A New Translation of

The Gospel

according to

Matthew

Based on the Westcott and Hort Text of 1881 with references to the Papyrus fragments of the Chester Beatty collections, c. 3^rd Century A.D. and the Sinaitic Manuscript of the 4^th Century.

Some notes on this translation:

Thou vs. YOU: Many people today have a hard time understanding the Elizabethan usage of thou, thee, thy, etc. For this reason, we have chosen to avoid this archaic language. At the same time, we need to be able to fulfill the purpose of those words, which was to distinguish between a singular you and a plural YOU. Following the example of other translations, we have used all capital letters to indicate plural (more than one person addressed), and small letters to indicate singular (one person addressed).

Words in italics: Following the example of other translations, we have used italics for words that are not in the original text, but which are essential to the sense of the original when translated into English. Unlike other translations, however, we have NOT added words which alter the meaning of the original.

Words in (parentheses): These are not part of the biblical text, but are notes of explanation from the translator.

Man and Woman vs. Husband and Wife: Greek has no specific words for husband or wife, but uses the words man and woman, as do many other languages. We have translated the words man and woman as such, but in proper context, the readers should understand them to mean husband and wife.

Perfect vs. Complete: Many English versions use the word “perfect” both as a verb and as an adjective, to translate a particular Greek root. We have also used it occasionally, but it should be understood as perfect in the sense of “complete” and not in the sense of “without flaw.”

Matthew 1

1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.

2 Abraham begot Isaac; and Isaac begot Jacob; and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers;

3 and Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar; and Perez begot Hezron; and Hezron begot Ram;

4 and Ram begot Amminadab; and Amminadab begot Nahshon; and Nahshon begot Salmon;

5 and Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab; and Boaz begot Obed by Ruth; and Obed begot Jesse;

6 and Jesse begot David the king. And David begot Solomon by the woman of Uriah;

7 and Solomon begot Rehoboam; and Rehoboam begot Abijah; and Abijah begot Asa;

8 and Asa begot Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat begot Jehoram; and Jehoram begot Uzziah;

9 and Uzziah begot Jotham; and Jotham begot Ahaz; and Ahaz begot Hezekiah;

10 and Hezekiah begot Manasseh; and Manasseh begot Amon; and Amon begot Josiah;

11 and Josiah begot Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon, Jechoniah begot Shealtiel; and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel;

13 and Zerubbabel begot Abiud; and Abiud begot Eliakim; and Eliakim begot Azor;

14 and Azor begot Zadoc; and Zadoc begot Achim; and Achim begot Eliud;

15 and Eliud begot Eleazar; and Eleazar begot Matthan; and Matthan begot Jacob;

16 and Jacob begot Joseph, the man of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham until David: fourteen generations; and from David until the deportation to Babylon: fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon until the Christ: fourteen generations.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: When his mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

19 But Joseph her man, being righteous, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to divorce her secretly.

20 But as he thought these things, look: an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, you should not be afraid to take Mary your woman: for what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21 And she’ll give birth to a son; and you will call his name Jesus; for he will save his people from their sins.’

22 But all this happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,

23 ‘Look, the virgin will be pregnant, and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Immanuel; which is, being translated, God with us.’

24 And Joseph, having been awakened from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord directed him, and took his woman,

25 and did not know her until she gave birth to a son: and he called his name Jesus.

Matthew 2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, look, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

2 ‘Where is the one born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.’

3 But when King Herod heard it, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And having gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea: for it was written by the prophet like this:

6 ‘And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the governors of Judah: for out of you will come forth a Governor, who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod, having secretly called the magi, ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearing.

8 And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, ‘Go and search carefully about the child; but when YOU find him, report back to me, so that I might come and worship him too.’

9 And they, having heard the king, went their way; and look, the star which they saw in the east went ahead of them, until it came and stood over where the child was.

10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11 And having come into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered to him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And having been divinely warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their country by another way.

13 But when they had departed, look, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Get up and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I tell you: for Herod is going to look for the child to destroy him.’

14 And he arose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,

15 and was there until the death of Herod: so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ‘I called my son out of Egypt.’

16 Then Herod, having seen that he was mocked by the magi, was greatly enraged, and sent, and did away with all the boys who were in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi.

17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lamentation: Rachel weeping for her children; and she was unwilling to be comforted, because they are no more.’

19 But when Herod was dead, look, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,

20 ‘Get up and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for those seeking the child's life are dead.’

21 And he got up and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But having heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; but being divinely warned in a dream, he departed into the parts of Galilee,

23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, that ‘he will be called a Nazarene.’

Matthew 3

1 And in those days John the Baptist comes preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

2 ‘Repent; for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.’

3 For this is the one spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!’

4 Now John himself had his clothing from camel's hair, and a leather belt about his hips; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him;

6 and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

7 But having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the baptism, he said to them, “Offspring of vipers! Who warned YOU to flee from the coming wrath?

8 Then produce fruit worthy of repentance:

9 and don’t presume to say in YOURSELVES, ‘We have Abraham our father,’ for I’m telling YOU that God is able to raise up children for Abraham out of these stones.

10 And the axe is already lying at the root of the trees: so every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and is thrown into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize YOU with water into repentance: but the one coming after me is stronger than I, whose sandals I’m not worthy to carry: he will baptize YOU with the Holy Spirit and fire:

12 whose winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will completely clean his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the granary, but he will burn up the chaff with inextinguishable fire.”

13 Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

14 But he was preventing him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by you, and you’re coming to me?’

15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, ‘Let it go for now: for it’s proper for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.’ Then he allowed him.

16 And Jesus, having been baptized, came up immediately from the water: and look, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending, as if a dove, and coming upon him;

17 and look, a voice out of the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’

Matthew 4

1 Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit, to be tempted by the devil.

2 And having fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.

3 And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you’re the Son of God, say that these stones should become bread.’

4 But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil takes him into the holy city; and he placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,

6 and he says to him, “If you’re the Son of God, throw yourself down: for it is written, ‘He will give his angels a charge concerning you, and they will lift you up with their hands, so that you never stub your foot on a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You will not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil takes him onto an extremely high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,

9 and said unto him, ‘I will give you all these, if you will fall down and worship me.’

10 Then Jesus says to him, “Go away, Satan: for it is written, ‘You will worship the Lord your God, and you will serve only him.’”

11 Then the devil leaves him; and look, angels came and were ministering to him.

12 But having heard that John was arrested, he withdrew into Galilee;

13 and leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali:

14 so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,

15 ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, on the road to the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the nations,

16 the people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those sitting in the region and shadow of death, to them light rose up.’

17 From then Jesus started preaching, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.’

18 And walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

19 And he says to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make YOU fishers of men.’

20 And they immediately left the nets, and followed him.

21 And having gone on from there, he saw two other brothers, James (Jacob) the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, repairing their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.

23 And Jesus went around the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

24 And the report of him went out into the whole of Syria: and they brought to him all who were ill, being afflicted with various diseases and torments, demons-possessed, and epileptic, and paralyzed; and he healed them.

25 And great crowds from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and across the Jordan followed him.

Matthew 5

1 But having seen the crowds, he went up into the mountain: and having sat down, his disciples came to him:

2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4 Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the humble: for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they will obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are YOU when they berate YOU, and persecute YOU, and lying, say every evil thing against YOU, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and jump for joy: for YOUR reward in heaven is great: for so they persecuted the prophets who were before YOU.

13 YOU are the salt of the earth: but if the salt should become dull, how will it be made salty? It’s no longer strong enough for anything, but to be thrown outside and trampled on by men.

14 YOU are the light of the world. A city situated on top of a mountain cannot be hidden.

15 Neither do they light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, but on the lamp stand; and it shines to all those in the house.

16 Let YOUR light shine like that before men, so that they might see YOUR good works, and glorify YOUR Father who is in heaven.

17 YOU shouldn’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.

18 For amen I am saying to YOU, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall by any means pass away from the law, until all things take place. (Jot: “yod” – the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Tittle: tiny embellishments on some Hebrew letters)

19 Therefore, whoever should break one of these least commandments, and should teach men to do so, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever should do and teach them, this one will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I’m telling YOU that unless YOUR righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, YOU will by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 YOU heard that it was said to the ancients, You shall not kill; and whoever does kill will be subject to the judgment:

22 but I’m telling YOU that every one who is angry with his brother shall be subject to the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, Raca, shall be subject to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, Fool, will be subject to the Gehenna of fire. (Raca: from Aramaic & Hebrew “reikah” – “empty” implying vain or empty-headed. Gehenna: place of unrighteous dead, from Hebrew Gei-Hinnom, the Valley of Hinnom, where infants were burned alive to the god Molech.)

23 So if you’re bringing your gift to the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your gift there in front of the altar, and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25 Reconcile with your adversary quickly, while you’re with him in the way; so that the adversary doesn’t hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

26 Amen I’m telling you, you will by no means come out of there, until you have paid the last cent. (literally, “kodhrantis” – a coin of little value)

27 YOU heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery:

28 but I’m telling YOU, that every one looking at a woman for the purpose of desiring her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29 But if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and throw it away from you: for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body be thrown into Gehenna.

30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you: for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body go into Gehenna.

31 And it was said, Whoever would divorce his woman, let him give her a divorce decree,

32 but I’m telling YOU, that every one divorcing his woman, unless because of fornication, is making her commit adultery: and whoever marries her when she is divorced, commits adultery.

