Matthew 23
Wycliffe Bible
23 Then Jesus spake to the people, and to his disciples, [Then Jesus spake to the companies, and to his disciples,]
2 and said, On the chair of Moses, scribes and Pharisees have sat. [saying, Scribes and Pharisees sat on the chair of Moses.]
3 Therefore keep ye, and do ye all things, whatever things they say to you [whatever they shall say to you]. But do not ye do after their works; for they say, and do not.
4 And they bind grievous charges, and that be not able to be borne [Soothly they bind grievous charges, and unportable, or that may not be borne], and put on [the] shoulders of men; but with their finger they will not move them.
5 Therefore [Forsooth] they do all their works to be seen of men; for they draw abroad their phylacteries, and magnify [their] hems.
6 And they love the first sitting places in suppers [Soothly they love the first sitting places at suppers], and the first chairs in synagogues;
7 and salutations in [the] market, and to be called of men, master [and to be called of men, masters].
8 But do not ye be called master; for one is your master, and all ye be brethren.
9 And do not ye call to you a father on earth [And do not ye call to you a father upon earth], for one is your Father, that is in heavens.
10 Neither be ye called masters, for one is your master, Christ.
11 He that is greatest among you, shall be your minister.
12 For he that higheth himself, shall be meeked; and he that meeketh himself, shall be enhanced. [Forsooth he that shall high himself, shall be meeked; and he that shall meek himself, shall be enhanced.]
13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that close the kingdom of heavens before men; and ye enter not, neither suffer other men entering to enter[a].
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that eat the houses of widows, and pray by long prayer; for this thing ye shall take the more doom.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that go about the sea and the land, to make one proselyte [that compass the sea and the land, to make one proselyte, that is, converted to your order]; and when he is made, ye make him a son of hell, double more than ye be [double more than you].
16 Woe to you, blind leaders, that say, Whoever sweareth by the temple of God, it is nothing; but he that sweareth in the gold of the temple, is debtor.[b]
17 Ye fools and blind, for what is greater, the gold, or the temple that halloweth the gold?
18 And whoever sweareth in the altar [And whoever shall swear in the altar], it is nothing; but he that sweareth in the gift that is on the altar, oweth [is debtor].
19 Blind men, for what is more, the gift, or the altar that halloweth the gift?
20 Therefore he that sweareth in the altar, sweareth in it, and in all things that be thereon.
21 And he that sweareth in the temple, sweareth in it, and in him that dwelleth in the temple.
22 And he that sweareth in heaven, sweareth in the throne of God, and in him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that tithe mint, anise, and cummin, and have left those things that be of more charge of the law, doom, and mercy, and faith. And it behooved to do these things [And these things it behooved, or needed, to do], and not to leave those.
24 Blind leaders, cleansing a gnat, but swallowing a camel.
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that cleanse the cup and the platter withoutforth [that make clean that thing of the cup and of the platter, that is withoutforth]; but within ye be full of raven and uncleanness.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the cup and the platter withinforth, that that that is withoutforth be made clean.[c]
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that be like to sepulchres whited [that be like to sepulchres made white], which withoutforth seem fair to men; but within they be full of bones of dead men, and of all filth.
28 So [and] ye withoutforth seem just to men [So and ye forsooth withoutforth appear rightful to men]; but within ye be full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that build [the] sepulchres of prophets, and make fair the burials of just men,
30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been their fellows in the blood of prophets.
31 And so ye be in witnessing to yourselves [And so ye be into witnessing to yourselves], that ye be the sons of them that slew the prophets.
32 And full-fill ye the measure of your fathers. [And fill ye the measure of your fathers.]
33 Ye adders, and adders' brood [Ye serpents, fruits of adders], how shall ye flee from the doom of hell?
34 Therefore lo! I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes [Therefore lo! I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes, or writers]; and of them ye shall slay and crucify, and of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues, and shall pursue from city into city;
35 that all the just blood come on [upon] you, that was shed on the earth, from the blood of just Abel [till] to the blood of Zacharias, the son of Barachias, whom ye slew betwixt the temple and the altar [whom ye slew between the temple and the altar].
36 Truly I say to you, all these things shall come on [upon] this generation.
37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that slayest prophets, and stonest them that be sent to thee, how oft would I gather together thy children, as an hen gathereth together her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not.
38 Lo! your house shall be left to you desert.
39 And I say to you, ye shall not see me from henceforth, till ye say, Blessed is he, that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:13 for ye close the realm of heaven before men; for ye enter not, neither ye suffer men entering to enter
- Matthew 23:16 Woe to you, blind leaders, that say, Whoever shall swear by the temple of God, it is nought; soothly he that shall swear in the gold of the temple, oweth, or is debtor.
- Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that thing of the cup and platter which is within, that also that thing that is withoutforth be made clean.
Matthew 23
New Matthew Bible
Christ cries woe over the Pharisees, scribes, and hypocrites, and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem.
23 Then Jesus spoke to the people and to his disciples, 2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 All therefore that they bid you to observe, that observe and do. But do not follow their works. For they say, but do not do. 4 Yea and they bind up heavy burdens, grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to carry them themselves.
5 All their works they do to be seen by men. They enlarge their phylacteries, and make large borders on their garments. 6 They love to sit uppermost at feasts, and to have the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and greetings in the markets, and to be called Rabbi by men.
8 But you shall not suffer yourselves to be called Rabbi. For one is your Master, that is, Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man upon the earth your father, for there is but one your Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Do not be called teachers, for there is but one your Teacher, and he is Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 But whosoever exalts himself, shall be brought low. And he who humbles himself, shall be exalted.
13 Woe is to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven before men. You yourselves go not in, neither do you suffer those who come to enter in.
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses, and that under a colour of praying long prayers, for which you shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who compass land and sea to bring one person into your belief. And when he is brought in, you make him twofold more the child of hell than you yourselves are.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say that if someone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but whosoever swears by the gold of the temple, he offends. 17 O fools, and blind! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And whosoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering that lies on the altar, offends – 19 Ye fools, and blind! Which is greater: the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20 Whoever therefore swears by the altar, swears by it and by all that is on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells therein. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the seat of God and by him who sits upon it.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who tithe mint, anise, and cummin, and leave the weightier matters of the law undone: judgment, mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, and not to have left the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of greed and excess. 26 You blind Pharisee: cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, so that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like painted tombs, which appear beautiful outwardly, but within are full of dead bones and of all uncleanness. 28 This is how you are, for outwardly you appear righteous to men, when within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 So then, you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the children of those who killed the prophets! 32 Fill up then likewise the cup of your fathers. 33 Serpents and offspring of vipers, how can you escape the judgment of hell?
34 And so behold: I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you may come all the righteous blood that was shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills prophets, and stones those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as the hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you would not. 38 Behold, your habitation shall be left to you desolate. 39 For I say to you, you will not see me henceforth until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 23
Authorized (King James) Version
23 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
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.