Common English Bible CEB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him.
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When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him,
2 He taught them, saying:
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and he began to teach them:
3 “Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
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"Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4 “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
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Blessed are those who mourn. They will be comforted.
5 “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
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Blessed are those who are gentle. They will inherit the earth.
6 “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God's approval. They will be satisfied.
7 “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
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Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be treated mercifully.
8 “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
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Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God.
9 “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God's children.
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Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God's children.
10 “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
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Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11 “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me.
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"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.
12 Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.
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Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It's good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people's feet.
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"You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.
14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can't be hidden.
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"You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house.
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No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
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In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.
17 “Don't even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven't come to do away with them but to fulfill them.
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"Don't ever think that I came to set aside Moses' Teachings or the Prophets. I didn't come to set them aside but to make them come true.
18 I say to you very seriously that as long as heaven and earth exist, neither the smallest letter nor even the smallest stroke of a pen will be erased from the Law until everything there becomes a reality.
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I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses' Teachings before everything has come true.
19 Therefore, whoever ignores one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called the lowest in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps these commands and teaches people to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
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So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches what the commands say will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 I say to you that unless your righteousness is greater than the righteousness of the legal experts and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
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I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God's approval and do it more faithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago, Don't commit murder, and all who commit murder will be in danger of judgment.
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"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.'
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,' they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,' they will be in danger of fiery hell.
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But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire.
23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
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"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you,
24 leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift.
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leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift.
25 Be sure to make friends quickly with your opponents while you are with them on the way to court. Otherwise, they will haul you before the judge, the judge will turn you over to the officer of the court, and you will be thrown into prison.
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"Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.
26 I say to you in all seriousness that you won't get out of there until you've paid the very last penny.
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I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine.
27 “You have heard that it was said, Don't commit adultery.
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"You have heard that it was said, 'Never commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you that every man who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart.
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But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart.
29 And if your right eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It's better that you lose a part of your body than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
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"So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to fall into sin, chop it off and throw it away. It's better that you lose a part of your body than that your whole body go into hell.
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And if your right hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into hell.
31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a divorce certificate.'
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"It has also been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice.'
32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife except for sexual unfaithfulness forces her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
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But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery.
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago: Don't make a false solemn pledge, but you should follow through on what you have pledged to the Lord.
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"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.'
34 But I say to you that you must not pledge at all. You must not pledge by heaven, because it's God's throne.
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But I tell you don't swear an oath at all. Don't swear an oath by heaven, which is God's throne,
35 You must not pledge by the earth, because it's God's footstool. You must not pledge by Jerusalem, because it's the city of the great king.
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or by the earth, which is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, which is the city of the great King.
36 And you must not pledge by your head, because you can't turn one hair white or black.
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And don't swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white.
37 Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.
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Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
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"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I say to you that you must not oppose those who want to hurt you. If people slap you on your right cheek, you must turn the left cheek to them as well.
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But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well.
40 When they wish to haul you to court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too.
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If someone wants to sue you in order to take your shirt, let him have your coat too.
41 When they force you to go one mile, go with them two.
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If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him.
42 Give to those who ask, and don't refuse those who wish to borrow from you.
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Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don't turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
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"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you
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But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.
45 so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.
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In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust.
46 If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?
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If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that!
47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don't even the Gentiles do the same?
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Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that!
48 Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.
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That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.