33 Again, YOU heard that it was said to the ancients, You shall not swear falsely, but you will repay your oaths to the Lord:

34 but I’m telling YOU, don’t swear at all; neither by the heaven, because it is God’s throne,

35 nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

36 Nor should you swear by your head, because you can’t not make one hair white or black.

37 But let YOUR word ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and YOUR ‘no,’ ‘no,’ but anything more than these is from the evil one.

38 YOU heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 but I’m telling YOU not to resist the evil person: but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40 And if any one wants to take you to court to take your shirt, let him have your coat, too.

41 And whoever will compel you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to the one asking you, and don’t turn away from the one wanting to borrow from you.

43 YOU heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor, and you shall hate your enemy:

44 but I’m telling YOU, love YOUR enemies, and pray for those persecuting YOU,

45 so that YOU might be sons of YOUR Father who is in heaven: because he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46 For if YOU love those who love YOU, what reward do YOU have? Aren’t the tax collectors also doing the same thing?

47 And if YOU only greet YOUR brethren, what great thing are YOU doing? Aren’t the nations also doing the same?

48 So YOU will be perfect, as YOUR heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 6

1 But be careful not to do YOUR righteousness in front of men, to be seen by them: otherwise YOU have no reward from YOUR Father who is in heaven.

2 So when you make gifts of charity, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they might be glorified by men. Amen I’m telling YOU, they have their reward in full.

3 But when you make gifts of charity, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing:

4 so that your gifts of charity may be in secret: and your Father who sees in secret will give back to you.

5 And when YOU pray, don’t be like the hypocrites: because they like to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, so that they might be seen by men. Amen I’m telling YOU, they have their reward in full.

6 But you, when you pray, go into your private room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will give back to you.

7 But when praying, don’t repeat the same words over and over, as the nations do: for they think that by their many words they will be heard.

8 So don’t be like them: for God YOUR Father knows what things YOU have need of, before YOU ask him.

9 So YOU pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, let your name be sanctified.

10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And don’t bring us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

14 For if YOU forgive men their trespasses, YOUR heavenly Father will also forgive YOU.

15 But if YOU don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will YOUR Father forgive YOUR trespasses.

16 But when YOU fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites: for they disfigure their faces, so that they might appear to be fasting to men. Amen I’m telling YOU, they have their reward in full.

17 But you, when fasting, anoint your head, and wash your face;

18 so that you don’t appear to be fasting to men, but to your Father who is in secret: and your Father, who sees in secret, will give back to you.

19 Don’t store up treasures for YOURSELVES on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal:

20 but store up treasures for YOURSELVES in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves don’t break in or steal:

21 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The lamp of the body is the eye: So if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great that darkness is!

24 No one can serve two lords; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. YOU cannot serve God and money. (literally “mammon” from an Aramaic word that signifies riches.)

25 Therefore I’m telling YOU, don’t be anxious about YOUR life, what YOU will eat, or what YOU will drink; nor about YOUR body, what YOU will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the heaven, that they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns; and YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t YOU more valuable than they?

27 But which of YOU can add one cubit to his height by being anxious?

28 And why are YOU anxious about clothing? Notice the lilies of the field, how they grow; they don’t work hard, nor do they spin:

29 but I’m telling YOU that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.

30 But if God clothes the grass of the field like this, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe YOU, YOU of little faith?

31 So don’t be anxious, saying, What will we eat? or, What will we drink? or, What will we wear?

32 For the nations crave all these things; for YOUR heavenly Father knows that YOU have need of all these things.

33 But YOU seek his kingdom and his righteousness first; and all these things will be added to YOU.

34 So don’t be anxious about tomorrow: for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own evil.

Matthew 7

1 Don’t judge, so that YOU won’t be judged.

2 For with what judgment YOU judge, YOU will be judged: and with what measure YOU measure, it will be measured to YOU.

3 But why are you looking at the twig that is in your brother's eye, but don’t notice the beam that is in your own eye?

4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me throw the twig out of your eye; and look, the beam is in your own eye?

5 Hypocrite! First throw the beam out of your own eye; and then will you see clearly to throw the twig out of your brother's eye.

6 Don’t give what is holy to the dogs, neither throw YOUR pearls in front of the hogs, so that they won’t trample them under their feet, and turn and tear YOU.

7 Ask, and it will be given to YOU; seek, and YOU will find; knock, and it will be opened to YOU:

8 for everyone who asks receives; and the one seeking finds; and to the one knocking it will be opened.

9 Or what man is there of YOU, who, if his son will ask him for bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he will ask for a fish, he will give him a snake?

11 So if YOU, 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 asking him?

12 All things therefore, whatever YOU would like that men would do to YOU, so also YOU do to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter through the narrow gate: because the road that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and there are many who enter through it.

14 Because the gate is narrow, and the road narrow, that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, who come to YOU in sheep's clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves.

16 YOU will recognize them from their fruits. Do people gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

17 So every good tree produces good fruit; but the rotten tree produces evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, neither can a rotten tree produce good fruit.

19 Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down, and is thrown into the fire.

20 So then YOU will recognize them from their fruits.

21 Not every one saying to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but the one doing the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?

23 And then will I profess to them, I never knew YOU: Get away from me, YOU who work iniquity.

24 So everyone who hears these words of mine, and does them, will be compared to a wise man, who built his house on the rock:

25 and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and rushed against that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 And everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them, will be compared to a foolish man, who built his house on the sand:

27 and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and surged against that house; and it fell: and its fall was great.’

28 And it happened that when Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching:

29 for he was teaching them like one having authority, and not like their scribes.

Matthew 8

1 And when he had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.

2 And look, a leper came to him and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’

3 And having stretched out his hand, he touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be made clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4 And Jesus says to him, ‘See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.’

5 And when he had entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, beseeching him,

6 and saying, ‘Sir, my boy is lying in the house paralyzed, tormented terribly.’

7 And he says to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’

8 But the centurion answered and said, ‘Sir, I’m not fit that you should enter under my roof; but only say a word, and my boy will be healed.

9 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under myself: and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my slave, Do this, and he does it.’

10 And when Jesus heard this, he admired him, and said to those following, ‘Amen I’m telling YOU, I haven’t found so much faith in anyone in Israel.

11 And I’m telling YOU that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down (literally, recline, as for a meal) with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven:

12 but the sons of the kingdom shall be thrown out into the outer darkness: the weeping and the gnashing of teeth will be there.

13 And Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go; as you believed, let it be for you.’ And the boy was healed in that hour.

14 And when Jesus had come into Peter's house, he saw his (Peter’s) mother-in-law lying there, burning with fever.

15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up, and served him.

16 And when evening had come, they brought to him many demons-possessed: and he threw out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill:

17 so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying: ‘He took our infirmities himself, and carried our diseases.’

18 But Jesus, having seen the crowd around him, commanded to go over to the other side.

19 And a scribe came over, and said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’

20 And Jesus says to him, ‘The foxes have burrows, and the birds of heaven nests; but the Son of man has no where to lay his head.’

21 And another of the disciples said to him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’

22 But Jesus says to him, ‘Follow me; and let the dead bury their own dead.’

23 And when he stepped into a boat, his disciples followed him.

24 And look, there was a great gale in the sea, so that the boat was covered by the waves: but he was sleeping.

25 And they came over and woke him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us; we’re being destroyed!’

26 And he says to them, ‘Why are YOU afraid, YOU with little faith?’ Then, having gotten up, he rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 And the men wondered, saying, ‘What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?’

28 And when he had come to the other side, into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him two possessed with demons, coming out of the tombs, extremely fierce, so that no one could pass by that way.

29 And look, they cried out, saying, ‘What do we have to with you, Son of God? Did you come here to torment us before the appointed time?’

30 Now there was a herd of many hogs feeding far off from them.

31 And the demons asked him, saying, ‘If you throw us out, send us into the herd of hogs.’

32 And he said to them, ‘Go.’ And they came out, and went into the hogs: and look, the whole herd rushed over the cliff into the sea, and died in the waters.

33 And those pasturing them fled, and went into the city, and told everything, and all about the demon-possessed ones.

34 And look, all the city came out to meet Jesus: and having seen him, they asked that he might depart from their borders.

Matthew 9

1 And having gotten into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.

2 And look, they were bringing to him a paralytic, lying on a bed: and Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, child; your sins are forgiven.’

3 And look, certain of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This one is blaspheming!’

4 And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why are YOU thinking evil in YOUR hearts?

5 For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Get up, and walk?

6 But so that YOU might know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins…’ --then he says to the paralytic—‘Get up, and pick up your bed, and go to your home.’

7 And he got up, and went to his home.

8 But when the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

9 And passing on from there, Jesus saw a man called Matthew, sitting at the place of tax collection: and he says to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he arose, and followed him.

10 And it happened as he reclined at the table in the house, look, many tax collectors and sinners came and reclined at the table with Jesus and his disciples.

11 And the Pharisees, having seen, were saying to his disciples, ‘Why does YOUR Teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?’

12 But when he heard it, he said, “The healthy have no need of a physician, but rather those who are ill.

13 But go and learn what this means, ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice’ for I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

14 Then the disciples of John come to him, saying, ‘Why are we and the Pharisees fasting, but your disciples aren’t fasting?’

15 And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the children of the bridal chamber 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 will they fast.

16 But nobody puts a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment; for its fullness lifts it up from the garment, and the tear becomes worse.

17 Neither do they put new wine into old wine-skins: otherwise the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed: but they put new wine into new wine-skins, and both are preserved.’

18 While he was saying these things to them, look, a ruler came over, and worshipped him, saying, ‘My daughter is dead right now: but come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’

19 And Jesus got up, and followed him, as did his disciples, also.

20 And look, a woman having a hemorrhage twelve years, came up behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

21 for she said within herself, ‘If I only touch his garment, I shall be well.’

22 But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, ‘Take courage, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And the woman was made well from that hour.

23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making uproar,

24 he said, ‘Leave, for the little girl didn’t die, but is sleeping.’ And they laughed scornfully at him.

25 But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, and took hold of her hand; and the little girl got up.

26 And the reports of this went out into that whole land.

27 And passing along from there, two blind men followed Jesus, crying out, and saying, ‘Have mercy on us, son of David.’

28 And when he had come into the house, the blind men came up to him: and Jesus says to them, “Do YOU believe that I am able to do this?’ They say to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’

29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to YOUR faith let it happen to YOU.’

30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, ‘See that YOU let nobody know.’

31 But they, having gone out, publicized him in that whole land.

32 And as they were going out, look, they brought to him a mute man possessed by a demon.

33 And when the demon was thrown out, the mute man spoke: and the crowds wondered, saying, ‘Nothing like this was ever seen in Israel!’

34 But the Pharisees said, ‘He throws out demons by the ruler of the demons.’

35 And Jesus was going around to all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.

36 But when he saw the crowds, he was moved with pity for them, because they were skinned and tossed around, like sheep not having a shepherd.

37 Then he says to his disciples, ‘The harvest indeed is much, but the workers few.

38 So beg the Lord of the harvest, so that he might send out workers into his harvest.’

Matthew 10

1 And having called his twelve disciples to him, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to throw them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: First, Simon, the one called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James (Jacob) the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James (Jacob) the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 Jesus sent out these twelve, and charged them, saying, “Don’t go off into any way of the nations, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans:

6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 And as YOU go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has drawn near.’

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, throw out demons: freely YOU received, freely give.

9 Don’t have gold, nor silver, nor copper in YOUR pockets;

10 no wallet for the road, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.

11 And into whatever city or village YOU might enter, search out who is worthy in it; and stay there until YOU go out.

12 And entering into the house, greet it.

13 And if the house is worthy, let YOUR peace come upon it: but if it is not worthy, let YOUR peace return to YOU.

14 And whoever will not receive YOU, nor hear YOUR words, as YOU go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of YOUR feet.

15 Amen I’m telling YOU, it will be more endurable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment, than for that city.

16 Look, I’m sending YOU out as sheep in the midst of wolves: so prove YOURSELVES wise as snakes, and innocent as doves.

17 But beware of men: for they will hand YOU over to Sanhedrins, and they will flog YOU in their synagogues;

18 and YOU will also be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.

19 But whenever they hand YOU over, don’t be anxious how or what YOU should say: for what YOU should say will be given to YOU in that hour.

20 For YOU are not the ones speaking, but the Spirit of YOUR Father who is speaking in YOU.

21 But brother will hand over brother to death, and a father a child: and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to die.

22 And YOU will be hated by all on account of my name: but the one enduring to the end, this one will be saved.

23 But whenever they may persecute YOU in this city, flee into another: for amen I’m telling YOU, YOU will by no means complete the cities of Israel, until the Son of man comes.

24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his lord.

25 It is sufficient for the disciple that he might become like his teacher, and the slave like his lord. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! (Beelzebul: One of the titles given to Satan was Beelzebub, from the Hebrew “baal zevuv” meaning “lord of flies.” Beelzebul is an insulting variant, from “baal zevul” meaning “lord of dung.”)

26 So YOU shouldn’t fear them: for there is nothing covered, that will not be revealed; and hidden, that will not become known.

27 What I’m telling YOU in the darkness, YOU say in the light; and what YOU hear in the ear, preach upon the house-tops.

28 And don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion (a Roman coin)? And not one of them will fall upon the ground without YOUR Father:

30 but even the hairs of YOUR head have all been numbered.

31 So don’t be afraid: YOU are of more value than many sparrows.

32 Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before men, will I also acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven.

33 But whoever will deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

34 YOU shouldn’t think that I came to send peace on the earth: I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I came to divide a man from his father, and a daughter from her mother, and a bride from her mother in law:

36 and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.

37 The one having more affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and the one having more affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me.

38 And whoever doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.

39 The one having found his life will lose it; and the one having lost his life for my sake will find it.

40 The one receiving YOU receives me, and the one receiving me receives the one who sent me.

41 The one receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward: and the one receiving a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.

42 And whoever might give just a cup of cold water for one of these little ones to drink, in the name of a disciple, amen I’m telling YOU he will by no means lose his reward.”

Matthew 11

1 And it happened when Jesus finished commanding his twelve disciples, he went out from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples

3 and said to him, ‘Are you the one coming, or are we waiting for another?’

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John what YOU are hearing and seeing:

5 the blind are seeing again, and the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed, and the deaf are hearing, and the dead are being raised up, and the poor are having the good news preached to them.

6 And blessed is whoever finds no cause of stumbling in me.’

7 And as these went on their way, Jesus started telling the crowds about John: “What did YOU come out into the wilderness to look at? A reed being shaken by the wind?

8 But what did YOU come out to see? A man clothed in soft things? Look, the ones wearing soft things are in king's houses.

9 But why did YOU come out? To see a prophet? Yes, I’m telling YOU, and much more than a prophet.

10 This is the one of whom it is written, ‘Look, I’m sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Amen I’m telling YOU, Anyone greater than John the Baptist has not been raised up among those born of women: but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven is being crowded into, and those pressing in are seizing it.

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14 And if YOU are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is going to come.

15 The one having ears, let him hear.

16 But to whom will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who, calling to the others,

17 are saying, ‘We played the flute for YOU, and YOU didn’t dance; we wailed, and YOU didn’t mourn.’ (literally “beat yourselves,” that is, to beat the breast as a sign of mourning)

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’

19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a gluttonous man and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ And wisdom was justified by its works.”

20 Then he started to reproach the cities in which most of his mighty works were done, because they didn’t repent.

21 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the mighty works which happened in YOU had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago.

22 Moreover I’m telling YOU, it will be more endurable for Tyre and Sidon on the Day of Judgment than for YOU.

23 And you, Capernaum, won’t you be exalted up to heaven? You will come down to Hades! Because if the mighty works which happened in you had happened in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

24 Moreover I’m telling YOU, it will be more endurable for the land of Sodom on the Day of Judgment than for you.’

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I agree with you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you hid these things from the wise and intelligent, and uncovered them for infants:

26 yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing before you.

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father: and no one fully knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone fully know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son is willing to uncover.

28 Come to me, all those laboring and heavily burdened, and I will give YOU rest.

29 Take my yoke upon YOU, and learn from me; for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart: and YOU will find rest for YOUR souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Matthew 12

1 At that time, Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; and his disciples were hungry and started to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing what  is not right to do on the Sabbath.’

3 But he said to them, “Haven’t YOU read what David did, when he was hungry, and those with him;

4 how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which wasn’t right for him to eat, nor for those with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or haven’t YOU read in the law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple are profaning the Sabbath, and are guiltless?

6 But I’m telling YOU, that one greater than the temple is here.

7 But if YOU had known what, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’ is, YOU wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

9 And he went from there, and came into their synagogue:

10 and look: a man having a withered hand. And so that they might accuse him, they asked him, saying, ‘Is it right to heal on the Sabbath?’

11 But he said to them, ‘What man will there be among YOU, who will have one sheep, and if this sheep fall into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t he take hold of it, and lift it out?

12 So how much more valuable is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is right to do good on the Sabbath.’

13 Then he says to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out; and it was restored, healthy like the other.

14 But the Pharisees came out, and took counsel against him, so that they might destroy him.

15 But Jesus, knowing, withdrew from there: and many followed him; and he healed them all,

16 and charged them not to make him known:

17 so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,

18 ‘Look, my servant whom I chose; My beloved whom my soul approved: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall declare judgment to the nations.

19 He will not debate, nor cry out; nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

20 He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not extinguish smoking flax, until he sends out judgment to victory.

21 And the nations will hope in his name.’

22 Then someone possessed with a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him: and he healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw.

23 And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, ‘Could this be the son of David?’

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ‘This one doesn’t throw out demons, except by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.’ (See note following Mt. 10:25)

25 But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself will not stand:

26 and if Satan is throwing out Satan, he is divided against himself; so how will his kingdom stand?

27 And if I am throwing out demons by Beelzebul, by whom are YOUR sons throwing them out? For this reason they will be YOUR judges.

28 But if I am throwing out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come ahead of YOU.

29 Or how can anyone enter into the house of the strong man, and seize his goods, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

30 The one who isn’t with me is against me, and the one not gathering with me scatters.

31 So I’m telling YOU, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven to men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

32 And whoever might say a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever might speak against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the one to come.

33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree rotten, and its fruit rotten: for the tree is known by its fruit.

34 Offspring of vipers, how can YOU, being evil, speak good things? For the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.

35 The good man out of his good treasure sends out good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure sends out evil things.

36 But I’m telling YOU, that every idle word that men will speak, they will give account of it on the Day of Judgment.

37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.’

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, ‘Teacher, we would like to see a sign from you.’

39 But he answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation looks for a sign; and a sign won’t be given it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet:

40 for just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41 The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and look, a greater than Jonah is here.

42 The queen of the south will be raised up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look, a greater than Solomon is here.

43 But when the unclean spirit comes out of the man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn’t find it.

44 Then it says, ‘I will go back into my house from where I came out’; and when it has come, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and decorated.

45 Then it goes away, and takes with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and entering in, they dwell there: and the final state of that man becomes worse than the first. And so will it be for this evil generation.”

46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, look, his mother and his brothers stood outside, looking to speak to him.

47 And someone said to him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, looking to speak to you.’

48 But he answered and said to the one speaking to him, ‘Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?’

49 And having stretched out his hand towards his disciples, he said, ‘Look: my mother and my brothers!

50 For whoever will do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.’

Matthew 13

1 On that day Jesus came out of the house, and was sitting by the sea.

2 And so many crowds were gathered to him, that he got into a boat to sit down; and all the crowd stood on the beach.

3 And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, ‘Look, the sower came out to sow;

4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the road, and the birds came and ate them.

5 But others fell on the rocky places, where they didn’t have much earth: and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of earth:

6 and when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered.

7 But others fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them off.

8 But others fell on the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty.

9 The one having ears, let him hear.’

10 And the disciples came, and said to him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’

11 And he, answering, said to them, “It has been given to YOU to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but it has not been given to them.

12 For whoever has, it will be given to him, and he will have great abundance: but whoever does not have, even what he does have will be taken away from him.

13 For this reason I speak to them in parables: because seeing they don’t see, and hearing they don’t hear, nor do they understand.

14 And the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled by them, which says, ‘By hearing YOU will hear, and will by no means understand; and looking YOU will look, and will by no means see:

15 For this people's heart has thickened, and they heard mutedly with their ears, and they closed their eyes; so that they would never see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and would turn back, and I will heal them.

16 But blessed are YOUR eyes, because they are looking; and YOUR ears, because they are hearing.

17 For amen I’m telling YOU that many prophets and righteous people desired to see what YOU are looking at, and they didn’t see; and to hear what YOU are hearing, and they didn’t hear.

18 Now YOU hear the parable of the sower:

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and doesn’t understand, the evil one comes, and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the road.

20 And the one sown on the rocky places, this is the one hearing the word, and receiving it at once with joy;

21 but he doesn’t have root in himself, but is temporary; and when tribulation or persecution arose because of the word, he immediately stumbled.

22 But the one sown among the thorns, this is the one hearing the word; and the anxiety of the age and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word together, and he becomes unfruitful.

23 But the one sown on the good ground, this is the one hearing and understanding the word, who actually bears fruit, and produces some a hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty.”

24 He set another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field:

25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel (false grain; a weed) among the wheat, and went away.

26 But when the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the darnel appeared also.

27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? So where did it get darnel?’

28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy man did this.’ And they say to him, ‘Then would you like us to go and gather them up?’

29 But he says, ‘No; so that while gathering up the darnel, YOU don’t uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and at harvest time, I will tell the reapers, Gather up the darnel first, and tie them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

31 He set another parable before them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32 which indeed is smaller than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the vegetables, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and find lodging in its branches.’

33 He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of flour, until the whole was leavened.’

34 Jesus said all these things to the crowds in parables; and he said nothing to them without a parable:

35 so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ‘I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning.’ (literally “from the founding”)

36 Then, leaving the crowds, he came into the house: and his disciples came to him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the darnel of the field.’

37 And he answered and said, ‘The one sowing the good seed is the Son of man;

38 and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the darnel are the sons of the evil one;

39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.

40 So just as the darnel are gathered up and burned with fire, so it will be in the end of the world.

41 The Son of man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those doing iniquity,

42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire: the weeping and the gnashing of teeth will be there.

43 Then the righteous will shine out like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one having ears, let him hear.

44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a traveling salesman seeking fine pearls:

46 but having found one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, and gathering some of every kind:

48 which, when it was filled, they hauled up on the beach; and they sat down, and collected the good into containers, but the rotten they threw away.

49 So it will be in the end of the world: the angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the righteous,

50 and will throw them into the furnace of fire: the weeping and the gnashing of teeth will be there.

51 Did YOU understand all these things?’ They say to him, ‘Yes.’

52 And he said to them, ‘For this reason, every scribe who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings new and old things out of his treasure.’

53 And it happened, when Jesus had finished these parables, he left from there.

54 And having come into his own country, he was teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and were saying, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55 Isn’t this the carpenter's son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James (Jacob), and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?

56 And his sisters, aren’t they all by us? So where did this man get all these things?’

57 And they were being stumbled by him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.’

58 And he didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 14

1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus,

2 and said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he was raised from the dead; and this is why these powers are working in him.’

3 For Herod had taken hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's woman.

4 For John had said to him, ‘It’s not right for you to have her.’

5 And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they held him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday party came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod,

7 for which he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

8 And she, having been put up to it by her mother, says, ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’

9 And the king was grieved, but because of his oaths, and of those who reclined at the table with him, he commanded it to be given;

10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought on a platter, and was given to the girl: and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples came, and took up the dead body, and buried him; and they came and told Jesus.

13 But when Jesus heard, he left there by boat to an isolated place for privacy: and when the crowds heard, they followed him on foot from the cities.

14 And having came out, he saw a great crowd, and he felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.

15 But when evening had come, the disciples came to him, saying, ‘The place is isolated, and the hour has already passed; let the crowds go, so that they might go into the villages, to buy themselves food.’

16 But Jesus said to them, ‘They don’t need to go; YOU give them something to eat.’

17 And they say to him, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves, and two fish.’

18 And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’

19 And having commanded the crowds to get down on the grass; and having taken the five loaves and the two fish, and looked up to heaven, he blessed, and having broken the loaves, he gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.

20 And they all ate, and were filled: and they picked up the remainder of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

21 And those eating were approximately five thousand men, besides women and children.

22 And immediately he compelled the disciples to get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, until he let the crowds go.

23 And having let the crowds go, he went up into the mountain to pray privately. But evening had come, and he was there alone.

24 But the boat was already many stadia away from the land, tossed by the waves; for the wind was against them. (many stadia: many hundreds of yards or meters)

25 And in the fourth watch of the night (between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.) he came to them, walking on the sea.

26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were upset, saying, ‘It’s a spirit!’ and they cried out from fear.

27 But at once Jesus spoke to them, saying ‘Take courage: I am; don’t be afraid.’

28 And Peter answered and said to him, “Lord, if you are, command me to come to you on the waters.’

29 And he said, ‘Come!’ And having stepped down from the boat, Peter walked on the waters and came toward Jesus.

30 But looking at the wind, he became afraid; and starting to sink, he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught hold of him, and says to him, ‘One with little faith, why did you doubt?’

32 And when they had gotten up into the boat, the wind diminished.

33 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘You are truly the Son of God!’

34 And having crossed over, they came to land, into Gennesaret.

35 And the men of that place, having recognized him, sent into that whole surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick,

36 and they asked him that they might touch just the fringe of his garment: and as many as touched were made well.

Matthew 15

1 Then Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem come to Jesus, saying,

2 ‘Why do your disciples violate the tradition of the elders? For they aren’t washing their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said to them, “And why do YOU violate the commandment of God through YOUR tradition?

4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘The one cursing father or mother, let him expire in death.’

5 But YOU say, whoever says to his father or his mother, ‘Whatever you might get out of me is a gift;

6 will by no means honor his father.’ And so YOU invalidated the word of God through YOUR tradition.

7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied well about YOU, saying,

8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart stays far from me.

9 But they are worshiping me in vain, teaching the commandments of men as doctrines.’”

10 And having called the crowd over to him, he said to them, ‘Hear, and understand:

11 What enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man.’

12 Then the disciples came and said to him, ‘Did you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this word?’

13 But he answered and said, ‘Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.

14 Let them go: they’re blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.’

15 But Peter answered and said to him, ‘Explain the parable to us.’

16 And he said, ‘Are YOU still without understanding, too?

17 Don’t YOU understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes along into the belly, and is thrown out into the toilet? (toilet: Greek afedhron: a place of sitting apart; privy)

18 But the things coming out of the mouth come out of the heart; and those things defile the man.

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, and blasphemies.

20 These are the things defiling the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.’

21 And leaving there, Jesus went into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.

22 And look, a Canaanite woman coming out from those regions, was crying out, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, son of David; my daughter is badly possessed by a demon!’

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came over and asked him, saying, ‘Send her away, because she keeps crying out after us.’

24 But he answered and said, ‘I was not sent to any except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’

25 But she came and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’

26 And he answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children's bread and to throw it to the puppies.’

27 But she said, Yes, Lord: for the puppies eat from the crumbs falling from their masters' table!’

28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it happen for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed from that hour.

29 And leaving there, Jesus came along the sea of Galilee; and having gone up into the mountain, was sitting there.

30 And great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others, and they deposited them at his feet; and he healed them:

31 so that the crowd wondered, seeing the mute speaking, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

32 And Jesus called his disciples over to him, and said, ‘I’m feeling compassion for the crowd, because they have stayed with me three days already, and have nothing to eat: and I don’t want to let them go away fasting, so they won’t faint on the way.’

33 And the disciples say to him, ‘Where would we get so many loaves in an isolated place as to fill such a great crowd?’

34 And Jesus said to them, ‘How many loaves do YOU have?’ And they said, ‘Seven, and a few small fish.’

35 And having directed the multitude to get down on the ground,

36 he took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, he broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.

37 And they all ate, and were filled: and they picked up the remainder of the broken pieces, seven baskets full.

38 And those eating were four thousand men, besides women and children.

39 And having let the crowds go, he got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magadan.

Matthew 16

1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees, having come over, testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

2 But he answered and said to them, “When it is evening, YOU say, ‘Fair weather: for the sky is red.’

3 And in the morning, ‘A storm today: for the sky is red and overcast.’ YOU know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but YOU can’t discern the signs of the times.

4 An evil and adulterous generation looks for a sign; but no sign will be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.” And he left them behind, and went away.

5 And the disciples, having crossed to the other side, forgot to take bread.

6 And Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘We didn’t take any bread.’

8 But Jesus, knowing this, said, ‘Why are YOU reasoning with each other, ones of little faith, because YOU have no bread?

9 Don’t YOU understand yet, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets YOU took up?

10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets YOU took up?

11 How is it that YOU don’t understand that I wasn’t talking to YOU about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’

12 Then they put it together that he didn’t say beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13 Now when Jesus had come into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that the Son of man is?’

14 And they said, ‘Some, John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’

15 He says to them, ‘But who do YOU say that I am?’

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

17 And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘You are blessed, Simon Bar-Jonah: because flesh and blood didn’t revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

18 And I’m also saying to you, that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’

20 Then he charged the disciples that they should tell no one that he was the Christ.

21 From then on, Jesus started to show his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised up on the third day.

22 And Peter, having taken him aside, began to admonish him, saying, ‘God forbid, Lord: this will never happen to you!’ (“God forbid” – Greek word is “hileos,” and is used to ward off a tragedy, like “God forbid” in English. It literally means “cheerful” or “propitious.”)

23 But he turned, and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan: you’re a stumbling-block to me: because you aren’t interested in the things of God, but the things of men.’

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone is willing to come after me, let him deny (or disown) himself, and let him pick up his cross, and let him follow me.

25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it: but whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.

26 For what use will it be to a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels; and then he will give back to each one according to his acts.

28 Amen I’m telling YOU, there are some of those standing here who will by no means taste death, until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Matthew 17

1 And after six days, Jesus takes Peter, and James (Jacob), and his brother John along, and brings them up into a high mountain for privacy:

2 and he was transfigured before them; and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white like the light.

3 And look, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him.

4 And Peter answered, and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here: If you want, I will make three tabernacles here; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’

5 While he was still speaking, look, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and look, a voice out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear him.’

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were very afraid.

7 And Jesus came over and touched them and said, ‘Get up, and don’t be afraid.’

8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘You should tell the vision to no one, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.’

10 And his disciples asked him, saying, ‘So why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’

11 And he answered and said, ‘Elijah indeed is coming, and will restore all things.

12 but I’m telling YOU, that Elijah already came, and they didn’t recognize him, but did whatever they wanted to him. So the Son of man will also suffer by them.’

13 Then the disciples put it together that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

14 And when they had come toward the crowd, a man came to him, kneeling to him, saying,

15 ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, because he is an epileptic, and is ill; for many times he falls into the fire, and many times into the water.

16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to cure him.’

17 And Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with YOU? How long will I put up with YOU? Bring him here to me.’

18 And Jesus rebuked it, and the demon came out of him: and the boy was cured from that hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, ‘Why couldn’t we cast it out?’

20 And he says to them, “Because of YOUR little faith: for amen I’m telling YOU, If YOU have faith like a mustard seed, YOU will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’; and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to YOU.

21 But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.” (This verse is omitted in some manuscripts.)

22 And while they were gathered in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men;

23 and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.’ And they were very sad.

24 And when they had come into Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma (a two drachma toll) came to Peter, and said, ‘Doesn’t YOUR teacher pay the double-drachma?’

25 He says, ‘Yes.’ And when he came into the house, Jesus got ahead of him, saying, ‘What do you think, Simon? The kings of the earth, from whom do they collect duties or tax? From their sons or from the foreigners?’

26 And when he said, ‘From the foreigners,’ Jesus said to him, ‘So then the sons are free.

27 But so we won’t cause them to stumble, go to the sea, and cast a hook, and pick up the fish that comes up first; and when you have opened its mouth, you’ll find a stater (a coin): take that, and give it to them for me and you.’

Matthew 18

1 In that hour, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’

2 And he called a little child over to him, and stood him in the middle of them,

3 and said, ‘Amen I’m telling YOU, unless YOU turn, and become as little children, YOU will by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Therefore, whoever will humble himself as this little child, this is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoever will receive one such little child in my name receives me:

6 But whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is better for him that a great millstone should be hung about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! For it is necessary for the stumbling blocks to come, but woe to the man through whom the stumbling block comes!

8 But if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you: it is good for you to enter into life maimed or lame, than to be thrown into the everlasting fire having two hands or two feet.

9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, take it out, and throw it from you: it is good for you to enter into life with one eye, than to be cast into the Gehenna of fire having two eyes.

10 See that YOU don’t despise one of these little ones; for I’m telling YOU that their angels in heaven are always looking at the face of my Father who is in heaven.

11 For the Son of man came to save that which was lost. (This verse is omitted in some manuscripts.)

12 What do YOU think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has strayed, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and look for the one straying?

13 And if he happens to find it, amen I’m telling YOU, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which didn’t go astray.

14 Likewise, it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

15 But if your brother should sin, go, admonish him between you and him alone: if he hears you, you have gained your brother.

16 But if he doesn’t hear, take one or two more with you, so that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be established.

17 But if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church: and if he also refuses to hear the church, let him be to you as a man of the nations and the tax collector.

18 Amen I’m telling YOU, whatever things YOU bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever things YOU loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 Again, amen I’m telling YOU, that if two of YOU agree on earth about any matter that they ask, it will happen for them from my Father who is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them.’

21 Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’

22 Jesus says to him, “I’m not telling you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven!

23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man, a king, who wanted to settle an account with his slaves.

24 And when he had started settling, one was brought to him, owing ten thousand talents.

25 But since he had no means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, also his wife, and children, and everything that he had, and payment to be made.

26 So the slave, falling down, was worshipping him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back everything.’

27 And the lord of that slave, moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But that slave went out, and found one of his fellow-slaves, who owed him a hundred denarii, and he took hold of him, and was choking him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’

29 So his fellow-slave fell down and asked him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

30 But he wouldn’t, but went and threw him in prison, till he should pay back what was owed.

31 So his fellow-slaves, having seen what happened, they were very much grieved, and came and told their lord everything that happened.

32 Then his lord called him to himself, and says to him, ‘Wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt, because you asked me!

33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow-slave, just as I had mercy on you?’

34 And his lord was enraged, and handed him over to the torturers, till he should pay back everything that was owed.

35 So my heavenly Father will do to YOU also, if YOU do not forgive each one his brother from YOUR hearts.

Matthew 19

1 And it happened when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea on the other side of the Jordan;

2 and many crowds followed him; and he healed them there.

3 And Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, ‘Is it right for a man to divorce his woman for any reason?’

4 And he answered and said, “Didn’t YOU read, that the One who created from the beginning made them male and female,

5 and said, ‘Because of this a man will leave the father and the mother, and will adhere to his woman; and the two will be one flesh?’

6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together, let not man put apart.”

7 They say to him, ‘Then why did Moses command to give a writ of divorce, and to divorce?’

8 He says to them, ‘Because of YOUR hardheartedness, Moses allowed YOU to divorce YOUR women: but it hasn’t been that way from the beginning.

9 But I’m telling YOU, whoever divorces his woman, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery.’ (Some manuscripts add: “and the one marrying her when she is divorced commits adultery.”)

10 The disciples say to him, ‘If this is the case of the man with the woman, it is better not to marry!’

11 But he said to them, ‘Not all men will accept this word, but those to whom it is given.

12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept it, let him accept it!’

13 Then little children were brought to him, so that he might lay hands on them, and pray: but the disciples rebuked them.

14 But Jesus said, ‘Leave the little children alone, and don’t hinder them from coming to me: for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such.’

15 And having laid hands on them, he departed from there.

16 And look, one came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good shall I do, so that I might have eternal life?’

17 But he said to him, ‘Why are you asking me about what is good? There is one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’

18 He says to him, ‘Which?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,

19 Honor your father and mother; and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

20 The young man says to him, ‘I kept all these: what am I still lacking?’

21 Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your belongings, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.’

22 But the young man, having heard the word, went away sad; for he had many possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Amen I’m telling YOU, a rich person will enter into the kingdom of heaven with difficulty.

24 But again, I’m telling YOU, it’s easier for a camel to enter through a needle's eye, than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.’

25 And when the disciples heard it, they were very much astonished, saying, ‘Then who can be saved?’

26 And Jesus, looking at them, said to them, ‘With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.’

27 Then Peter answered and said to him, ‘Look, we’ve left everything, and followed you; so what will we have?’

28 And Jesus said to them, “Amen I’m telling YOU, that YOU who have followed me in the rebirth, when the Son of man will sit on the throne of his glory, YOU will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive many times more, and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last; and last, first.

Matthew 20

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man, a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

2 And having agreed with the workers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And going out about the third hour (9 a.m.), he saw others standing in the marketplace not working;

4 and he said to them, ‘YOU go into the vineyard, too, and I will give YOU whatever is fair.’ And they went off.

5 And he went out again about the sixth and the ninth hour (noon and 3 p.m.), and did the same.

6 And about the eleventh hour (5 p.m.), he went out, and found others standing; and he says to them, ‘Why are YOU standing here the whole day not working?’

7 They say to him, ‘Because nobody hired us.’ He says to them, ‘YOU go into the vineyard, too.’

8 And when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard says to his manager, ‘Call the workers, and pay them their wages, starting from the last to the first.’

9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

10 And when the first came, they assumed that they would receive more; and they also each received a denarius.

11 But having received it, they were murmuring against the householder,

12 saying, ‘These last have done one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’

13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m not being unfair to you: didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?

14 Pick up what is yours, and go; but I want to give to this last, just as to you.

15 Isn’t it right for me to do what I want with my own things? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

17 But when Jesus was going to go up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said to them,

18 ‘Look, we’re going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes; and they will condemn him to death,

19 and will hand him over to the nations to mock, and to whip, and to crucify: and on the third day he will be raised up.’

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, worshipping, and asking something from him.

21 And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She says to him, ‘Say that these two sons of mine might sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your kingdom.’

22 But Jesus answered and said, ‘YOU don’t know what YOU’re asking. Are YOU able to drink the cup that I’m about to drink?’ They say to him, ‘We’re able.’

23 He says to them, ‘YOU will indeed drink my cup, but to sit on my right hand and left hand, isn’t mine to give; but is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’

24 And when the ten heard, they became indignant about the two brothers.

25 But Jesus called them over to himself, and said, ‘YOU know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and the great ones exercise authority over them.

26 It isn’t that way among YOU: but whoever wants to become great among YOU will be YOUR servant;

27 and whoever wants to be first among YOU will be YOUR slave:

28 just as the Son of man didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

29 And as they went out from Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

30 And look, two blind men sitting by the road, having heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, son of David!’

31 But the crowd rebuked them, so that they would keep quiet: but they cried out more, saying, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, son of David!’

32 And Jesus stood still, called them, and said, ‘What do YOU want me to do for YOU?’

33 They say to him, ‘Lord, that our eyes might be opened!’

34 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately they received sight, and followed him.

Matthew 21

1 And when they got close to Jerusalem, and came into Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

2 saying to them, “Go into the village that is across from YOU, and right away YOU will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her: Untie them, and bring them to me.

3 And if anyone says anything to YOU, YOU will say, ‘The Lord has need of them’ and he will send them off at once”.

4 Now this happened so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,

5 ‘Tell the daughter of Zion: Look, your King is coming to you, humble, and sitting on a donkey, and on a colt, the son of a yoked beast.’

6 And the disciples went, and did just as Jesus directed them.

7 They brought the donkey and the colt, and put their coats on them; and he sat on them.

8 And most of the crowd spread their coats on the road; and others were cutting branches from the trees, and were spreading them on the road.

9 And the crowds going ahead of him, and those following, were crying out, saying, ‘Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is the one coming in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!’ (Hosanna: from Hebrew “Hosha na” “Please save”)

10 And when he had entered into Jerusalem, all the city was shaken, saying, ‘Who is this?’

11 But the crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.’

12 And Jesus entered into the temple, and threw out all those selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the benches of those selling the doves;

13 and he says to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but YOU are making it a den of thieves!”

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15 But the chief priests and the scribes, having seen the wonderful things that he did, and the little children who were crying out in the temple and saying, ‘Hosanna to the son of David,’ they became indignant,

16 and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus says to them, “Yes. Didn’t YOU ever read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise’?”

17 And he left them behind, and went out of the city into Bethany, and lodged there.

18 But at dawn, returning to the city, he became hungry.

19 And having seen a fig tree by the road, he went over to it, and found nothing on it, but only leaves; and he says to it, ‘Fruit will no longer come from you for ever.’ And the fig tree instantly withered.

20 And the disciples, seeing it, wondered, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither instantly?’

21 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen I’m telling YOU, If YOU have faith, and do not doubt, YOU will do not only what was done to the fig tree, but also if YOU say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and be thrown into the sea’, it will happen.

22 And all things, whatever YOU might ask in prayer, having faith, YOU will receive.”

23 And when he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came toward him while he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?’

24 But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I will also ask YOU one thing, which if YOU tell me, I will also tell YOU by what authority I’m doing these things.

25 The baptism of John, where was it from: from heaven or from men?’ And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven’, he will say to us, Then why didn’t YOU believe him?’

26 But if we say, ‘From men’, we fear the crowd; for all hold John as a prophet.”

27 And they answered Jesus, and said, ‘We don’t know.’ He also said to them, “Neither am I telling YOU by what authority I’m doing these things.

28 But what do YOU think? A man had two children; and he came to the first, and said, ‘Child, go work in the vineyard today.’

29 And he answered and said, ‘I will, sir’, but he didn’t go.

30 And he came to the second, and said the same thing. And he answered and said, ‘I don’t want to’; afterward he regretted and went.

31 Which of the two did the will of the father?” They say, ‘The latter.’ Jesus says to them, “Amen I’m telling YOU that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God before YOU.

32 For John came to YOU in the way of righteousness, and YOU didn’t believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him: but YOU, when YOU saw it, didn’t regret afterward, so as to believe him.

33 Hear another parable: A man was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and leased it to farmers, and traveled abroad.

34 But when the fruit season drew near, he sent his slaves to the farmers, to receive his fruit.

35 And the farmers took his slaves, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first: and they did the same to them.

37 But afterward, he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

38 But the farmers, seeing the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come on, let’s kill him, and take his inheritance.’

39 And they took him, and threw him outside the vineyard, and killed him.

40 So when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”

41 They say to him, ‘He will horribly destroy those evil men, and will lease the vineyard to other farmers, who will render the fruits to him in their seasons.’

42 Jesus says to them, “Didn’t YOU ever read in the scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this one became the head of the corner; this was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’

43 Therefore, I’m telling YOU that the kingdom of God will be taken away from YOU, and will be given to a nation producing its fruits.

44 And the one falling on this stone will be broken: but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to dust.”

45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was talking about them.

46 And though they wanted to seize him, they feared the crowds, since they took him for a prophet.

Matthew 22

1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them in parables again, saying,

2 “The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man, a king, who made a marriage feast for his son,

3 and sent out his slaves to call those who were invited to the marriage feast: and they didn’t want to come.

4 Again he sent out other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who were invited, look, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and the fattened animals have been slaughtered, and everything is ready: come to the marriage feast.’

5 But they made light of it, and went off, one to his own field, another to his business;

6 and the rest seized his slaves, abused them, and killed them.

7 But the king became infuriated; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

8 Then he says to his slaves, ‘The marriage feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

9 So go to the crossroads, and as many as YOU find, invite to the marriage feast.’

10 And those slaves went out into the roads, and gathered together everyone they found, both bad and good: and the wedding hall was filled with diners. (literally “recliners,” that is, people reclining at the table to eat)

11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who wasn’t wearing a wedding-garment:

12 and he says to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here not having a wedding-garment?’ But he was silent. (literally “muzzled”)

13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie his feet and hands, and throw him out into the outer darkness; the weeping and the gnashing of teeth will be there.’

14 For many are invited, but few chosen.”

15 Then the Pharisees went, and took counsel together in order to trap him in his words.

16 And they sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in truth, and it doesn’t matter to you about anyone, for you don’t look at the outward appearance of men.

17 So tell us what you think: Is it right to pay tax to Caesar, or not?’

18 But Jesus knew their wickedness, and said, ‘Why are YOU testing me, hypocrites?

19 Show me the tax coin.’ And they brought him a denarius.

20 And he says to them, ‘Whose is this image and inscription?’

21 They say to him, ‘Caesar's.’ Then he says to them, ‘So give Caesar's things back to Caesar and God's things back to God.’

22 And when they heard it, they wondered, and leaving him, went away.

23 On that day Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection: and they asked him,

24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If anyone dies, having no children, his brother will take his woman in marriage, and will raise up seed for his brother.’

25 Now there were seven brothers with us: and the first, having married, deceased, and having no seed, left his woman to his brother;

26 likewise the second also, and the third, until the seventh.

27 But after all, the woman died.

28 So in the resurrection, whose woman will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”

29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “YOU are mistaken, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but they are as angels in heaven.

31 But about the resurrection of the dead, didn’t YOU read what was said to YOU by God, saying,

32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ He isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33 And when the crowds heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

34 But the Pharisees, having heard that he muzzled the Sadducees, gathered together in the same place.

35 And one of them, an expert in the lawyer, asked, testing him:

36 ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’

37 And he said unto him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 This is the great and first commandment.

39 And the second, similar, is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 The whole law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”

41 But while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,

42 saying, ‘What do YOU think about the Christ: Whose son is he?’ They say to him, ‘David’s.’

43 He says to them, “So how does David in the Spirit call him ‘Lord,’ saying,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies beneath your feet?’

45 So if David calls him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?”

46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor did anyone dare to ask him any more questions from that day.

Matthew 23

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,

2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat down on Moses seat:

3 so all things, whatever they tell YOU, do and observe. But don’t do according to their works: for they say, and don’t do.

4 But they tie up heavy burdens, and impose them on the shoulders of men; but they themselves don’t even want to move them with their finger.

5 But all their works they do to be seen by men: for they broaden their phylacteries, and enlarge the fringes (phylacteries are small boxes containing scripture verses, connected by leather straps, worn by orthodox Jews during prayer. Fringes refer to the edges of prayer shawls worn under the outer garment. The longer trimming would be visible below the garment.)

6 and love the prominent place at dinners, and the front seats in the synagogues,

7 and the greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by men.

8 But YOU should not be called ‘Rabbi’: for one is YOUR teacher, and YOU are all brethren.

9 And YOU shouldn’t call anyone YOUR father on the earth: for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly one.

10 Neither should YOU be called leaders: for one is YOUR leader: the Christ.

11 But the greatest among YOU will be YOUR servant.

12 And whoever will exalt himself will be humbled; and whoever will humble himself will be exalted.

13 But woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because YOU are shutting up the kingdom of heaven before men: for YOU aren’t entering in, nor do YOU let those coming enter in.

14 Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for YOU devour widows' houses, while for pretence YOU make long prayers: therefore YOU will receive greater condemnation. (This verse is omitted in some manuscripts.)

15 Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for YOU cover sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, YOU make him twice the son of Gehenna that YOU are.

16 Woe to YOU, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is in debt.

17 Fools and blind! For which is greater: the gold, or the temple that has sanctified the gold?

18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is upon it is in debt.

19 Blind! For which is greater: the gift, or the altar sanctifying the gift?

20 So the one who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.

21 And the one who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by the one inhabiting it.

22 And the one who swears by the heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by the one sitting on it.

23 Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for YOU tithe mint and dill and fennel, and have let the heavier matters of the law go: justice, and mercy, and faith. And it was necessary to do those things, but not to let those other things go.

24 Blind guides, straining out the gnat, but drinking down the camel!

25 Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because YOU cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full from extortion and lack of self-restraint.

26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it might become clean also.

27 Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because YOU are like whitewashed mausoleums, which from the outside appear beautiful, but inside are full of the bones of the dead, and of all uncleanness.

28 So YOU also from the outside appear righteous to men, but inside YOU are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because YOU build the sepulchers of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,

30 and say, ‘If we had been in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

31 Therefore YOU are testifying about YOURSELVES, that YOU are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

32 And YOU fill up the measure of YOUR fathers.

33 Serpents, offspring of vipers, how will YOU escape the judgment of Gehenna?

34 Therefore, look, I’m sending YOU prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them YOU’ll kill and crucify; and some of them YOU’ll whip in YOUR synagogues, and will persecute from city to city,

35 so that all the righteous blood shed on the earth may come upon YOU, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom YOU murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

36 Amen I’m telling YOU, all these things will come upon this generation.

37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those sent to her: how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and YOU weren’t willing!

38 Look, YOUR house is left to YOU:

39 For I’m telling YOU, YOU will by no means see me from now until YOU say, ‘Blessed is the one coming in the name of the Lord.’”

Matthew 24

1 And having gone out from the temple, Jesus was going on his way; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.

2 But he answered and said to them, ‘Don’t YOU see all these things? Amen I’m telling YOU, by no means will a stone be left here upon a stone, that will not be thrown down.’

3 But as he was sitting on the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when these things will be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?’

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Watch out so no one misleads YOU.

5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’; and they will mislead many.

6 And YOU are going to be hearing wars and reports of wars; see, but don’t be frightened: for it must happen; but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines and earthquakes from place to place.

8 But all these things are the beginning of labor pains.

9 Then they will hand YOU over to tribulation, and will kill YOU: and YOU will be hated by all the nations on account of my name.

10 And then many will be stumbled, and will hand one another over, and will hate one another.

11 And many false prophets will rise up, and will mislead many.

12 And because of the increase of iniquity, the love of the many will chill.

13 But the one having endured to the end, this one will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

15 So when YOU see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place --let the reader understand--

16 then let those in Judea flee into the mountains:

17 let the one on the housetop not go down to pick up things from his house:

18 and let the one in the field not go back to pick up his coat.

19 But woe to the pregnant and nursing in those days!

20 And pray that YOUR escape not be in winter, nor on a Sabbath:

21 for then will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.

22 And if those days weren’t cut short, no flesh would have been saved: but for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be cut short.

23 Then if anyone says to YOU, ‘Look, the Christ is here or there’, don’t believe it.

24 For false Christs and false prophets will rise up, and will give great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.

25 Look, I’ve told YOU ahead of time.

26 So if they say to YOU, ‘Look, he’s in the wilderness’, don’t go out. ‘Look, he’s in the inner rooms’, don’t believe it.

27 For just as the lightning comes out from the east, and shines to the west, so the coming of the Son of man will be.

28 Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken:

30 and then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven: and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves (that is, strike the breast as a sign of mourning), and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts out leaves, YOU know that the summer is near;

33 so YOU also, when YOU see all these things, know that he is near, at the doors.

34 Amen I’m telling YOU, this generation will by no means pass away, till all these things happen.

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words by no means pass away.

36 But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

37 For like the days of Noah, so the coming of the Son of man will be.

38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

39 and they didn’t know until the flood came, and picked up everything; so the coming of the Son of man will be.

40 Then two will be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:

41 two women grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.

42 So stay awake, because YOU don’t know which day YOUR Lord is coming.

43 But know this, that if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake, and would not have allowed his house to be penetrated. (“watch” – The Jewish night was divided into 4 watches. The first was 6 pm to 9pm, the second from 9 to midnight, then 12 to 3, and finally 3 to 6.)

44 Therefore, YOU also prove YOURSELVES ready; because the Son of man is coming in an hour that YOU think not.

45 So who is the faithful and wise slave, whom the lord has set over his household staff, to give them food at the appointed time?

46 Blessed is that slave, whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.

47 Amen I’m telling YOU that he will set him over all his belongings.

48 But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My lord is taking his time’,

49 and starts to beat his fellow-slaves, and eats and drinks with those getting drunk;

50 the lord of that slave will come on a day when he isn’t expecting, and in an hour which he doesn’t know,

51 and will cut him in two, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: the weeping and the gnashing of teeth will be there.

Matthew 25

1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who having taken their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom.

2 But five of them were foolish, and five wise.

3 For the foolish, having taken their lamps, didn’t take oil with them:

4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 Now while the bridegroom was taking his time, they all nodded and were sleeping.

6 But in the middle of the night there was a cry, ‘Look, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!’

7 Then all those virgins arose, and put their lamps in order.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of YOUR oil, because our lamps are going out.’

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘There might not be enough for us and for YOU: instead go to those selling, and buy for YOURSELVES.’

10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

11 But afterward the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us!’

12 But he answered and said, ‘Amen I’m telling YOU, I don’t know YOU.’

13 So stay awake, because YOU don’t know the day or the hour.

14 For it is like when a man, traveling abroad, called his own slaves, and handed over his belongings to them.

15 And he gave five talents to one, two to another, one to another; to each according to his own ability; and he went abroad.

16 Immediately, the one who received the five talents did business with them, and gained five more talents.

17 Likewise the one with the two gained two more.

18 But the one who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19 Now after a long time the lord of those slaves comes, and settled accounts with them.

20 And the one who received the five talents came and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Lord, you handed me five talents: see, I gained five more talents.’

21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave: you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.’

22 And the one with the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you handed me two talents: see, I gained two more talents.’

23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave: you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things; enter into the joy of your lord.’

24 But the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter;

25 and I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth: see, you have your own.’

26 But his lord answered and said to him, ‘Wicked and lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter;

27 so you should have given my money to the bankers, and upon my return I would have gotten back my own with interest!

28 So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one having the ten talents.

29 For to every one who has, it will be given, and he will have abundance: but from the one who doesn’t have, even what he does have will be taken away.

30 And throw the useless slave out into the outer darkness: the weeping and the gnashing of teeth will be there.’

31 But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory:

32 and all the nations will be gathered before him: and he will separate them one from another, like the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

33 and he will stand the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘Come, those blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for YOU from the founding of the world:

35 for I was hungry, and YOU gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and YOU gave me drink; I was a stranger, and YOU took me in;

36 naked, and YOU clothed me; I was sick, and YOU looked after me; I was in prison, and YOU came to me.’

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you drink?

38 And when did we see you a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you?

39 And when did we see you sick, or in prison, and came to you?’

40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Amen I’m telling YOU, as much as YOU did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, YOU did it to me.’

41 Then he will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Get away from me, accursed, into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 for I was hungry, and YOU didn’t give me to eat; I was thirsty, and YOU didn’t give me drink;

43 I was a stranger, and YOU didn’t take me in; naked, and YOU didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and YOU didn’t look after me.’

44 Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t minister to you?’

45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Amen I’m telling YOU, as much as YOU didn’t do it to one of the least of these, YOU didn’t do it to me.’

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into everlasting life.”

Matthew 26

1 And it happened, when Jesus finished all these words, he said to his disciples,

2 ‘YOU know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of man is handed over to be crucified.’

3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together into the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;

4 and they took counsel together to seize Jesus with a trap (literally “bait”), and kill him.

5 But they said, ‘Not during the feast, so that an uproar doesn’t take place among people.’

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 a woman came to him, having an alabaster cruse of expensive perfumed oil, and she poured it upon his head, as he reclined at the table.

8 But when the disciples saw it, they became indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste?

9 For this could have been sold for much, and given to the poor.’

10 But Jesus, knowing, said to them, ‘Why are YOU giving the woman a hard time? For she has done a good work for me.

11 For YOU always have the poor with YOU; but YOU don’t always have me.

12 For having put this perfumed oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

13 Amen I’m telling YOU, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told as a remembrance of her.’

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

15 and said, ‘What are YOU willing to give me, and I will hand him over to YOU?’ And they agreed with him on thirty pieces of silver.

