The first New Testament printed in English
Chapter 39
Ye are the salt of the earth: but and if the salt be once unsavory, what can be salted there with? It is thence forth good for nothing, but to be cast out at the doors, and that men tread it under feet. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill, cannot be hid, neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it lighteth all them which are in the house. See that your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.
Ye shall not think, that I am come to disannul the law, other the prophets: no I am not come to disannul them, but to fulfil them. For truly I say unto you, till heaven and earth perish, one iott, or one tytle of the law shall not scape, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever breaketh one of these least commandments, and teacheth men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall observe and teach them, that person shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I say unto you except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Ye have heard how it was said unto them of the old time: Thou shalt not kill. Whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of judgement. But I say unto you, whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of judgement. Whosoever shall say unto his brother raca, shall be in danger of a council. But whosoever say unto his brother thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore when thou offerest thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath anything against thee: leave there thine offering before the altar, and go thy way first and reconcile thyself to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Agree with thine adversary at once, whiles thou art in the way with him, lest thine adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the minister, and then thou be cast into prison. I say unto thee verily: thou shalt not come out thence till thou have paid the utmost farthing.
Ye have heard how it was said to them of old time, thou shalt not commit advoutry. But I say unto you, that whosoever eyeth a wife, lusting after her, hath committed advoutry with her already in his heart.
Wherefore if thy right eye offend thee, pluck him out, and cast him from thee. Better it is for thee that one of thy members perish than that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Also if thy right hand offend thee, cut him off and cast him from thee. Better it is that one of thy members perish, than that all thy body should, be cast into hell.
It is said, whosoever put away his wife, let him give her a testimonial of her divorcement. But I say unto you: whosoever put away his wife, (except it be for fornication) causeth her to break matrimony. And whosoever marrieth her that is divorced, breaketh wedlock.
Again ye have heard, how it was said to them of old time, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform thine oath to God. But I say unto you swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's seat: nor yet by the earth, for it is his footstool: Neither by Ierusalem, for it is the city of that great king: neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one white hair, or black: But your communication shall be, yea, yea: nay, nay. For whatsoever is more than that, cometh of evil.
Ye have heard how it is said, an eye for an eye: a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, that ye withstand not wrong: But if a man give thee a blow on thy right cheek, turn to him the other. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take thy coat from thee, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever will compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh: and from him that would borrow turn not away.
Ye have heard how it is said: thou shalt love thine neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies. Bless them that curse you. Do good to them that hate you. Pray for them which do you wrong, and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your heavenly father: for he maketh his sun to arise, on the evil, and on the good, and sendeth his rain on the just and unjust. For if ye shall love them, which love you: what reward shall ye have? Do not the publicans even so? And if ye be friendly to your brethren only: what singular thing do ye? Do not the publicans likewise? Ye shall therefore be perfect, even as your heavenly father is perfect.
The sixth Chapter.
Take heed to your alms. That ye give it not in the sight of men, to the intent that ye would be seen of them. Or else ye get no reward of your father in heaven. Whensoever therefore thou givest thine alms, thou shalt not make a trumpet to be blown before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues, and in the streets, for to be praised of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know, what thy right hand doth, that thine alms may be secret, and thy father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, because they would be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou prayest, enter into thy chamber, and shut thy door to thee, and pray to thy father which is in secret: and thy father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, babble not much, as the gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard, for their much babbling's sake. Be ye not like them therefore. For your father knoweth whereof ye have need, before ye ask of him. After this manner therefore pray ye.
O our father, which art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be fulfilled, as well in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, even as we forgive them which trespass us. Lead us not in to temptation: but deliver us from evil, [For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory for ever.] Amen. For and if ye shall forgive other men their trespasses, your father in heaven shall also forgive you. But and ye will not forgive men their trespasses, no more shall, your father forgive your trespasses.
Moreover when ye fast, be not sad as the hypocrites are. For they disfigure their faces, that it might appear unto men that they fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face, that it appear not unto men how that thou fastest: but unto thy father which is in secret: and thy father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Gather not treasure together on earth, where rust and moths corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather ye treasures together in heaven, where neither rust, nor yet moths corrupt: and where thieves neither break up, nor yet steal. For wheresoever your treasure is, there are your hearts also.
The light of the body is thine eye. Wherefore if thine eye be single, all thy body is full of light. But and if thine eye be wicked, then is all thy body full of darkness. Wherefore if the light that is in thee, be darkness: how great is that darkness?
No man can serve two masters. For either he shall hate the one, and love the other: or else he shall lean to the one, and despise that other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, be not careful for your life what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what raiment ye shall wear. Is not the life more worth then meat? and the body more of value then raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither reap, nor yet carry into the barns, and yet your heavenly father feedeth them. Are ye not better than they?
Which of you (though he took thought therefore) could put one cubit unto his stature? And why care ye then for raiment? Behold the lilies of the field, how they grow. They labor not, neither spin. And yet for all that I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his royalty, was not arrayed like unto one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow shall be cast into the furnace: shall he not much more do the same unto you, o ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought saying: what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? (After all these things seek the gentiles) For your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But rather seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness thereof, and all these things shall be ministered unto you. Care not therefore for the day folowing. For the day folowing shall care for itself. Each days trouble is sufficient for the sameself day.
The .vij. Chapter.
Judge not lest ye be judged. For as ye judge, so shall ye be judged. And with what measure ye mete, with the same shall it be measured to you again. Why seest thou a mote in thy brother's eye, and perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or why sayest thou to thy brother: suffer me to pluck out a mote out of thine eye, and behold a beam is in thine own eye. Hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pluck out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Give not that which is holy to dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they tread them under their feet, and the other turn again and all to rent you.
Ask and it shall be given you: Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For whosoever asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Is there any man among you which would proffer his son a stone if he asked him bread? Or if he asked fish, would he proffer him a serpent? If ye then which are evil, can give to your children good gifts: how much more shall your father, which is in heaven, give good things, to them that ask of him?
Therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, even so do ye to them. This is the law and the prophets.
Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction: and many there be, which go in thereat. For strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life: and few there be, that find it.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you, in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns? Or figs of briars? Even so every good tree, bringeth forth good fruit. But a corrupt tree, bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruite: nor yet a bad tree can bring forth good fruit. Every tree, that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not all they that say unto me, master, master, shall enter in to the kingdom of heaven: But he that fulfilleth my father's will which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, master, master, have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name have we not cast out devils? and in thy name have we not done many miracles. And then will I knowledge unto them, that I never knew them. Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.
Whosoever heareth of me these sayings, and doeth the same, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house on a rock: and abundance of rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that same house, and it was not overthrown because it was grounded on the rock. And whosoever heareth of me these sayings, and doth not the same, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand, and abundance of rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it was overthrown, and great was the fall of it.
And it came to pass, that when Iesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonied at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having power, and not as the scribes.
The .viij. Chapter.
When Iesus was come down from the mountain, much people followed him. And lo, there came a leper, and worshipped him saying: master, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. He put forth his hand and touched him saying: I will, be clean, and immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Iesus said unto him. See thou tell no man, but go and shew thyself to the priest and offer the gift, that Moses commanded to be offered in witness to them.
When Iesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a certain Centurion, beseching him, and saying: master, my servant lieth sick at home of the palsy, and is grievously pained. And Iesus said unto him: I will come and cure him. The Centurion answered and said: Sir, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under the roof of my house, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I also myself am a man under power, and have soldiers under me, and I say to one, go, and he goeth: and to another, come, and he cometh: and to my servant, do this, and he doeth it. When Iesus heard these sayings: he marvelled, and said to them that followed him: Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith: no, not in Israell. I say therefore unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall rest with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, in the kingdom of heaven: and the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the utmost darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then Iesus said unto the Centurion, go thy way, and as thou believed so be it unto thee. And his servant was healed that same hour.
And Iesus went to Peter's house, and saw his wife's mother lying sick of a fever, and he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
When the even was come they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils, and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick, to fulfil that which was spoken by Esay the prophet saying: he took on him our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
When Iesus saw much people about him, he commanded to go over the water. And there came a scribe and said unto him: master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Iesus said unto him: the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the son of the man hath not whereon to lay his head: Another that was one of his Disciples said unto him: master suffer me first, to go and bury my father. But Iesus said unto him: follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.
