2:5They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet,
2:7Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.2:8He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."
2:9They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.2:10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.2:11They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.2:12Being warned in a dream that they shouldn't return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
2:13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."
2:14He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,2:15and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called my son."*
2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.2:17Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
2:19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,2:20"Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child's life are dead."
2:21He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.2:22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,2:23and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
3:1In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,3:2"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"3:3For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
3:4Now John himself wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.3:5Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.3:6They werebaptizedby him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for hisbaptism,he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?3:8Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!3:9Don't think to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
3:10"Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.3:11I indeedbaptizeyou in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.*3:12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."
3:13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.3:14But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"
3:15But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.3:16Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
4:1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.4:2When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.4:3The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
4:4But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"*
4:5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,4:6and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will put his angels in charge of you.' and,
4:7Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God.'"*
4:8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.4:9He said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me."
4:10Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind me,Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'"*
4:11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.4:12Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.4:13Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,4:14that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
4:17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
4:18Walking by the sea of Galilee,hesaw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.4:19He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men."
4:20They immediately left their nets and followed him.4:21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.4:22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
4:23Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.4:24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.4:25Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
5:1Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.5:2He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
5:11"Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.5:12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
5:13"You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.5:14You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden.5:15Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.5:16Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
5:17"Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill.5:18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even onesmallest letteror onetiny pen strokeshall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.5:19Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.5:20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
5:21"You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder;'*and 'Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.'5:22But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brotherwithout a causeshall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire ofGehenna.
5:23"If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,5:24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.5:25Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.5:26Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the lastpenny.
5:27"You have heard that it was said,*'You shall not commit adultery;'*5:28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.5:29If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast intoGehenna.5:30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast intoGehenna.
5:31"It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'*5:32but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
5:33"Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,'5:34but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;5:35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.5:36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black.5:37But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
5:38"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'*5:39But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.5:40If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.5:41Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.5:42Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
5:43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,*and hate your enemy.*'5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,5:45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.5:46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?5:47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?5:48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
6:1"Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.6:2Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.6:3But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,6:4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
6:5"When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.6:6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.6:7In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.6:8Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.6:9Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.6:10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.6:11Give us today our daily bread.6:12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.6:13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.'
6:14"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.6:15But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
6:16"Moreover when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.6:17But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;6:18so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
6:19"Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;6:20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal;6:21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
6:22"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.6:23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
6:24"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon.6:25Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing?6:26See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?
6:27"Which of you, by being anxious, can add onemomentto his lifespan?6:28Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin,6:29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.6:30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
6:31"Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'6:32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.6:33But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.6:34Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.
7:1"Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.7:2For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.7:3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?7:4Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye?7:5You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.
7:6"Don't give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
7:7"Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.7:8For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.7:9Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?7:10Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?7:11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!7:12Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
7:13"Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.7:14Hownarrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.
7:15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.7:16By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?7:17Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.7:18A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.7:19Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.7:20Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.7:21Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.7:22Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?'7:23Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'
7:24"Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.7:25The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock.7:26Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.7:27The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."
7:28It happened, when Jesus had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,7:29for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.
8:1When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.8:2Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean."
8:3Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be made clean." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.8:4Jesus said to him, "See that you tell nobody, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
8:5When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him,8:6and saying, "Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented."
8:7Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
8:8The centurion answered, "Lord, I'm not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.8:9For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and tell another, 'Come,' and he comes; and tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
8:10When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Most certainly I tell you, I haven't found so great a faith, not even in Israel.8:11I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,8:12but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."8:13Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed." His servant was healed in that hour.
8:14When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever.8:15He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and servedhim.8:16When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;8:17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases."*8:18Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side.
8:19A scribe came, and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
8:20Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
8:21Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."
8:22But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."
8:23When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him.8:24Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep.8:25They came to him, and woke him up, saying, "Save us, Lord! We are dying!"
8:26He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.
8:27The men marveled, saying, "What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
8:28When he came to the other side, into the country of theGergesenes,two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.8:29Behold, they cried out, saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"8:30Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them.8:31The demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of pigs."
