Matthew 18

1In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

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

2And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,

2Jesus called a little child to him and had the child stand among them.

3and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.

3Then he said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'

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

4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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

5And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

6but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!

7How terrible it is for the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things are bound to happen, but it will be terrible for the person who causes them to happen!

8And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.

8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

9And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.

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

10See 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 who is in heaven.

10Make sure that you do not look down on one of these little ones. I tell you that their angels in heaven are always looking at the face of my Father who is in heaven.

11

11[Note: This verse is not included in the earliest manuscripts.]

12How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?

12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go look for the one that is lost?

13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.

13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

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

14In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost.

15And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

15If your brother sins against you, go and point out the fault just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back.

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

16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every matter may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

17And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.

17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

18I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

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

19Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

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

20For where two or three gather together in my name, I am there with them.

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

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?'

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

22Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'

23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.

23Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

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

24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

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

25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he, his wife, his children, and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

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

26The servant fell on his knees before him and begged, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything.'

27And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

27The master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.

28But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.

28But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe me!'

29So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.

29His fellow servant fell on his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.

30But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

31So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:

32Then the master called the servant in and said, 'You wicked servant! I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.'

33shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?

33'Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'

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

34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

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

35This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.