| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” | 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" |
| 2Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, | 2He called a child, had him stand among them, |
| 3and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. | 3and said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! |
| 4Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. | 4Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. |
| 5Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. | 5And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. |
| 6“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. | 6"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. |
| 7Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! | 7Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. |
| 8“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. | 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. |
| 9And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. | 9And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell. |
| 10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. | 10"See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. |
| 11For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. | 11 |
| 12“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? | 12What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? |
| 13And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. | 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. |
| 14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. | 14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost. |
| 15“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. | 15"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. |
| 16But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ | 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. |
| 17And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. | 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector. |
| 18“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. | 18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. |
| 19“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. | 19Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. |
| 20For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” | 20For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them." |
| 21Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” | 21Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?" |
| 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. | 22Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times! |
| 23Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. | 23"For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. |
| 24And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. | 24As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. |
| 25But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. | 25Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. |
| 26The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ | 26Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.' |
| 27Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. | 27The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. |
| 28“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ | 28After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe me!' |
| 29So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ | 29Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you.' |
| 30And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. | 30But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. |
| 31So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. | 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. |
| 32Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. | 32Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, 'Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! |
| 33Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ | 33Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?' |
| 34And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. | 34And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. |
| 35“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” | 35So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart." |
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