Matthew, 19

1. he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

1. Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and he left Galilee and came into the territory of Judaea on the far side of the Jordan.

2. Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there.

2. Large crowds followed him and he healed them there.

3. Some Pharisees approached him, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?"

3. Some Pharisees approached him, and to put him to the test they said, 'Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?'

4. He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female'

4. He answered, 'Have you not read that the Creator from the beginning made them male and female

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. and that he said: This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and the two become one flesh?

6. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate."

6. They are no longer two, therefore, but one flesh. So then, what God has united, human beings must not divide.'

7. They said to him, "Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss (her)?"

7. They said to him, 'Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorce?'

8. He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

8. He said to them, 'It was because you were so hard-hearted, that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning.

9. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery."

9. Now I say this to you: anyone who divorces his wife -- I am not speaking of an illicit marriage -- and marries another, is guilty of adultery.'

10. (His) disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."

10. The disciples said to him, 'If that is how things are between husband and wife, it is advisable not to marry.'

11. He answered, "Not all can accept (this) word, but only those to whom that is granted.

11. But he replied, 'It is not everyone who can accept what I have said, but only those to whom it is granted.

12. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

12. There are eunuchs born so from their mother's womb, there are eunuchs made so by human agency and there are eunuchs who have made themselves so for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.'

13. Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them,

13. Then people brought little children to him, for him to lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples scolded them,

14. but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

14. but Jesus said, 'Let the little children alone, and do not stop them from coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of Heaven belongs.'

15. After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

15. Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

16. Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?"

16. And now a man came to him and asked, 'Master, what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?'

17. He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

17. Jesus said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one alone who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.'

18. He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness;

18. He said, 'Which ones?' Jesus replied, 'These: You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false witness.

19. honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

19. Honour your father and your mother. You shall love your neighbour as yourself.'

20. The young man said to him, "All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?"

20. The young man said to him, 'I have kept all these. What more do I need to do?'

21. Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

21. Jesus said, 'If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'

22. When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

22. But when the young man heard these words he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

23. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

23. Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'In truth I tell you, it is hard for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

24. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

24. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven.'

25. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?"

25. When the disciples heard this they were astonished. 'Who can be saved, then?' they said.

26. Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."

26. Jesus gazed at them. 'By human resources', he told them, 'this is impossible; for God everything is possible.'

27. Then Peter said to him in reply, "We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?"

27. Then Peter answered and said, 'Look, we have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?'

28. Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

28. Jesus said to them, 'In truth I tell you, when everything is made new again and the Son of man is seated on his throne of glory, you yourselves will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

29. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.

29. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times as much, and also inherit eternal life.

30. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

30. 'Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'