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Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountain, and after He had sat down, His disciples approached Him. 2 Then He began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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 sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its saltiness, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means pass from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Whoever then breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, ‘Do not murder’; and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says, ‘Raca’, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fires of Gehenna.
23 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary while you’re going with him to court, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery’. 28 But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one part of your body, than your whole body to be thrown into hell.
31 “It has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce’. 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced wife commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that was said to people in earlier times, ‘You must not break your oath, but carry out the oaths you have made to the Lord’. 34 But I say to you, do not swear an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’, ‘No’. For anything more than this comes from the evil one.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’. 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evil person. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 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, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy’. 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as Your heavenly Father is perfect.”