Matthew 18
Wycliffe Bible
18 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, and said [saying], Who, guessest thou, is [the] greater in the kingdom of heavens?
2 And Jesus called a little child, and put him in the middle of them; [And Jesus, calling a little child, set him in the midst of them;]
3 and said, I say truth to you [and said, Truly I say to you], but ye be turned, and [be] made as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heavens.
4 Therefore whoever meeketh him[self] as this little child, he is [the] greater in the kingdom of heavens.[a]
5 And he that receiveth one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
6 But whoso causeth to stumble one of these small[b], that believe in me, it speedeth to him that a millstone of asses be hanged in his neck, and [that] he be drowned in the deepness of the sea.
7 Woe to the world, for causes of stumbling; for it is need that causes of stumbling come; nevertheless woe to that man by whom a cause of stumbling cometh. [Woe to the world, for offences; truly it is need, that offences come; nevertheless, woe to that man by whom an offence cometh.]
8 And if thine hand or thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it away from thee. It is better to thee to enter to life feeble, either crooked, than having twain hands or two feet to be sent into everlasting fire.[c]
9 And if thine eye cause thee to stumble [And if thine eye offend thee], pull it out, and cast it away from thee. It is better to thee with one eye to enter into life, than having twain eyes to be sent into the fire of hell [than having two eyes to be sent into hell fire].
10 See ye, that ye despise not one of these little. For I say to you, that the angels of them in heavens see evermore the face of my Father that is in heavens [Truly I say to you, for the angels of them in heavens see ever the face of my Father which is in heavens].
11 For man's Son came to save that thing that perished.
12 What seemeth to you? If there were to a man an hundred sheep, and one of them hath erred, whether he shall not leave ninety and nine in desert [whether he shall not leave ninety and nine in the hills], and shall go to seek that that erred?
13 And if it fall that he find it, truly I say to you, that he shall have joy thereof more than on ninety and nine that erred not. [And if it befall that he find it, truly I say to you, for he shall joy thereon more than of ninety and nine that erred not.]
14 So it is not the will of your Father that is in heavens[d], that one of these little perish.
15 But if thy brother sinneth against thee, go thou, and reprove him, betwixt thee and him alone; if he heareth thee, thou hast won thy brother.[e]
16 And if he heareth thee not, take with thee one or twain, that every word stand in the mouth of twain or three witnesses. [Truly if he shall not hear thee, take with thee one or two, that every word stand in the mouth of two or three witnesses.]
17 And if he heareth not them, say thou to the church. But if he heareth not the church, be he as an heathen and a publican to thee. [That if he shall not hear them, say thou to the church. Forsooth if he shall not hear the church, be he to thee as an heathen man and a publican.]
18 I say to you truly, whatever things ye [shall] bind on earth, those shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever things ye [shall] unbind on earth, those shall be unbound also in heaven. [I say to you truly, whatever things ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever things ye shall unbind on earth, shall be unbound also in heaven.]
19 Again I say to you, that if twain of you consent on earth, of every thing whatever they ask, it shall be done to them of my Father that is in heavens.[f]
20 For where twain or three be gathered in my name, there I am in the middle of them. [For where two or three be gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.]
21 Then Peter came to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I shall forgive him? Whether till seven times?
22 Jesus saith to him, I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heavens is likened to a king, that would reckon with his servants.
24 And when he began to reckon, one that owed to him ten thousand talents, was brought to him[g].
25 And when he had not whereof to yield, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all things that he had, and to be paid.
26 But that servant felled down, and prayed him, and said [saying], Have patience in me, and I shall yield to thee all things.
27 And the lord had mercy on that servant, and suffered him to go, and forgave him the debt.[h]
28 But that servant went out, and found one of his even-servants, that owed him an hundred pence; and he held him, and strangled him, and said [saying], Yield that that thou owest.
29 And his even-servant fell down, and prayed him, and said [saying], Have patience in me, and I shall requite all things to thee.
30 But he would not; but went out, and put him into prison [but went and sent him into prison], till he [had] paid all the debt.
31 And his even-servants, seeing the things that were done, [were] sorrowed greatly. And they came, and told to their lord all the things that were done.
32 Then his lord called him, and said to him, Wicked servant, I forgave to thee all the debt, for thou prayedest me.
33 Therefore whether it behooved not also thee to have mercy on thine even-servant [on thy even-servant], as [also] I had mercy on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and took him to tormentors [And his lord wroth, betook him to tormentors], till he [had] paid all the debt.
35 So [and] my Father of heaven shall do to you, if ye forgive not every man to his brother, of your hearts.
Footnotes
- Matthew 18:4 Therefore whoever shall meek himself as this little child, he is the greater in the realm of heavens.
- Matthew 18:6 Forsooth who shall offend one of these little
- Matthew 18:8 Forsooth if thine hand or thy foot offend thee, cut it off, and cast it away from thee. It is good to thee to enter into life feeble, or crooked, than having two hands or two feet to be sent into everlasting fire.
- Matthew 18:14 which is in heavens/that is in heaven
- Matthew 18:15 Forsooth if thy brother shall sin against thee, go thou, and reprove him, or snub, between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast won thy brother.
- Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent on the earth, of each thing whatever they shall ask, it shall be done to them of my Father which is in heavens.
- Matthew 18:24 one was brought to him, that owed to him ten thousand bezants, or talents
- Matthew 18:27 Forsooth the lord of that servant having mercy, let go him, or suffered him/delivered him, and forgave to him the debt.
Matthew 18
New Matthew Bible
He teaches his disciples to be humble and harmless, to avoid occasions of inducement to sin, and to forgive one another their offences.
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 Jesus called a child to him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become as children, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever therefore humbles himself like this child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives such a child in my name, receives me. 6 But whoever hurts one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe be to the world because of offences. However, it cannot be avoided but that offences will come. Nevertheless, woe be to the man by whom the offence comes.
8 And so if your hand or your foot causes you to offend, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed than for you, having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if also your eye causes you to offend, tear it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11 Yea, and the Son of man has come to save that which is lost. 12 What do you think: if a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains and go and seek that one which has gone astray? 13 If it happens that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15 Moreover, if your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between him and you alone. If he hears you, you have redeemed your brother. 16 But if he does not hear you, then take along with you one or two others, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17 If he does not hear them, tell it to the congregation. If he does not hear the congregation, take him as a heathen man and as a publican. 18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree in earth about any manner of thing, whatsoever they desire, it shall be given them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then Peter came to him and said, Master, how often should I forgive my brother if he sins against me? Seven times?
22 Jesus said to him, I say to you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is likened to a certain king who wished to take accounts from his servants. 24 And when he had begun the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents. 25 Because he had nothing to pay with, his master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and his children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant fell down and besought him, saying, Sir, give me respite, and I will pay it every whit. 27 Then the lord had pity on that servant and released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 And that same servant went out and found one of his fellows who owed him 100 denarii, and laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe! 29 And his fellow servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. 30 But he would not, and went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 When the other servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and went and told their lord all that had happened. 32 Then his lord called the man and said to him, O evil servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Was it not right also that you should have had compassion on your fellow, just as I had pity on you? 34 And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the jailers till he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do with you, unless you forgive with your hearts each one his brother’s trespasses.
Matthew 18
Authorized (King James) Version
18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 Take heed 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 which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.