Mark 9:42-50
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Temptations to Sin
42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me,[a] it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,[b] to the unquenchable fire.[c] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.[d][e] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,[f] 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.[g] 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?[h] Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 9:42 Other ancient authorities lack in me
- Mark 9:43 Gk Gehenna
- Mark 9:43 Verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48) are lacking in the best ancient authorities
- Mark 9:45 Gk Gehenna
- Mark 9:45 Verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48) are lacking in the best ancient authorities
- Mark 9:47 Gk Gehenna
- Mark 9:49 Other ancient authorities either add or substitute and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
- Mark 9:50 Or how can you restore its saltiness?
Mark 9:42-50
Contemporary English Version
Temptations To Sin
(Matthew 18.6-9; Luke 17.1,2)
42 It will be terrible for people who cause even one of my little followers to sin. Those people would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their necks. 43-44 (A) So if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! You would be better off to go into life paralyzed than to have two hands and be thrown into the fires of hell that never go out.[a] 45-46 If your foot causes you to sin, chop it off. You would be better off to go into life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.[b] 47 (B) If your eye causes you to sin, get rid of it. You would be better off to go into God's kingdom with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. 48 (C) The worms there never die, and the fire never stops burning.
49 Everyone must be salted with fire.[c]
50 (D) Salt is good. But if it no longer tastes like salt, how can it be made salty again? Have salt among you and live at peace with each other.[d]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 9.43,44 never go out: Some manuscripts add, “The worms there never die, and the fire never stops burning.”
- 9.45,46 thrown into hell: Some manuscripts add, “The worms there never die, and the fire never stops burning.”
- 9.49 salted with fire: Some manuscripts add “and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.” The verse may mean that Christ's followers must suffer because of their faith.
- 9.50 Have salt among you and live at peace with each other: This may mean that when Christ's followers have to suffer because of their faith, they must still try to live at peace with each other.
Mark 9:42-50
Authorized (King James) Version
42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
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