The Sermon on the Mount 1 WBS And seeing the multitudes, he ascended a mountain: and when he was seated, 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 WBS And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, BSB BSB: and He began to teach them, saying:
The Beatitudes (Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)
3 WBS Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. BSB BSB: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 WBS Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 WBS Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. BSB BSB: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 WBS Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 WBS Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. BSB BSB: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 WBS Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. BSB BSB: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
10 WBS Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 WBS Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you , and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, 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 WBS Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so 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 WBS Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt hath lost its savor, with what shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, 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 WBS Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. BSB BSB: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 WBS Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a close vessel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light to all that 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 WBS Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 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 WBS For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 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 WBS Whoever 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 whoever shall do, and teach them , the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 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 WBS For I say to 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. 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 WBS Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whoever shall kill, shall be in danger of 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 WBS But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-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 WBS Therefore if thou shalt bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath aught 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 WBS Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first 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 WBS Agree with thy adversary quickly, while 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. 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 WBS Verily, I say to thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost 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 WBS Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: BSB BSB: You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
28 WBS But I say to you, That whoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already 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 WBS And if thy right eye shall cause thee to sin, 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. 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 WBS And if thy right hand shall cause thee to sin, 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. 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 WBS It hath been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: BSB BSB: It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 WBS But I say to you, That whoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of lewdness, causeth her to commit adultery: and whoever shall marry her that is divorced, committeth 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 WBS Again, ye have heard that it hath been said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform to the Lord thy oaths: 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 WBS But I say to you, Swear not at all: neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: BSB BSB: But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 WBS Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for 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 WBS 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 WBS But let your communication be, Yea, yea, Nay, nay: for whatever is more than these cometh of 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 WBS But I say to you, That ye resist not evil: but whoever shall strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 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 WBS And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. BSB BSB: if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
41 WBS And whoever shall constrain 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 WBS Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou 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 WBS For if ye love them who love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans 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 WBS And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so? BSB BSB: And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
48 WBS Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. BSB BSB: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.