16 And from then on, he was looking for an opportunity to hand him over.

17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?’

18 And he said, “Go into the city to so-and-so, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I’m keeping the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”

19 And the disciples did as Jesus directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

20 Now when it was evening, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples;

21 and as they were eating, he said, ‘Amen I’m telling YOU that one of YOU will betray me.’

22 And being extremely sad, each one began saying to him, ‘Is it I, Lord?’

23 And he answered and said, ‘The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl, this one will betray me.

24 The Son of man is going away, just as it was written about him: but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.’

25 And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, ‘Is it I, Rabbi?’ He says to him, ‘You said it.’

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and gave the blessing, and broke it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’

27 And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of YOU;

28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many into forgiveness of sins.

29 But I’m telling YOU, I will by no means drink of this fruit of the vine, from now until that day when I drink it new with YOU in my Father's kingdom.’

30 And having sung hymns, they went out into the mount of Olives.

31 Then Jesus says to them, “YOU all will be stumbled in me this night: for it is written, ‘I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered about.’

32 But after my resurrection, I will go ahead of YOU into Galilee.’

33 But Peter answered and said to him, ‘Even if they will all be stumbled in you, I will never be stumbled!’

34 Jesus said to him, ‘Amen I’m telling you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’

35 Peter says to him, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.’ All the disciples also said the same.

36 Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and says to his disciples, ‘Sit down here, while I go over there to pray.’

37 And taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and began to be sad and distressed.

38 Then he says to them, ‘My soul is extremely sad, even to death: stay here, and stay awake with me.’

39 And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’

40 And he comes to the disciples, and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, ‘Weren’t YOU strong enough to stay awake with me one hour?

41 Stay awake and pray, so that YOU don’t enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is eager, but flesh is weak.’

42 He went away again a second time, and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it isn’t possible for this to pass by, unless I drink it, your will be done.’

43 And coming again, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them again, and went off, and prayed a third time, saying the same words again.

45 Then he comes to the disciples, and says to them, ‘You’re still sleeping and taking a rest: Look, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of man is being handed over into the hands of sinners!

46 Get up, let’s go: Look, the one betraying me has come near!’

47 And while he was still speaking, look, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large crowd with swords and sticks, from the chief priest and elders of the people.

48 Now the one betraying him gave them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, it is he: seize him.’

49 And coming immediately to Jesus, he said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi’ and kissed him earnestly.

50 But Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, why are you here?’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and seized him.

51 And look, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and took off his ear.

52 Then Jesus says to him, ‘Return your sword into its place: for all those having taken the sword will perish by the sword.

53 Or are you thinking that I can’t ask my Father, and he will right now provide me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 But then how would the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen this way?’

55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowds, ‘YOU came out with swords and sticks to arrest me, as against a robber? Day by day I was sitting in the temple teaching, and YOU didn’t take me.

56 But this whole thing has taken place so that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then the disciples all left him, and fled.

57 And those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

58 But Peter was following him from afar off, to the courtyard of the high priest, and entering in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put him to death;

60 and they didn’t find it, though many false witnesses came. But afterward two came,

61 and said, “This one said, ‘I can tear down the temple of God, and build it in three days.’”

62 And the high priest stood up, and said to him, Are you answering nothing? What are these testifying against you?’

63 But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, ‘I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!’

64 Jesus said to him, ‘You said it. Nevertheless, I’m telling YOU from right now, YOU will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’

65 Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, ‘He blasphemed: What further need do we have of witnesses? See, now YOU heard the blasphemy!

66 What do YOU think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is subject to death.’

67 Then they spit in his face and punched him: and some slapped him,

68 saying, ‘Prophesy to us, Christ: who is it who hit you?’

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came over to him, saying, ‘You were also with Jesus the Galilean.’

70 But he denied in front of all, saying, ‘I don’t know not what you’re talking about.’

71 And when he had gone out into the gateway, another one saw him, and says to those who were there, ‘This one was with Jesus of Nazareth.’

72 And again he denied with an oath, ‘I don’t know the man!’

73 But after a little while, those standing around came and said to Peter, ‘Truly you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.’

74 Then he started to curse, and to swear, ‘I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed.

75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ And going outside, he wept bitterly.

Matthew 27

1 Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

2 and having tied him up, they led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, having seen that he (Jesus) was condemned, felt regret, and gave back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 saying, ‘I have sinned, betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it.’

5 And he threw down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and went out; and going away, he hanged himself.

6 And the chief priests, having taken the pieces of silver, said, ‘It’s not right to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.’

7 And having taken counsel together, they bought the potter's field with them, for the burial of strangers.

8 Because of this, that field was called ‘the field of blood’ to this day.

9 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one who was priced, whom some of the children of Israel priced;

10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.’

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You’re saying it.’

12 And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13 Then Pilate says to him, ‘Don’t you hear how many things they are testifying against you?’

14 And he didn’t answer him, not even one word: so that the governor very much wondered.

15 Now at each festival, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted.

16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do YOU want me to release to YOU? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’

18 For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.

19 But while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his woman sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous one; for I suffered many things today in a dream because of him.’

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas, and should destroy Jesus.

21 But the governor answered and said to them, ‘Which of the two do YOU want me to release to YOU?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’

22 Pilate says to them, ‘Then what will I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all say, ‘Let him be crucified.’

23 And he said, ‘Why, what evil did he do?’ But they were crying out even more, saying, ‘Let him be crucified.’

24 But Pilate, having seen that it was no use, but instead an uproar was arising, took water, and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this one; YOU see to it.’

25 And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us, and on our children.’

26 Then he released Barabbas to them; but Jesus he whipped and handed over to be crucified.

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole squadron to him.

28 And having stripped him, they put a scarlet cape around him.

29 And they braided a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and kneeling down before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Greetings, King of the Jews!’

30 And they spit on him, and took the reed and hit him on his head.

31 And when they had mocked him, they took the cape off of him, and put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to be crucified.

32 And going out, they found a man, a Cyrenian, Simon by name: they forced him to carry his cross.

33 And having come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,

34 they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall (possibly a narcotic, an opiate): and having tasted it, he didn’t want to drink it.

35 And when they had crucified him, they distributed his garments among them, throwing dice;

36 and they sat there, watching him.

37 And they put up above his head his accusation, written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Then two robbers are crucified with him, one on the right hand and one on the left.

39 And those passing by were blaspheming him, shaking their heads,

40 and saying, ‘You tearing down the temple, and building it in three days, save yourself: if you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross!’

41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking with the scribes and elders, said,

42 “He saved others; himself he cannot save! He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.

43 He trusted in God; let him rescue him now, if he wants him: for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also were reproaching him the same way.

45 Now from the sixth hour (noon) there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (3 p.m.).

46 And about the ninth hour, Jesus called out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’

47 But some of them standing there, when they heard, said, ‘This one is calling for Elijah!’

48 And immediately, one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

49 But the rest said, ‘Let him be; let’s see if Elijah is coming to save him. (Some manuscripts insert a verse here describing Jesus’ side being pierced, and blood and water coming out, but this is generally accepted to be a later insertion, and not part of the original text.)

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and let his spirit go.

51 And look, the veil of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split;

52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised up;

53 and having come out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

54 Now the centurion, and those watching Jesus with him, having seen the earthquake, and the things happening, became very much afraid, saying, ‘This truly was the Son of God!’

55 And there were many women watching from afar, who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him:

56 among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James (Jacob) and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57 And when evening had come, a rich man came from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had also become Jesus' disciple himself:

58 this one went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given.

59 And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in clean linen,

60 and placed it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a big stone to the door of the tomb, and went away.

61 But Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting across from the sepulcher.

62 But on the next day, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,

63 saying, “Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I’m being raised up.’

64 Therefore, command that the sepulcher be made secure until the third day, so that his disciples won’t come and steal him, and say to the people, ‘He was raised from the dead’ and the last error will be worse than the first.”

65 Pilate said to them, ‘YOU have sentries: go, make it as secure as YOU know how.’

66 So they went, and made the sepulcher secure with the sentries, sealing the stone.

Matthew 28

1 But after the Sabbath, as it getting light on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulcher.

2 And look, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came over and rolled away the stone, and was sitting on top of it.

3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow:

4 and those guarding quaked from fear of him, and became as dead.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Don’t YOU be afraid, for I know that YOU are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified.

6 He is not here; for he was raised up, just as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying.

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he was raised from the dead; and look, he is going ahead of YOU into Galilee; YOU will see him there: look, I told YOU.’

8 And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

9 And look, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Greetings!’ And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.

10 Then Jesus says to them, ‘Don’t be afraid: go bring word to my brethren, so that they’ll go into Galilee, and they’ll see me there.’

11 But while they were going, look, some of the sentries came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that happened.

12 And having assembled with the elders, and having taken counsel, they gave enough money to the soldiers,

13 saying, “Say that ‘his disciples came at night, and stole him while we slept.’

14 And if this should be heard by the governor, we will persuade him, and will free YOU from worry.”

15 So they took the money, and did as they were instructed. And this report was spread around among the Jews to this very day.

16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged with them.

17 And having seen him, they worshipped; but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came over and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth was given to me:

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:

20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded YOU: and look, I am with YOU all the days until the end of the world.’