1 And seeing the crowds, He {Iesous, Teaching Rabbi} went up into the mountain, and when He had sat down, His disciples {mathētai: committed learners} came to Him.
2 And He {Iesous, Authoritative Teacher}, having opened His mouth {stoma: formal public address}, was teaching them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor {ptochos: spiritually needy} in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom {basileia: divine reign} of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn {penthountes: deep sorrow}, for they {autoi: they themselves} will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek {praeis: quietly humble}, because they will inherit the earth {ge: covenant inheritance}.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness {dikaiosune: covenant faithfulness}, because they will be satisfied {chortasthesontai: abundantly filled}.
7 Blessed are the merciful {eleemones: compassionate ones}, for they will be shown mercy {eleethesontai: be shown compassion}.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart {kardia: inner self}, for they will see God {Theos, Holy Vision-Giver}.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers {eirenopoioi: those reconciling others}, for they will be called sons of God {Theos, Adopting Father}.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness {dikaiosyne: covenant faithfulness}, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens {ouranoi: heavenly reign}.
11 Blessed {makarios: spiritually favored} are you whenever they revile you and persecute you and say every evil thing against you falsely, for My {Iesous, Suffering Lord} sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, because your reward is great in the heavens {ouranos: exalted spiritual realm}; for in this way they persecuted the prophets {prophetes: divinely inspired spokesmen} who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth {ges: inhabited land}; but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be salted? It is no longer useful for anything except to be thrown outside and trampled by people {anthropon: human beings}.
14 You are the world’s light {phos: visible witness}. A city {polis: gathered community} situated on a mountain cannot be hidden.
15 People do not light a lamp and tuck it beneath the basket {modion: grain measure}. Instead, they set it on the lampstand {lychnia: raised stand}, and it shines for everyone in the house.
16 In this way, let your light shine forth before people, so that they may observe your good works and glorify your Father {pater, Heavenly Father} who is in the heavens {ouranois: heavenly realm}.
17 Do not suppose that I {Iesous, Scripture Fulfiller} came to nullify the law or the prophets; I did not come to nullify, but to fulfill {plerosai: bring to fullness}.
18 I {Iesous, Authoritative Teacher} say to you: until heaven and earth come to an end, not one iota or one stroke will ever vanish from the law {nomos: covenant instruction} until all things come to be.
19 Therefore whoever annuls one of these least commandments {entolai: covenant directives} and teaches people this way will be called least in the kingdom of heaven {basileia ton ouranon: heavenly reign}; but whoever does and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I {Iesous, Kingdom Authority} say to you that if your righteousness does not outstrip that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom {basileia: royal reign} of heaven.
21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients {archaiois: earlier generations}, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment {krisis: legal decision}.”
22 But I {Iesous, Authoritative Lawgiver} say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, “Raca” will be liable to the council, and whoever says, “Fool,” will be liable to the Gehenna {geenna: final fiery punishment} of fire.
23 Therefore, if you are bringing your gift {doron: worship offering} to the altar {thysiastērion: sacrificial place} and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 Leave your gift there before the altar {thysiastērion: sacrificial place}, and go; first be reconciled to your brother {adelphos: covenant kinsman}, and then, having come, offer your gift.
25 Be well-disposed toward your adversary {antidikos: legal opponent} quickly, while you are with him on the way, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge {krites: court decision maker}, and the judge to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
26 Truly, I {Iesous, Righteous Judge} say to you, you will by no means come out from there until you have paid the last penny {kodrantes: very small Roman coin}.
27 You have heard {ekousate: listened to teaching} that it was said {errethe: handed down statement}, “You shall not commit adultery.”
28 But I {Iesous, Heart-Searching Teacher} say to you that everyone who looks at a woman for the purpose of desiring her has already committed adultery with her in his heart {kardia: inner life center}.
29 But if your right eye causes you to stumble {skandalizei: lead into sin}, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is profitable {sumpherei: truly beneficial} for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into Gehenna.
30 And if your right hand {dexia: place of action} causes you to stumble {skandalizei: lead into sin}, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should go away into Gehenna.
31 But it was said, “Whoever divorces {apolyo: ends marriage bond} his wife {gynaika: covenant partner}, let him give her a certificate of divorce.”
32 But I {Iesous, Law-Fulfilling Teacher} say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality {porneia: marital unfaithfulness}, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the people of old, “You shall not swear falsely, but you shall fulfill your oaths {horkous: solemn commitments} to the Lord {Kyrios, Covenant Witness}.”
34 But I say to you, do not swear {omosai: binding oath vow} at all—neither by heaven, because it is the throne of God {theos, Heavenly King}:
35 Nor by the earth, for it is the footstool {hypopodion: symbol of submission} of His {Theos, Cosmic Sovereign} feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white {leuken: fully white} or black {melainan: completely black}.
37 But let your word {logos: truthful speech} be “Yes, yes,” “No, no”; and whatever is more than these is from evil {poneros: corrupt source}.
38 You have heard {akouo: receive teaching} that it was said, “Eye {ophthalmos: physical eye} for eye and tooth for tooth.”
39 But I {Iesous, Righteous Lawgiver} say to you, do not resist the evil person {poneros: one who acts wickedly}; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And to the one who desires to sue {krithenai: court judgment} you and take your tunic, grant him your cloak {himation: outer garment} also.
41 And whoever compels {angareuo: legally obliges} you to go one mile {milion: Roman distance unit}, go with him two.
42 Give to the one who asks {aitounti: keeps requesting} you, and do not turn away {apostraphes: refuse assistance} from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor {plesion: nearby person} and hate your enemy {echthron: personal foe}.”
44 But I {Iesous, Authoritative Teacher} say to you, love your enemies {echthrous: actively hostile people} and pray for those who persecute you.
45 So that you may become sons of your Father {Pater, Impartial Provider} who is in the heavens, because He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the righteous {dikaios: morally upright ones} and the unrighteous.
46 For if you love {agapao: devoted commitment} those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors {telonai: despised revenue agents} do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers {adelphous: close kin group}, what more are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles {ethnikoi: non-Jewish peoples} do the same?
48 You therefore shall be perfect {teleios: fully mature}, as your Father {Pater, Holy Standard} in heaven is perfect.