SERMON ON THE MOUNT, NEAR CAPERNAUM.
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was
set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught
them, saying,
Blessed _are_ the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom
of heaven. Blessed _are_ they that mourn: for they shall be
comforted. Blessed _are_ the meek: for they shall inherit the
earth. Blessed _are_ they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed _are_ the
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in
heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed _are_ the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God. Blessed _are_ they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when _men_ shall revile you, and persecute
_you_, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great _is_
your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his
savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot
of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto
all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven.
Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets: I
am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto
you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in
no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and
teach _them_, the same shall be called great in the kingdom
of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness
shall exceed _the righteousness_ of the scribes and Pharisees,
ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the
judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his
brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:
and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in
danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool,
shall be in danger of hell fire.
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave
there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way
with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the
judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be
cast into prison. Verily, I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no
means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost
farthing.
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever
looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend
thee, pluck it out, and cast _it_ from thee: for it is
profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and
not _that_ thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy
right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast _it_ from thee,
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not _that_ thy whole body should be cast into
hell.
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him
give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That
whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of
fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever
shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old
time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto
the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all;
neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth;
for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the
city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head,
because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let
your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is
more than these cometh of evil.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not
evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn
to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the
law, and take away thy coat, let him have _thy_ cloak also.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him
twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate
you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father
which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil
and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do
not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your
brethren only, what do ye more _than others_? do not even the
publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.