The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5–15)
1 DBY And it came to pass as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples. BSB BSB: One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 DBY And he said to them, When ye pray, say, Father, thy name be hallowed; thy kingdom come; BSB BSB: So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
3 DBY give us our needed bread for each day; BSB BSB: Give us each day our daily bread.
4 DBY and remit us our sins, for we also remit to every one indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation. BSB BSB: And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7–12)
5 DBY And he said to them, Who among you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, let me have three loaves, BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
6 DBY since a friend of mine on a journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him; BSB BSB: because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’
7 DBY and he within answering should say, Do not disturb me; the door is already shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise up to give it thee? BSB BSB: And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’
8 DBY — I say to you, Although he will not get up and give them to him because he is his friend, because of his shamelessness, at any rate, he will rise and give him as many as he wants. BSB BSB: I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 DBY And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. BSB BSB: So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
10 DBY For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it will be opened. BSB BSB: For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 DBY But of whom of you that is a father shall a son ask bread, and the father shall give him a stone? or also a fish, and instead of a fish shall give him a serpent? BSB BSB: What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12 DBY or if also he shall ask an egg, shall give him a scorpion? BSB BSB: Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 DBY If therefore ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much rather shall the Father who is of heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? BSB BSB: So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
A House Divided (Matthew 12:22–30; Mark 3:20–27)
14 DBY And he was casting out a demon, and it was dumb; and it came to pass, the demon being gone out, the dumb man spoke. And the crowds wondered. BSB BSB: One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,
15 DBY But some from among them said, By Beelzebub the prince of the demons casts he out demons. BSB BSB: but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
16 DBY And others tempting him sought from him a sign out of heaven. BSB BSB: And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
17 DBY But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation: and a house set against a house falls; BSB BSB: Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.
18 DBY and if also Satan is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom subsist? because ye say that I cast out demons by Beelzebub. BSB BSB: If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
19 DBY But if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, your sons — by whom do they cast them out? For this reason they shall be your judges. BSB BSB: And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
21 DBY When the strong man armed keeps his own house, his goods are in peace; BSB BSB: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
22 DBY but when the stronger than he coming upon him overcomes him, he takes away his panoply in which he trusted, and he will divide the spoil he has taken from him. BSB BSB: But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.
23 DBY He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters. BSB BSB: He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
An Unclean Spirit Returns (Matthew 12:43–45)
24 DBY When the unclean spirit has gone out of the man, he goes through dry places seeking rest; and not finding any he says, I will return to my house whence I came out. BSB BSB: When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’
25 DBY And having come, he finds it swept and adorned. BSB BSB: On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26 DBY Then he goes and takes seven other spirits worse than himself, and entering in, they dwell there; and the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. BSB BSB: Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”
True Blessedness 27 DBY And it came to pass as he spake these things, a certain woman, lifting up her voice out of the crowd, said to him, Blessed is the womb that has borne thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. BSB BSB: As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”
28 DBY But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it . BSB BSB: But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
The Sign of Jonah (Jonah 3:1–10; Matthew 12:38–42)
29 DBY But as the crowds thronged together, he began to say, This generation is a wicked generation: it seeks a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it but the sign of Jonas. BSB BSB: As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
30 DBY For as Jonas was a sign to the Ninevites, thus shall also the Son of man be to this generation. BSB BSB: For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.
31 DBY A queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, more than Solomon is here. BSB BSB: The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
32 DBY Men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold, more than Jonas is here. BSB BSB: The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body (Matthew 6:22–24)
33 DBY But no one having lit a lamp sets it in secret, nor under the corn-measure, but on the lamp-stand, that they who enter in may see the light. BSB BSB: No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.
34 DBY The lamp of the body is thine eye: when thine eye is simple, thy whole body also is light; but when it is wicked, thy body also is dark. BSB BSB: Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.
35 DBY See therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. BSB BSB: Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
36 DBY If therefore thy whole body is light, not having any part dark, it shall be all light as when the lamp lights thee with its brightness. BSB BSB: So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”
Woes to Pharisees and Experts in the Law (Matthew 23:1–36)
37 DBY But as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him that he would dine with him; and entering in he placed himself at table. BSB BSB: As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.
38 DBY But the Pharisee seeing it wondered that he had not first washed before dinner. BSB BSB: But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39 DBY But the Lord said to him, Now do ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inward parts are full of plunder and wickedness. BSB BSB: Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
40 DBY Fools, has not he who has made the outside made the inside also? BSB BSB: You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?
41 DBY But rather give alms of what ye have, and behold, all things are clean to you. BSB BSB: But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
42 DBY But woe unto you, Pharisees, for ye pay tithes of mint and rue and every herb, and pass by the judgment and the love of God: these ye ought to have done, and not have left those aside. BSB BSB: Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
43 DBY Woe unto you, Pharisees, for ye love the first seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market-places. BSB BSB: Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
44 DBY Woe unto you, for ye are as the sepulchres which appear not, and the men walking over them do not know it . BSB BSB: Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
45 DBY And one of the doctors of the law answering says to him, Teacher, in saying these things thou insultest us also. BSB BSB: One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”
46 DBY And he said, To you also woe, doctors of the law, for ye lay upon men burdens heavy to bear, and yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. BSB BSB: “Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “For you weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.
47 DBY Woe unto you, for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, but your fathers killed them. BSB BSB: Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.
48 DBY Ye bear witness then, and consent to the works of your fathers; for they killed them, and ye build their sepulchres . BSB BSB: So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.
49 DBY For this reason also the wisdom of God has said, I will send to them prophets and apostles, and of these shall they kill and drive out by persecution, BSB BSB: Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
50 DBY that the blood of all the prophets which has been poured out from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, BSB BSB: As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,
51 DBY from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the house; yea, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. BSB BSB: from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
52 DBY Woe unto you, the doctors of the law, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge; yourselves have not entered in, and those who were entering in ye have hindered. BSB BSB: Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
53 DBY And as he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him urgently, and to make him speak of many things; BSB BSB: As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
54 DBY watching him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him . BSB BSB: waiting to catch Him in something He might say.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.