Matthew, 18

1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

1. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

2. Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples,

3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

3. and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of Jesus heaven.

4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

4. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,

5. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

5. and whoever receives such a child in my name receives me.

6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

6. If any of you should cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble and fall, it would be better for you to be thrown into the depths of the sea with a great millstone around your neck.

7. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

7. Woe to the world because of so many scandals! Scandals necessarily come, but woe to the one who has brought it about.

8. Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast [them] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

8. If your hand or foot drags you into sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life without a hand or a foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with your two hands and two feet.

9. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

9. And if your eye drags you into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to be thrown into the fire of hell with your two eyes.

10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

10. See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you: their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.

11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

11. (The Son of Man has come to save the lost).

12. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

12. What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one?

13. And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that [sheep], than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

13. And I tell you: when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it than about the ninety-nine that did not get lost.

14. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

14. It is the same with your Father in heaven: there they don't want even one of these little ones to be lost.

15. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

15. If your brother or sister has sinned against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are in private, and if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

16. But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

16. If you are not listened to, take with you one or two others so that the case may be decided by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

17. If he still refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembled Church. But if he does not listen to the Church, then regard such a one as a pagan or a publican.

18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

18. I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, heaven will keep bound; and whatever you unbind on earth, heaven will keep unbound.

19. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

19. In like manner, I say to you: if on earth two of you are united in asking for anything, it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father.

20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

20. For where two or three are gathered in my Name, I am there among them."

21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

21. Then Peter asked him, "Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?"

22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

22. Jesus answered, "No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

23. This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants.

24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

24. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots.

25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

25. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.

26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

26. The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.'

27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

27. The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.

28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

28. This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!'

29. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

29. His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.'

30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

30. The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.

31. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

31. His companions saw what happened. They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord.

32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

32. Then the lord summoned his official and said, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so.

33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

33. Weren't you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?'

34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

34. The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt."

35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

35. Jesus added, "So will my heavenly Father do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister."