1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountain. He sat down, and his disciples came to him.
2Then he began to teach them. He said:
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 meek, 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 be shown mercy."
8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God."
10"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
11"You are blessed when people insult you and persecute you, and tell all kinds of lies about you because of me."
12"Be glad and full of joy, for your reward in heaven is great. That is how they persecuted the prophets who lived before you."
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
14"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden."
15"People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. They put it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
16"In the same way, let your light shine in front of others. Then they will see your good works, and will give glory to your Father in heaven."
17"Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have not come to destroy them, but to fulfil them."
18"I tell you the truth: until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will pass from the law, until everything is fulfilled."
19"So whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
20"For I tell you, unless your righteousness is greater than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
21"You have heard that it was said to people long ago, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be in danger of the judgment.'"
22"But I tell you, whoever is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, 'Raca,' will be in danger of the council. And whoever says, 'You fool,' will be in danger of the fire of hell."
23"So if you are 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 go. First make peace with your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
25"Settle quickly with the one who accuses you, while you are still on the way with him. If you do not, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison."
26"I tell you the truth: you will not come out of there until you have paid the very last farthing."
27"You have heard that it was said to people long ago, 'You shall not commit adultery.'"
28"But I tell you, whoever looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
29"If your right eye makes you sin, pull it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."
30"And if your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."
31"It has been said, 'Whoever sends his wife away must give her a written notice of divorce.'"
32"But I tell you, whoever sends his wife away, except for the cause of sexual sin, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery."
33"Again, you have heard that it was said to people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have sworn to the Lord.'"
34"But I tell you, do not swear at all. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne."
35"Do not swear by the earth, for it is his footstool. Do not swear by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King."
36"And do not swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black."
37"Let your word be simply, 'Yes, yes,' or 'No, no.' Anything more than this comes from evil."
38"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'"
39"But I tell you, do not fight back against evil. If someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other cheek to him too."
40"If anyone wants to take you to court and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well."
41"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two."
42"Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'"
44"But I tell you, love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who treat you badly and persecute you."
45"Then you will be the children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
46"If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?"
47"And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the tax collectors do that?"
48"So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."