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Matthew 18:21-35
New Living Translation
Matthew 18:21-35
New Living Translation
Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone[a] who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven![b]
23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.[c] 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars.[d] He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters[e] from your heart.”
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Matthew 18:21-35
New International Version
Matthew 18:21-35
New International Version
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?(A) Up to seven times?”(B)
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a](C)
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like(D) a king who wanted to settle accounts(E) with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[b] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay,(F) the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold(G) to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him.(H) ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”(I)
Footnotes
- Matthew 18:22 Or seventy times seven
- Matthew 18:24 Greek ten thousand talents; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wages.
- Matthew 18:28 Greek a hundred denarii; a denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see 20:2).
Matthew 18:21-35
King James Version
Matthew 18:21-35
King James Version
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
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.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the 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.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the 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.
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:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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Micah 7:18-19
New Living Translation
Micah 7:18-19
New Living Translation
18 Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19 Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
Micah 7:18-19
New International Version
Micah 7:18-19
New International Version
18 Who is a God(A) like you,
who pardons sin(B) and forgives(C) the transgression
of the remnant(D) of his inheritance?(E)
You do not stay angry(F) forever
but delight to show mercy.(G)
19 You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities(H) into the depths of the sea.(I)
Micah 7:18-19
King James Version
Micah 7:18-19
King James Version
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
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Psalm 103:12
New Living Translation
Psalm 103:12
New Living Translation
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
Psalm 103:12
New International Version
Psalm 103:12
New International Version
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions(A) from us.
Psalm 103:12
King James Version
Psalm 103:12
King James Version
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
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Colossians 3:13
New Living Translation
Colossians 3:13
New Living Translation
13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
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Colossians 3:13
New International Version
Colossians 3:13
New International Version
13 Bear with each other(A) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(B)
Colossians 3:13
King James Version
Colossians 3:13
King James Version
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
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Romans 12:17-21
New Living Translation
Romans 12:17-21
New Living Translation
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”[a]
says the Lord.
20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”[b]
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
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Romans 12:17-21
New International Version
Romans 12:17-21
New International Version
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(A) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(B) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(C) 19 Do not take revenge,(D) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a](E) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[b](F)
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Footnotes
- Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
- Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22
Romans 12:17-21
King James Version
Romans 12:17-21
King James Version
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
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Ephesians 4:31-32
New Living Translation
Ephesians 4:31-32
New Living Translation
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
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Ephesians 4:31-32
New International Version
Ephesians 4:31-32
New International Version
31 Get rid of(A) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(B) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(C) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(D)
Ephesians 4:31-32
King James Version
Ephesians 4:31-32
King James Version
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
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Matthew 6:14
New Living Translation
Matthew 6:14
New Living Translation
14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
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Matthew 6:14
New International Version
Matthew 6:14
New International Version
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.(A)
Matthew 6:14
King James Version
Matthew 6:14
King James Version
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
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New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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