New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
1
And it came about that after saying these words, Jesus went away from Galilee, and came into the parts of Judaea on the other side of Jordan.
2 Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there.
2
And a great number went after him; and he made them well there.
3 Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?"
3
And certain Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, Is it right for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 He answered, "Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning "made them male and female,'
4
And he said in answer, Have you not seen in the Writings, that he who made them at the first made them male and female, and said,
5 and said, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
5
For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and the two will become one flesh?
6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
6
So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Then let not that which has been joined by God be parted by man.
7 They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?"
7
They say to him, Why then did Moses give orders that a husband might give her a statement in writing and be free from her?
8 He said to them, "It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
8
He says to them, Moses, because of your hard hearts, let you put away your wives: but it has not been so from the first.
9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery."
9
And I say to you, Whoever puts away his wife for any other cause than the loss of her virtue, and takes another, is a false husband: and he who takes her as his wife when she is put away, is no true husband to her.
10 His disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
10
The disciples say to him, If this is the position of a man in relation to his wife, it is better not to be married.
11 But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given.
11
But he said to them, Not all men are able to take in this saying, but only those to whom it is given.
12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."
12
For there are men who, from birth, were without sex: and there are some who were made so by men: and there are others who have made themselves so for the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to take it, let him take it.
13 Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them;
13
Then some people took little children to him, so that he might put his hands on them in blessing: and the disciples said sharp words to them.
14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs."
14
But Jesus said, Let the little ones come to me, and do not keep them away: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15 And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
15
And he put his hands on them, and went away.
16 Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"
16
And one came to him and said, Master, what good thing have I to do, so that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
17
And he said to him, Why are you questioning me about what is good? One there is who is good: but if you have a desire to go into life, keep the rules of the law.
18 He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;
18
He says to him, Which? And Jesus said, Do not put anyone to death, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not take what is not yours, Do not give false witness,
19 Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
19
Give honour to your father and your mother: and, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.
20 The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?"
20
The young man says to him, All these things have I done: what more is there?
21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
21
Jesus said to him, If you have a desire to be complete, go, get money for your property, and give it to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven: and come after me.
22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
22
But hearing these words the young man went away sorrowing: for he had much property.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.
23
And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I say to you, It is hard for a man with much money to go into the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
24
And again I say to you, It is simpler for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a man with much money to go into the kingdom of God.
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, "Then who can be saved?"
25
And the disciples, hearing this, were greatly surprised, saying, Who then may have salvation?
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible."
26
And Jesus, looking at them, said, With men this is not possible; but with God all things are possible.
27 Then Peter said in reply, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?"
27
Then Peter said to him, See, we have given up everything and have come after you; what then will we have?
28 Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
28
And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that in the time when all things are made new, and the Son of man is seated in his glory, you who have come after me will be seated on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.
29
And everyone who has given up houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or child, or land, for my name, will be given a hundred times as much, and have eternal life.
30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
30
But a great number who are first will be last, and some who are last will be first.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.