Matthew 23
New King James Version
Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees(A)
23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: (B)“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you [a]to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for (C)they say, and do not do. 4 (D)For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, 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 to (E)be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 (F)They love the [b]best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 (G)But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your [c]Teacher, [d]the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; (H)for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But (I)he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 (J)And whoever exalts himself will be [e]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be [f]exalted.
13 “But (K)woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [g]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (L)For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [h]hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, (M)blind guides, who say, (N)‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold (O)or the temple that [i]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift (P)or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [j]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by (Q)Him who [k]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by (R)the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (S)For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and (T)have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (U)For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [l]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (V)For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 (W)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [m]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that (X)you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 (Y)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33 Serpents, (Z)brood[n] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 (AA)Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: (AB)some of them you will kill and crucify, and (AC)some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 (AD)that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, (AE)from the blood of righteous Abel to (AF)the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Jesus Laments over Jerusalem(AG)
37 (AH)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets (AI)and stones those who are sent to her! How often (AJ)I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks (AK)under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, (AL)‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:3 NU omits to observe
- Matthew 23:6 Or place of honor
- Matthew 23:8 Leader
- Matthew 23:8 NU omits the Christ
- Matthew 23:12 put down
- Matthew 23:12 lifted up
- Matthew 23:14 NU omits v. 14.
- Matthew 23:15 Gr. Gehenna
- Matthew 23:17 NU sanctified
- Matthew 23:20 Swears an oath
- Matthew 23:21 M dwelt
- Matthew 23:25 M unrighteousness
- Matthew 23:29 decorate
- Matthew 23:33 offspring
Matayos 23
Somali Bible
Ciise Wuxuu Canaantay Culimmadii Iyo Farrisiintii(A)
23 Dabadeed Ciise ayaa dadkii badnaa iyo xertiisii la hadlay, 2 oo wuxuu ku yidhi, Culimmada iyo Farrisiinta waxay ku fadhiistaan kursiga Muuse. 3 Haddaba wax walba oo ay idiin sheegaan inaad dhawrtaan, dhawra oo yeela, laakiin siday sameeyaan ha samaynina, waayo, wax bay yidhaahdaan, mana sameeyaan. 4 Waxay isku xidhxidhaan culaabo culculus oo waxay saaraan dadka garbihiisa, laakiin iyagu dooni maayaan inay fartooda ku dhaqaajiyaan. 5 Laakiin shuqulkooda oo dhan waxay u sameeyaan in dadku arko, waayo, xirsiyadooda way ballaadhiyaan, oo faraqa dharkoodana way weyneeyaan; 6 waxay jecel yihiin meelaha hore oo diyaafadaha, iyo kursiyada hore oo sunagogyada, 7 iyo salaanta suuqa, iyo in dadku ugu yeedhaan, Macallin. 8 Laakiin yaan laydiinku yeedhin, Macallin, waayo, mid baa macallinkiinna ah, idinkuna kulli walaalo baad tihiin. 9 Ninna dhulka ha ugu yeedhina aabbe, waayo, mid baa Aabbihiin ah, kaasu waa kan jannada ku jira. 10 Yaan laydiinku yeedhin sayiddo, waayo, mid baa sayidkiinna ah, kaasu waa Masiixa. 11 Laakiin kan idiinku weyn waa inuu ahaado midiidinkinna. 12 Oo ku alla kii isa sarraysiiya waa la hoosaysiin doonaa, oo ku alla kii is-hoosaysiiyana waa la sarraysiin doonaa.
13 Laakiin waa idiin hoog, culimmo iyo Farrisiin yahay oo labawejiilayaasha ahu, waayo, boqortooyada jannada ayaad dadka ka xidhaan, maxaa yeelay, idinku ma gashaan, oo kuwa gelayana uma deysaan inay galaan. 14 Waa idiin hoog, culimmo iyo Farrisiin yahay, labawejiilayaasha ahu, waayo, waxaad laasataan guryaha carmallada, oo tukashooyin dhaadheer ayaad istusid u tukataan, sidaa darteed waxaad heli doontaan xisaab aad u daran. 15 Waa idiin hoog, culimmo iyo Farrisiin yahay, labawejiilayaasha ahu, waayo, badda iyo dhulka waxaad u wareegtaan inaad mid soo hadaysaan, oo kolkuu sidaas noqdo, waxaad ka dhigtaan wiilka jahannamada laba kol in idinka badan idinka.
16 Waa idiin hoog, hoggaamiyayaal yahow indhaha la'u oo leh, Ku alla kii macbudka ku dhaarta, waxba ma aha, laakiin ku alla kii dahabkii macbudka ku dhaarta, wuxuu ku dhaartay waa lagu leeyahay. 17 Doqonno yahow indhaha la'u, kee baa weyn, dahabka iyo macbudka dahabka quduus ka dhiga? 18 Oo weliba waxaad leedihiin, Ku alla kii meesha allabariga ku dhaarta waxba ma aha, laakiin ku alla kii ku dhaarta hadiyadda dul saaran, wuxuu ku dhaartay waa lagu leeyahay. 19 Indhoolayaal yahow, haddaba kee baa weyn, hadiyadda iyo meesha allabariga oo hadiyadda quduus ka dhigta? 20 Haddaba kan meesha allabariga ku dhaartaa, wuxuu ku dhaartaa iyada iyo wixii dul saaran oo dhanba. 21 Oo kii macbudka ku dhaartaa, wuxuu ku dhaartaa isaga iyo kan dhex degganba. 22 Oo kii jannada ku dhaartaana, wuxuu ku dhaartaa carshiga Ilaah iyo kan ku dul fadhiyaba.
23 Waa idiin hoog, culimmo iyo Farrisiin yahay, labawejiilayaasha ahu, waayo, reexaanta iyo kabsarta iyo kamuunta toban meelood ayaad meel ka bixisaan, oo waxaad dhaafteen wixii sharciga ugu cuslaa, waxaa weeye xukunka iyo naxariista iyo iimaanka. Waxaad lahaydeen inaad waxan samaysaan oo aydnaan kuwa kale dhaafin. 24 Hoggaamiyayaal yahow indhaha la'u oo kaneecada iska miira oo awrka liqa.
25 Waa idiin hoog, culimmo iyo Farrisiin yahay, labawejiilayaasha ahu, waayo, koobka iyo saxanka dushaad ka nadiifisaan, laakiin gudaha waxaa ka buuxa dulun iyo damacbadnaan. 26 Farrisi yahow indhaha la'u, horta koobka gudaha ka nadiifi in dushiisuna nadiifsanaato.
27 Waa idiin hoog, culimmo iyo Farrisiin yahay, labawejiilayaasha ahu, waayo, waxaad u eg tihiin xabaalo la caddeeyey, kuwa dushoodu u eg tahay wax qurxoon, laakiin hoosta waxaa ka buuxa lafo dad dhintay iyo wasakh oo dhan. 28 Sidaas oo kalena idinku dusha waxaad dadka ugu eg tihiin dad xaq ah, laakiin gudaha waxaa idinka buuxa labawejiilenimo iyo dembi.
29 Waa idiin hoog, culimmo iyo Farrisiin yahay, labawejiilayaasha ahu, waayo, waxaad dhistaan xabaalaha nebiyada, oo waxaad qurxisaan qabriyada kuwii xaqa ahaa; 30 oo waxaad tidhaahdaan, Haddii aannu waagii awowayaashayo joogi lahayn, annagu kala ma aannan qayb galneen kuwii dhiigga nebiyada qabay. 31 Sidaasaad isugu marag furaysaan inaad tihiin wiilasha kuwii nebiyada dilay. 32 Idinku haddaba dhammaystira qiyaastii awowayaashiin. 33 Abeesooyin yahow, dhal jilbisay, sidee baad uga baxsan doontaan xisaabta jahannamada? 34 Sidaa darteed, waxaan idiin soo dirayaa nebiyo iyo kuwa xigmadda leh iyo culimmo. Qaarkood waad dili doontaan oo iskutallaabta ku qodbi doontaan, qaarkoodna sunagogyadiinna ayaad ku karbaashi doontaan, oo magaalo ilaa magaalo ayaad ku silcin doontaan, 35 inuu dushiinna ku soo dego dhiiggii xaqa ahaa oo dhulka ku daatay oo dhan oo laga bilaabo dhiigga Haabiil kii xaqa ahaa ilaa dhiigga Sakariyas ina Barakiyas kan aad ku disheen meesha quduuska ah iyo meeshii allabariga dhexdooda. 36 Runtii waxaan idinku leeyahay, Waxyaalahan oo dhan ayaa qarnigan ku dul degi doona.
Ciise Wuu U Ooyay Yeruusaalem(B)
37 Yeruusaalemay, Yeruusaalemay, tan nebiyada dishoy oo kuwa loo soo diray dhagxisoy! Intee baan marar badan jeclaaday inaan carruurtaada u soo ururiyo xataa sida dooradu carruurteeda baalasheeda hoostooda ugu ururiso, laakiin idinku ma aydnaan jeclayn. 38 Bal eega, gurigiinnii waa laydiin daayay isagoo cidla ah. 39 Waayo, waxaan idinku leeyahay, Ima arki doontaan hadda dabadeed ilaa aad tidhaahdaan, Waxaa barakaysan kan Rabbiga magiciisa ku imanaya.
Matthew 23
English Standard Version
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
23 Then Jesus (A)said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 (B)“The scribes and the Pharisees (C)sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, (D)but not the works they do. (E)For they preach, but do not practice. 4 (F)They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 (G)They do all their deeds (H)to be seen by others. For they make (I)their phylacteries broad and (J)their fringes long, 6 and they (K)love the place of honor at feasts and (L)the best seats in the synagogues 7 and (M)greetings in (N)the marketplaces and being called (O)rabbi[b] by others. 8 (P)But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are (Q)all brothers.[c] 9 (R)And call no man your father on earth, for (S)you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, (T)the Christ. 11 (U)The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 (V)Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 “But woe (W)to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you (X)shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you (Y)neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[d] 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single (Z)proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a (AA)child of (AB)hell[e] as yourselves.
16 “Woe to (AC)you, (AD)blind guides, who say, (AE)‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or (AF)the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by (AG)the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or (AH)the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by (AI)him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by (AJ)heaven swears by (AK)the throne of God and by (AL)him who sits upon it.
23 (AM)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For (AN)you tithe mint and dill and (AO)cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: (AP)justice and mercy and faithfulness. (AQ)These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing (AR)a camel!
25 (AS)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For (AT)you clean the outside of (AU)the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of (AV)greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of (AW)the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 (AX)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like (AY)whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and (AZ)all uncleanness. 28 So you also (BA)outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of (BB)hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 (BC)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are (BD)sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 (BE)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, (BF)you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to (BG)hell? 34 (BH)Therefore (BI)I send you (BJ)prophets and wise men and (BK)scribes, (BL)some of whom you will kill and crucify, and (BM)some you will (BN)flog in your synagogues and (BO)persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all (BP)the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous (BQ)Abel to the blood of (BR)Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[f] whom you murdered between (BS)the sanctuary and (BT)the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, (BU)all these things will come upon this generation.
Lament over Jerusalem
37 (BV)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that (BW)kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have (BX)gathered (BY)your children together (BZ)as a hen gathers her brood (CA)under her wings, and (CB)you were not willing! 38 See, (CC)your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, (CD)‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:4 Some manuscripts omit hard to bear
- Matthew 23:7 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master; also verse 8
- Matthew 23:8 Or brothers and sisters
- Matthew 23:13 Some manuscripts add here (or after verse 12) verse 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation
- Matthew 23:15 Greek Gehenna; also verse 33
- Matthew 23:35 Some manuscripts omit the son of Barachiah
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 1979, 2008 Society for International Ministries-Kenya
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
