 
From the Editor's Desk: Sample Translation By Dr. James D. Tabor, Ph.D. Chief Editor, Original Bible Translation SELECTIONS FROM MATTHEW Matthew Chapter 5 {1} And seeing the crowds he went up into the mountain, and he having sat down, his students1 came to him. {2} And opening his mouth he taught them saying: {3} "Happy2 are the poor in the spirit! because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.3 {4} Happy are those mourning! because they will be comforted. {5} Happy are the meek! because they will inherit the earth. {6} Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness! because they will be filled. {7} Happy are the merciful! because they will have mercy. {8} Happy are the pure in the heart! because they will see God. {9} Happy are the peacemakers! because they will be called sons of God. {10}Happy are those having been persecuted on account of righteousness! because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. {11} Happy are youpl 4 whenever they will denounce you and are persecuting you, and will speak every evil against you, lying, on account of me. {12} Be glad and rejoice, because great is your compensation in the heavens, for thus they persecuted the prophets, the ones before you . {13} You are the salt of the earth! If the salt becomes tasteless, in what way will it be restored? It is not useful for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by [the] men. {14} You are the light of the world! A city is not able to be hidden, setting upon a mountain. {15} Neither do they light a lamp and place it under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all those in the house. {16} Thus let your light shine before [the] men, so that they will see your good works, and glorify your Father, the one in the heavens. {17} Do not think that I came to abrogate the Torah and the Prophets! I came not to abrogate rather to fulfill. {18} Surely5, I say to you, until the time when the heaven and the earth pass, not even a dot nor stroke shall pass from the Torah until the time when all things are fulfilled. {19} Whoever, therefore, breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches [the] men thus "least," he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches this one will be called "great" in the kingdom of the heavens. {20} For I say to you that except your righteousness excels the scribes and the Pharisees, you will definitely not enter into the kingdom of the heavens. {21} You heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder,' and whoever murders will be liable in the judgment. {22} But I say to you that everyone angry with his brother will be liable in the judgment. And whoever may have said to his brother 'Raca!'6 will be liable in the sanhedrin,7 and whoever may have said 'Moron!'8 will be liable for casting into the Gehenna9 of fire. {23} If therefore, you present your gift upon the altar, and remember there that your brother has something against you, {24}leave your gift there before the altar, and depart first be reconciled to your brother, and then coming, present your gift. {25} Come to agreement quickly with your accuser while you are on the way with him, lest the accuser deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you are cast into prison. {26} Surely, I say to you, you will definitely not go out from there until you have paid the last "kodrantes"!10 {27} You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' {28} But I say to you that everyone looking on a woman to desire her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart. {29} But if your right eye snares you, pull it out and cast it from you! For it is better for you that one of your parts be destroyed than your whole body be cast into Gehenna. {30} And if your right hand snares you,11 cut it off and cast it from you! For it is better for you that one of your parts be destroyed than your whole body be led away into Gehenna. {31} And it was said, 'Whoever divorces his wife let him give her a divorce certificate.' {32} But I say to you, everyone divorcing his wife, except for a matter of sexual immorality, makes her to be adulterous, and whoever marries onefem having been divorced commits adultery. {33} Again you heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not swear falsely, but you shall perform your oaths to the Lord." {34} But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by the heaven, because it is the throne of God; {35}neither by the earth, because it is a footstool of his feet; neither toward Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king; {36}Neither shall you swear by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. {37} And let your word be, 'Yes, yes No, no,' that which is more than these is of the evil one. {38} You heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye; and a tooth for a tooth.' {39} But I say to you, do not resist the evil one, but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. {40} And to the one wishing to put you under judgmenteven to take your tunic give this one your cloak also. {41} And whoever compels12 you to go one mile, go with him two. {42} Give to the one asking you, and do not turn away from the one wanting to borrow from you. {43} You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your fellow, and hate your enemy. {44}But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those persecuting you, {45} so that you become sons of your Father the one in the heavens, because He makes his sun shine on evil ones and good ones, and rain upon righteous ones and unrighteous ones. {46} For if you love those loving you, what compensation do you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? {47} And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do better? Do not the Gentiles do the same? {48} Therefore be completed ones,13 even as your heavenly Father is complete. 626 799-2000 Top Of Page | Main Page | Introduction to the TEV | Original Bible Project Newsletters Century One Foundation Main Page | The Symetrical Bible |