2 wilderness of Judæa, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of 3 heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, 4 make straight his paths!"* And John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and 6 all the country about the Jordan; and were baptized by 7 him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, Brood of vipers, who warned 8 you to flee from the coming wrath? Bring forth there9 fore fruit worthy of repentance, and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise 10 up children to Abraham. And already is the axe lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that beareth not good fruit is to be cut down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you in water, for repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit 12 and in fire. His winnowing-shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but the chaff he will burn up with ́unquenchable fire.

13

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, 14 to be baptized by him. But John opposed him, saying, I have need to be baptized by thee, and dost thou come 15 to me? And Jesus answering said to him, Suffer it now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.

Chap. III. 1-17. Comp. Mark i. 1-11; Luke iii. 1-22; John i. 6.

* Is. xl. 3.

16 Then he suffered him. And Jesus, as soon as he was baptized, went up from the water; and, lo! the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God, descending like a 17 dove, coming upon him. And lo! a voice from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

IV. Then was Jesus led up by the Spirit into the wilder2 ness, to be tempted by the Devil. And when he had fasted 3 forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceedeth 5 from the mouth of God."* Then the Devil taketh him into the holy city, and setteth him on the pinnacle of the 6 temple; and saith to him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, "He will give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they will bear thee up, that thou mayst not dash thy foot against a 7 stone."† Jesus said to him, Again it is written, “Thou 8 shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God."‡ Again, the Devil taketh him to an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and their 9 glory; and said to him, All these things will I give thee, 10 if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus

to him, Be gone, Satan! for it is written, "Thou shalt wor ship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” § 11 Then the Devil leaveth him; and lo! angels came and ministered to him.

12

Now when Jesus heard that John had been cast into

Chap. IV. 1-11. Comp. Mark i. 12, 13; Luke iv. 1-13.

Ver. 12-17. Comp. Mark i. 14, 15; Luke iv. 14, 15, 31.

13 prison, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazara, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, on the shore of the lake, 14 in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali; that it might be

fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, say15 ing, “The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the lake beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gen16 tiles, the people that sat in darkness, saw a great light; and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light arose."*

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Re18 pent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And while walking by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into 19 the lake; for they were fishers. And he saith to them, 20 Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And 21 they immediately left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called 22 them. And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.

23

And he went round the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among 24 the people. And his fame went forth into all Syria; and they brought to him all that were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were possessed by demons, and lunatics, and those who were struck with 25 palsy; and he healed them. And great multitudes followed

Ver. 17. Repent. The prominent meaning of the Greek term is change of sentiment and character. "Repentance is a whole volume of duty, to which godly sorrow is but the titlepage."

Ver. 18-22. Comp. Mark i. 16-20; Luke v. 1-11.

Ver. 28-25. Comp. Mark i. 39; Luke iv. 44; Mark i. 28, iii. 7, 8; Luke vi. 17-19.

* Isa. ix. 1, 2.

V.

him from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judæa, and from beyond the Jordan.

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain; and when he had sat down, his disciples came to 2 him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying: —

3

5

4

6

7

8

10

11

9

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek; for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are they who mourn; for they will be comforted.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful; for they will obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they will see God. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men revile you, and persecute you, and say every thing that is bad against you, falsely, for my 12 sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so did they persecute the prophets that were before you.

13

Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall itself be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot by men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a 15 hill cannot be hid; nor do men light a lamp, and put it

under the bushel, but on the lamp-stand; and it giveth 16 light to all that are in the house. In like manner let Chap. V.-VII. Comp. Luke vi. 12, 17–49.

17

your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Think not that I came to destroy the Law or the Proph18 ets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. For truly do I say to you, Not till heaven and earth pass away, shall one jot or one tittle pass from, the Law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them, he will be called great in the kingdom of 20 heaven. For I say to you, Unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, "Thou shalt not kill; and whoever shall kill, shall be in 22 danger of the Judges." But I say to you, that whoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the Judges; and whoever shall say to his brother, Simpleton! shall be in danger of the Council; and whoever shall say, Fool! shall be in danger of hell-fire.

23

Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there 24 remember that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go away; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy 25 gift. Agree with thine adversary at law quickly, while thou art on the road with him; lest the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and 26 thou be cast into prison. Truly do I say to thee, Thou wilt not come out thence, till thou hast paid the last farthing.

Ver. 18.

not one jot, nor one tittle; i.e. not the smallest letter, nor the smallest part of a letter.

Ver. 18. Comp. Luke xvi. 17.

Ver. 21.

the Judges; i.e. a lower court, consisting of five judges.

* Exod. xx. 13; Lev. xxiv. 17.