Modern Literal Version
[Matthew 5]

     {Mat 5:1 & Luk 6:17-20. Sermon on the mountain.}

     ^5:1 Now having seen the crowds, he went-up into the mountain. And after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

     {Mat 5:2-12 & Luk 6:20-26.}

     ^5:2 And he opened his mouth and was teaching them, saying: ^5:3The poor in spirit are fortunate, because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.^5:4Those who are mourning are fortunate, because they will be comforted.^5:5The meek are fortunate, because they will inherit the earth. ^5:6Those who hunger and are thirsty for righteousness are fortunate, because they will be fully-fed.^5:7The merciful are fortunate, because they will be shown-mercy. ^5:8The clean in heart are fortunate, because they will be seeing God.^5:9The peacemakers are fortunate, because they will be called sons of God.^5:10Those who have been persecuted because of righteousness are fortunate, because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.^5:11You^* are fortunate whenever they reproach and persecute you^* and say every evil word against you^*С lying, because of me.^5:12Rejoice^* and be^* glad, because your^* reward is much in the heavens; for^* thus, they persecuted the prophets who were before you^*.

     {Mat 5:13-16; no parallel.}

     ^5:13You^* are the salt of the earth, but if the salt is flavorless, then with^* what will it be salted? It is still not strong-enough to be used^*for anything, except to be cast outside and to be trampled down by men. ^5:14You^* are the light of the world. A city laying upon a mountain is not able to be hidden.^5:15Nor are they burning a lamp and placing it under a peck-container, but upon the lamp-stand, and it is shining to all who are in the house.^5:16So let your^* light shine before men, ^*that they may see your^* good works and may glorify your^* Father, the one in the heavens.

     {Mat 5:17-48 & Luk 6:27-36.}

     ^5:17Do^* not suppose that I came to tear-down the law or the prophets; I did not come to tear-down, but to fulfill.^5:18For^* assuredly I am saying to you^*, Until heaven and earth should pass away, one iota or one serif should never pass away from the law, until all things should become fulfilled.

     ^5:19Therefore, whoever loosens one of these least commandments and may teach men to do so, will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens, but whoever practices and should teach them, this one will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.^5:20For^* I am saying to you^*, that if your^*righteousness does not abound more-than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you^* should never enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

     ^5:21You^*have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not murder,' but 'whoever murders will be liable to the judgment.'{Exo 20:13 & Deu 5:17}^5:22But I am saying to you^*, that everyone who is vainly angry toward his brother will be liable to the judgment, and whoever says to his brother,You, empty-head, will be liable to the council, but whoever says,You fool, will be liable to the hell of fire.

    {Hell (Gehenna) is listed under Definitions section.}

{Vainly can be: with emptiness (without cause or reason; i.e. to further one's own vanity)}

    {The words here in Mat 5:22 don't matter, but the way in which they are expressed or meant. Empty-head is an expression of contempt. The Greek here could be simply 'fool' said as an expression of condemnation or could be a transliteration of 'Moreh' which is a Hebrew expression of condemnation.}

     ^5:23Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and while you are there, you should remember that your brother has something against you,^5:24leave your gift there before the altar and proceed away. First be reconciled to your brother and then when you have come back, offer your gift.^5:25Be agreeable with your opponent quickly, until which time you are with him on the road; lest the opponent should give you to the judge and the judge should give you to the attendant and you will be cast into prison.^5:26Assuredly I am saying to you, You should never come out from there, until you should repay the last copper-coin.

     ^5:27You^*have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'{Exo 20:14 & Deu 5:18}^5:28But I am saying to you^*, that everyone who is looking at a woman {Or wife} in order to lust-after her already committed adultery with her in his heart.^5:29Now if your right eye is offending you, pluck it out and cast it from you^*; for^* it is advantageous for you, that^* one of your members should perish and not that^*your whole body should be cast into hell.^5:30And if your right hand is offending you, cut it off and cast it away from you^*; for^* it is advantageous for you, that^* one of your members should perish and not that^*your whole body should be cast into hell.

     ^5:31Now it was also said that, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a document ofdivorcement.'{Deu 24:1, 3}^5:32But I am saying to you^*, that whoever divorces his wife, except-forthe reason of fornication, is making^* her commit adultery and whoever marries her who has been divorced is committing adultery.

     {Mat 19:9, Luk 16:18}{Once betrothed, once the couple leave the parents house, (Mat 1:19), with or without all the pomp and ceremony, they were married.

    We have a 'separation' and 'a legal separation' in English, the Jews had no such thing, nor did most of the world before the 20^th century. The Jews only had divorce (release, disband, dismiss). 'Put away' was a kindness to mean divorce, similar to our 'he passed on' vs. 'he is dead'. Once you separated, or moved out or was put out, you were divorced.}

     ^5:33Again, you^*have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You will not perjure yourself, but will be giving your oaths to the Lord.'{Lev 19:12, Num 30:2, Deu 23:21}^5:34But I am saying to you^*, Literally not to swear; neither in the heaven, because it is the throne of God;^5:35nor in the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor toward Jerusalem, because it is the city of the Great King,^5:36nor should you swear in your head, because you are not able to make^* one hair white or black.^5:37But let your^* word be, a Yes, yes; a No, no; and whatever is more-than these, is from the evil one.

     ^5:38You^*have heard that it was said, An eye in exchange-for an eye and a tooth in exchange-for a tooth.{Exo 21:24, Lev 24:20, Deu 19:21}^5:39But I am saying to you^*, Not to stand against an evilman, but whoever will slap you upon your right jaw, turn also the other to him.^5:40And to him, who is willing to have a lawsuit against you and wants to take away your tunic, then also allow for himto take your^* outer garment.^5:41And the one who will compel you to go one mile, proceed with him two. ^5:42Give to the one who asks you and do not turn away from the one who wishes to borrow from you.

     ^5:43You^*have heard that it was said, 'You will love^* your neighbor and hate your enemy.'{Lev 19:18}^5:44But I am saying to you^*, Love^** your^* enemies, speak^* well of the ones who curse you^*, do^** good things to the ones who hate you^* and pray^* on behalf of the ones who are railing at you^*and are persecuting you^*.^5:45Do this^*that you^* may become sons of your^* Father who is in the heavens, because his sun rises upon the evil and the good and it rains upon the righteous and the unrighteous.^5:46For^* if you^* love^* the ones who love^* you^*, what reward do you^* have? Do not even the tax collectors do^* the same? ^5:47And if you^* only greet your^* friends, what are you^* doing^* more-than others? Are not even the tax collectors doing^* so? ^5:48Therefore you^* will be complete, just-like your^* Father is complete, the one in the heavens.

Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1987, 1999, 2013 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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