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¹ Jesus, to avoid this crowd of people, went to a mountain: and when he was set down, his disciples came to him. ² and he addressed himself to them in these instructions.

³ Blessed are they, that are of an humble spirit, for of such is the kingdom of the Messias. ⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be satisfied. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the pacific: for they shall be the children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are they who are persecuted upon the account of righteousness: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed shall you be when men shall revile and persecute you, and falsely charge you with all manner of evil for your attachment to me. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great will be your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt become insipid, how shall it recover its savour? it is no longer fit for any thing, but to be cast out and trod under foot. ¹⁴ ye are the light of the world. a city that is situated on an hill, cannot be hid; ¹⁵ and when men light a lamp, they do not put it under a bushel: but on the stand, to give light to all the family. ¹⁶ even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father who is in heaven.

¹⁷ Don't think that I am come to abolish the law or the prophets: I am not come to abolish, but to complete them. ¹⁸ I assure you, heaven and earth may as well cease to be, as that one jot or one tittle of the law should fail of its completion. ¹⁹ whoever therefore shall break any commandment, tho' of the least importance, and shall teach men so to do, shall not have the least admittance into the kingdom of the Messias: but whoever shall do and teach them, he shall be great in the kingdom of the Messias. ²⁰ for I declare to you, that except your righteousness shall exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the heavenly kingdom.

²¹ Ye have heard that it has been said to the antients, "Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill, shall be punish'd by the tribunal." ²² but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be punish'd by the tribunal: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be punish'd by the Sanhedrim: but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be punish'd by the fire of Gehenna. ²³ When therefore you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has reason to be displeas'd with you: ²⁴ leave your gift before the altar, go, and first of all reconcile yourself to your brother; then come to offer your gift. ²⁵ endeavour to win your adversary, even whilst you are in the way: left the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be thrown into jayl. ²⁶ I assure you, you will not be discharged till you have paid to the very last farthing.

²⁷ Ye have heard that it was said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," ²⁸ but I tell you, that whosoever looks on a woman with impure desires is already guilty of approving the fact. ²⁹ If your right eye insnare you, it is better to pull it out, and to suffer the loss of that single part, than that thy whole body should be cast into Gehenna. ³⁰ and if thy right hand insnare thee, it is better to saw it off, and to suffer the loss of that single part, than that thy whole body should be thrown into Gehenna. ³¹ It hath been said, whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. ³² but I say unto you, whoever shall put away his wife, except in the case of adultery, is the occasion of her being an adulteress, and he that shall marry her is an adulterer.

³³ Again, ye have heard that it hath been said to the antients, "Thou shalt not for swear thy self, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths." ³⁴ but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne: ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. ³⁷ but let your communication be, yes, yes; no, no: for whatever goes beyond this, is evil.

³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." ³⁹ but I say unto you, don't return evil for evil; on the contrary, if any one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other likewise. ⁴⁰ and if any man will go to law with you, to have your coat, let him have your cloke too. ⁴¹ and if any one will press you to go a mile with him, go with him the other two. ⁴² give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not away.

⁴³ You have heard that it hath been said, "you shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy:" ⁴⁴ but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who traduce you, and persecute you: ⁴⁵ that ye may be the children of your father who is in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ but if you love only them who love you, what reward can ye have? do not the heathens themselves do as much? ⁴⁷ and if ye salute your brethren only, what mighty matter is that? do not even the heathens do the same? ⁴⁸ be ye therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect.