¹ At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

² And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the midst of them,

³ And said, Verily I say to you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

⁶ But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

⁷ Woe to the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

⁸ Therefore if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to sin, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

⁹ And if thy eye causeth thee to sin, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

¹⁰ Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

¹¹ For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

¹² How think ye? if a man hath an hundred sheep, and one of them is gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go to the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray?

¹³ And if so be that he findeth it, verily I say to you, he rejoiceth more over that sheep, than over the ninety and nine which went not astray.

¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church: but if he shall neglect to hear the church, let him be to thee as an heathen and a tax collector.

¹⁸ Verily I say to you, Whatever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ Again I say to you, That if two of you shall agree on earth concerning any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.

²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

²¹ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

²² Jesus saith to him, I say not to thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

²³ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, who would take account of his servants.

²⁴ And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, who owed him ten thousand talents.¹

1. talents: a talent is seven hundred and fifty ounces of silver, which after five shillings the ounce is pounds shillings

²⁵ But as he had nothing with which to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

²⁶ The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.¹

1. worshipped him: or, besought him

²⁷ Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, who owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest.¹

1. pence: the Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is seven pence halfpenny; about fourteen cents

²⁹ And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

³⁰ And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

³¹ So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.

³² Then his lord, having called him, said to him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou didst beg me:

³³ Shouldest thou not also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

³⁴ And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all that was due to him.

³⁵ So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.