1 Now seeing the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples approached him.
2 Opening his mouth, he taught them, saying,
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be fed to the full.
7 Blessed are the merciful, because mercy will be given to them.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those persecuted on account of righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 Blessed are you when people heap insults on you and persecute you and falsely say every evil word against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be overjoyed, because your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who came before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown outside and walked on by people.
14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a mountain cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp only to place it under the grain basket; rather, they set it on the lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house.
16 Let your light shine before people in just this way, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 Do not suppose that I came to tear down the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to tear down, but to fulfill.
18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single iota or a single stroke of a letter will by any means pass from the Law until everything has taken place.
19 So whoever sets aside one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, this one will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say to you that if your righteousness does not go far beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have heard that the people of long ago were told, 'You shall not murder,' and 'Whoever murders will be subject to judgment.'
22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to judgment; anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' will be subject to the Council; and anyone who says, 'Fool!' will be subject to the hell of fire.
23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there you recall that your brother holds something against you,
24 leave your gift right there in front of the altar and go away; first make peace with your brother, and then come and present your gift.
25 Be quick to make friends with your opponent while you are still on the road with him, or else your opponent may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
26 Truly I say to you, you will certainly not come out from there until you pay back the last quadrans.
27 You have heard that the people of long ago were told, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you that anyone who gazes at a woman in order to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you; it is to your advantage that one of your body parts be lost, and not that your whole body be thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you; it is to your advantage that one of your body parts be lost, and not that your whole body be thrown into hell.
31 It was also said, 'Whoever sends away his wife must give her a document of divorce.'
32 But I say to you that whoever sends away his wife, except on account of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who has been sent away commits adultery.
33 Again, you have heard that the people of long ago were told, 'You shall not break your oath, but you shall carry out your oaths to the Lord.'
34 But I say to you, make no oath at all: not by heaven, because it is God's throne,
35 nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.
36 And do not swear by your own head, since you are not able to make a single hair white or black.
37 Rather, let your speech be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; whatever goes beyond these is 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 stand against the evil person; rather, whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.
40 And to the one who wants to take you to court and take your tunic, yield your cloak too.
41 Whoever presses you into service for one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to anyone who asks of you, and do not turn your back on the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies; bless the ones who curse you, treat well the ones who hate you, and pray for the ones who abuse you and persecute you,
45 so that you may become sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he causes his sun to rise on evil people and good, and he sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 For if you love the people who love you, what reward do you have? Are not the tax collectors doing the same thing too?
47 And if you greet your brothers only, what are you doing beyond others? Are not the tax collectors also doing this?
48 So you are to be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.