8:32He said to them, "Go!"
They came out, and went into the herd of pigs: and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea, and died in the water.8:33Those who fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons.8:34Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.
9:1He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.9:2Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you."
9:3Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man blasphemes."
9:4Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?9:5For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Get up, and walk?'9:6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." (then he said to the paralytic), "Get up, and take up your mat, and go up to your house."
9:7He arose and departed to his house.9:8But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
9:9As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, "Follow me." He got up and followed him.9:10It happened as he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.9:11When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
9:12When Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.9:13But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'*for I came not to call the righteous, but sinnersto repentance."
9:14Then John's disciples came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?"
9:15Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.9:16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.9:17Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."
9:18While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."
9:19Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.9:20Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched thefringeof his garment;9:21for she said within herself, "If I just touch his garment, I will be made well."
9:22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
9:23When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd in noisy disorder,9:24he said to them, "Make room, because the girl isn't dead, but sleeping."
They were ridiculing him.9:25But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.9:26The report of this went out into all that land.9:27As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, "Have mercy on us, son of David!"
9:28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
They told him, "Yes, Lord."
9:29Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."9:30Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, "See that no one knows about this."9:31But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
9:32As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.9:33When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!"
9:34But the Pharisees said, "By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons."
9:35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they wereharassedand scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.9:37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.9:38Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest."
10:1He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.10:2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother;10:3Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus;Lebbaeus, whose surname wasThaddaeus;10:4Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
10:5Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, "Don't go among the Gentiles, and don't enter into any city of the Samaritans.10:6Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.10:7As you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!'10:8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers*, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.10:9Don't take any gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money belts.10:10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.10:11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on.10:12As you enter into the household, greet it.10:13If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn't worthy, let your peace return to you.10:14Whoever doesn't receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.10:15Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
10:16"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.10:17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.10:18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.10:19But when they deliver you up, don't be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.10:20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
10:21"Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.10:22You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
10:24"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!10:26Therefore don't be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.10:27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.10:28Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body inGehenna.
10:29"Aren't two sparrows sold for anassarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will,10:30but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.10:31Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.10:32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.10:33But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
10:34"Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword.10:35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.10:36A man's foes will be those of his own household.*10:37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me.10:38He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me.10:39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.10:40He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.10:41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward: and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.10:42Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward."
11:1It happened that when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.11:2Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples11:3and said to him, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?"
11:4Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:11:5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,*the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.*11:6Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me."
11:7As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?11:8But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.11:9But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.11:10For this is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'*11:11Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.11:12From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violenttake it by force.11:13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.11:14If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.11:15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
11:16"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions11:17and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament.'11:18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by herchildren."
11:20Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't repent.11:21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.11:22But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.11:23You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down toHades.For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.11:24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you."
11:25At that time, Jesus answered, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.11:26Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.11:27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
11:28"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.11:30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
12:1At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.12:2But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, "Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."
12:3But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;12:4how he entered into the house of God, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests?*12:5Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?12:6But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.12:7But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'*you would not have condemned the guiltless.12:8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
12:9He departed there, and went into their synagogue.12:10And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?" that they might accuse him.
12:11He said to them, "What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won't he grab on to it, and lift it out?12:12Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day."12:13Then he told the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other.12:14But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.12:15Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,12:16and commanded them that they should not make him known:12:17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
12:22Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.12:23All the multitudes were amazed, and said, "Can this be the son of David?"12:24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons."
12:25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.12:26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?12:27If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.12:28But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.12:29Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.
12:30"He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather with me, scatters.12:31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.12:32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
12:33"Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.12:34You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.12:35The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure*brings out evil things.12:36I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.12:37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
12:38Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
12:39But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.12:40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.12:41The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.12:42The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.12:43But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn't find it.12:44Then he says, 'I will return into my house from which I came out,' and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.12:45Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation."
12:46While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.12:47One said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you."
12:48But he answered him who spoke to him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"12:49He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers!12:50For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother."