⁴³ Ye have heard that it was said, ^[a]Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: ⁴⁴ but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; ⁴⁵ that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the ^[b]publicans the same? ⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same? ⁴⁸ Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

²⁷ But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, ²⁸ bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.

³² And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. ³³ And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, ^[a]never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. ³⁶ Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.