The Sermon on the Mount 1 DBY But seeing the crowds, he went up into the mountain, and having sat down, his disciples came to him; BSB BSB: When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
2 DBY and, having opened his mouth, he taught them, saying, BSB BSB: and He began to teach them, saying:
The Beatitudes (Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)
3 DBY Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. BSB BSB: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 DBY Blessed they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 DBY Blessed the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. BSB BSB: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 DBY Blessed they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 DBY Blessed the merciful, for they shall find mercy. BSB BSB: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 DBY Blessed the pure in heart, for they shall see God. BSB BSB: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
10 DBY Blessed they who are persecuted on account of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 DBY Blessed are ye when they may reproach and persecute you, and say every wicked thing against you, lying, for my sake. BSB BSB: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 DBY Rejoice and exult, for your reward is great in the heavens; for thus have they persecuted the prophets who were before you. BSB BSB: Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
Salt and Light (Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34–35; Philippians 2:12–18)
13 DBY Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have become insipid, wherewith shall it be salted? It is no longer fit for anything but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot by men. BSB BSB: 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.
14 DBY Ye are the light of the world: a city situated on the top of a mountain cannot be hid. BSB BSB: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 DBY Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but upon the lamp-stand, and it shines for all who are in the house. BSB BSB: 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.
16 DBY Let your light thus shine before men, so that they may see your upright works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens. BSB BSB: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Fulfillment of the Law 18 DBY For verily I say unto you, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all come to pass. BSB BSB: 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.
19 DBY Whosoever then shall do away with one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whosoever shall practise and teach them , he shall be called great in the kingdom of the heavens. BSB BSB: 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.
20 DBY For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of the heavens. BSB BSB: For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Anger and Reconciliation (Luke 12:57–59)
21 DBY Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill; but whosoever shall kill shall be subject to the judgment. BSB BSB: You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
22 DBY But I say unto you, that every one that is lightly angry with his brother shall be subject to the judgment; but whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be subject to be called before the sanhedrim; but whosoever shall say, Fool, shall be subject to the penalty of the hell of fire. BSB BSB: 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.
23 DBY If therefore thou shouldest offer thy gift at the altar, and there shouldest remember that thy brother has something against thee, BSB BSB: So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 DBY leave there thy gift before the altar, and first go, be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. BSB BSB: leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25 DBY Make friends with thine adverse party quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him; lest some time the adverse party deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. BSB BSB: 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.
26 DBY Verily I say to thee, Thou shalt in no wise come out thence till thou hast paid the last farthing. BSB BSB: Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Adultery (Leviticus 18:1–30)
27 DBY Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt not commit adultery. BSB BSB: You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
28 DBY But I say unto you, that every one who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. BSB BSB: But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 DBY But if thy right eye be a snare to thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. BSB BSB: 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.
30 DBY And if thy right hand be a snare to thee, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. BSB BSB: 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.
Divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1–5; Luke 16:18)
31 DBY It has been said too, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a letter of divorce. BSB BSB: It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 DBY But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for cause of fornication, makes her commit adultery, and whosoever marries one that is put away commits adultery. BSB BSB: 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.
Oaths and Vows (Numbers 30:1–16)
33 DBY Again, ye have heard that it has been said to the ancients, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt render to the Lord what thou hast sworn. BSB BSB: Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
34 DBY But I say unto you, Do not swear at all; neither by the heaven, because it is the throne of God; BSB BSB: But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 DBY nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. BSB BSB: or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 DBY Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. BSB BSB: Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
37 DBY But let your word be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; but what is more than these is from evil. BSB BSB: Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Love Your Enemies (Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)
39 DBY But I say unto you, not to resist evil; but whoever shall strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other; BSB BSB: But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
40 DBY and to him that would go to law with thee and take thy body coat, leave him thy cloak also. BSB BSB: if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
41 DBY And whoever will compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. BSB BSB: and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42 DBY To him that asks of thee give, and from him that desires to borrow of thee turn not away. BSB BSB: Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
46 DBY For if ye should love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the tax-gatherers the same? BSB BSB: If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
47 DBY And if ye should salute your brethren only, what do ye extraordinary? Do not also the Gentiles the same? BSB BSB: And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
48 DBY Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. BSB BSB: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.