Matthew 5Matthew5

Bible in Basic EnglishBerean Standard Bible

1. The Sermon on the Mount

2. 1BBEAnd seeing great masses of people he went up into the mountain; and when he was seated his disciples came to him.BSBBSB: When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
3. 2BBEAnd with these words he gave them teaching, saying,BSBBSB: and He began to teach them, saying:

4. The Beatitudes

   (Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)

5. 3BBEHappy are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.BSBBSB: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
6. 4BBEHappy are those who are sad: for they will be comforted.BSBBSB: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
7. 5BBEHappy are the gentle: for the earth will be their heritage.BSBBSB: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
8. 6BBEHappy are those whose heart's desire is for righteousness: for they will have their desire.BSBBSB: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
9. 7BBEHappy are those who have mercy: for they will be given mercy.BSBBSB: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
10. 8BBEHappy are the clean in heart: for they will see God.BSBBSB: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
11. 9BBEHappy are the peacemakers: for they will be named sons of God.BSBBSB: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
12. 10BBEHappy are those who are attacked on account of righteousness: for the kingdom of heaven will be theirs.BSBBSB: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
13. 11BBEHappy are you when men give you a bad name, and are cruel to you, and say all evil things against you falsely, because of me.BSBBSB: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
14. 12BBEBe glad and full of joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so were the prophets attacked who were before you.BSBBSB: Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

15. Salt and Light

    (Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34–35; Philippians 2:12–18)

16. 13BBEYou are the salt of the earth; but if its taste goes from the salt, how will you make it salt again? it is then good for nothing but to be put out and crushed under foot by men.BSBBSB: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
17. 14BBEYou are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all.BSBBSB: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
18. 15BBEAnd a burning light is not put under a vessel, but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house.BSBBSB: Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
19. 16BBEEven so let your light be shining before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.BSBBSB: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

20. The Fulfillment of the Law

21. 17BBELet there be no thought that I have come to put an end to the law or the prophets. I have not come for destruction, but to make complete.BSBBSB: 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.
22. 18BBETruly I say to you, Till heaven and earth come to an end, not the smallest letter or part of a letter will in any way be taken from the law, till all things are done.BSBBSB: For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
23. 19BBEWhoever then goes against the smallest of these laws, teaching men to do the same, will be named least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who keeps the laws, teaching others to keep them, will be named great in the kingdom of heaven.BSBBSB: So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
24. 20BBEFor I say to you, If your righteousness is not greater than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never go into the kingdom of heaven.BSBBSB: For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

25. Anger and Reconciliation

    (Luke 12:57–59)

26. 21BBEYou have knowledge that it was said in old times, You may not put to death; and, Whoever puts to death will be in danger of being judged:BSBBSB: You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
27. 22BBEBut I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be in danger of being judged; and he who says to his brother, Raca, will be in danger from the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, You foolish one, will be in danger of the hell of fire.BSBBSB: But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
28. 23BBEIf then you are making an offering at the altar and there it comes to your mind that your brother has something against you,BSBBSB: So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
29. 24BBEWhile your offering is still before the altar, first go and make peace with your brother, then come and make your offering.BSBBSB: leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
30. 25BBECome to an agreement quickly with him who has a cause against you at law, while you are with him on the way, for fear that he may give you up to the judge and the judge may give you to the police and you may be put into prison.BSBBSB: Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
31. 26BBETruly I say to you, You will not come out from there till you have made payment of the very last farthing.BSBBSB: Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

32. Adultery

    (Leviticus 18:1–30)

33. 27BBEYou have knowledge that it was said, You may not have connection with another man's wife:BSBBSB: You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
34. 28BBEBut I say to you that everyone whose eyes are turned on a woman with desire has had connection with her in his heart.BSBBSB: But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
35. 29BBEAnd if your right eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out and put it away from you; because it is better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go into hell.BSBBSB: If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
36. 30BBEAnd if your right hand is a cause of trouble to you, let it be cut off and put it away from you; because it is better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go into hell.BSBBSB: And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.

37. Divorce

    (Deuteronomy 24:1–5; Luke 16:18)

38. 31BBEAgain, it was said, Whoever puts away his wife has to give her a statement in writing for this purpose:BSBBSB: It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
39. 32BBEBut I say to you that everyone who puts away his wife for any other cause but the loss of her virtue, makes her false to her husband; and whoever takes her as his wife after she is put away, is no true husband to her.BSBBSB: But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

40. Oaths and Vows

    (Numbers 30:1–16)

41. 33BBEAgain, you have knowledge that it was said in old times, Do not take false oaths, but give effect to your oaths to the Lord:BSBBSB: Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
42. 34BBEBut I say to you, Take no oaths at all: not by the heaven, because it is the seat of God;BSBBSB: But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
43. 35BBEOr by the earth, because it is the resting-place for his foot; or by Jerusalem, because it is the town of the great King.BSBBSB: or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
44. 36BBEYou may not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.BSBBSB: Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
45. 37BBEBut let your words be simply, Yes or No: and whatever is more than these is of the Evil One.BSBBSB: Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

46. Love Your Enemies

    (Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)

47. 38BBEYou have knowledge that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:BSBBSB: You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
48. 39BBEBut I say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned.BSBBSB: But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
49. 40BBEAnd if any man goes to law with you and takes away your coat, do not keep back your robe from him.BSBBSB: if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
50. 41BBEAnd whoever makes you go one mile, go with him two.BSBBSB: and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
51. 42BBEGive to him who comes with a request, and keep not your property from him who would for a time make use of it.BSBBSB: Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
52. 43BBEYou have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you:BSBBSB: You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’
53. 44BBEBut I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you;BSBBSB: But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
54. 45BBESo that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner.BSBBSB: that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
55. 46BBEFor if you have love for those who have love for you, what credit is it to you? do not the tax-farmers the same?BSBBSB: If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
56. 47BBEAnd if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?BSBBSB: And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
57. 48BBEBe then complete in righteousness, even as your Father in heaven is complete.BSBBSB: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.