And he entered into a ship, and his Disciples followed him. And lo there arose a great storm in the sea, insomuch, that the ship was hid with waves, and he was asleep. And his Disciples came unto him, and awoke him, saying: master, save us, we perish. And he said unto them: why are ye fearful, o ye endowed with little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there followed a great calm. And men marvelled and said: what man is this, that both winds and sea obey him?
And when he was come to the other side, into the country of the Gergesites, there met him two possessed of devils, which came out of the graves, and were out of measure fierce, so that no man might go by that way. And lo they cried out saying: O Iesu the son of God, what have we to do with thee? art thou come hither to torment us before the time be come? There was a good way off from them a great herd of swine feeding. Then the devils besought him saying: if thou cast us out, suffer us to go our way into the herd of swine. And he said unto them: go your ways. Then went they out, and departed into the herd of swine. And lo, all the herd of swine was carried with violence headlong into the sea, and perished in the water. Then the herdsmen, fled and went their ways into the city, and told everything, and what had fortuned unto them that were possessed of the devils. And lo, all the city came out, and met Iesus. And when they saw him they besought him, to depart out of their coasts.
The .ix. Chapter.
And he entered into a ship: and passed over and came into his own city. And lo, they brought unto him a man sick of the palsy, lying in his bed. And when Iesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy: son be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. And lo certain of the scribes said in themselves, he blasphemeth. And when Iesus saw their thoughts, he said: wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Whether is easier to say, thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say: arise and walk? That ye may know, that the son of man hath power to forgive sins in earth, then said he unto the sick of the palsy: arise, take up thy bed, and go home to thine house. And he arose and departed to his house. The people that saw it, marvelled and glorified God, which had given such power to men.
And as Iesus passed forth from thence he saw a man sit at the receit of custom named Matthew, and said to him: follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that Iesus sat at meat in his house. And lo, many publicans and sinners, came and sat down also with Iesus, and his disciples. When the pharisees had perceived that, they said unto his disciples: why eateth your master with publicans and sinners? When Iesus heard that, he said unto them: The whole need not the physician, but they that are sick. Go and learn, what that meaneth: I have pleasure in mercy, and not in offering. For I am not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.
Then came the disciples of Ihon to him, saying: why do we and the pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Iesus said unto them: can the wedding children mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man pieceth an old garment with a piece of new cloth. For then taketh he away the piece again from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine, into old vessels: for then the vessels break, and the wine runneth out, and the vessels perish. But they pour new wine into new vessels, and so are both saved together.
While he thus spake unto them, lo, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him saying: my daughter is dead already, but come, and lay thy hand on her, and she shall live. And Iesus arose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood xij. years, came behind him and touched the hem of his vesture. For she said in herself: If I may touch but even his vesture only I shall be safe. Iesus turned him about, and beheld her, saying: daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee safe. And she was made whole even that same hour.
And when Iesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people wondering, he said unto them: Get you hence, for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. As soon as the people were put forth adoors, he went in and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And this was noised throughout all that land.
And as Iesus departed thence, two blind men followed him crying, and saying: O thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind came to him. And Iesus said unto them believe ye that I am able to do this? they said unto him yea master. Then touched he their eyes saying: according to your faith, be it unto you. And their eyes were opened. And he charged them, saying: see that no man know of it. But they as soon as they were departed, spread abroad his name through out all the land.
As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed of a devil. And as soon as the devil was cast out, the dumb spake. And the people marvelled, saying: it never so appeared in Israhel. But the pharisees said: he casteth out devils, by the power of the chief devil.
And Iesus went about all cities and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospell of the kingdom. And healing all manner sickness and disease among the people. But when he saw the people, he had pity on them, because they were pined away, and scattered abroad even as sheep, having no shepherd. Then said he to his disciples: the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Wherefore pray the harvest lord, to send forth laborers into his harvest.
The .x. Chapter.
And he called his xij. disciples unto him, and gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sicknesses, and all manner of diseases.
The names of the xij. apostles are these. The first Simon which is called Peter: and Andrew his brother. Iames the son of Zebedee, and Ihon his brother. Philip and Bartholomew. Thomas and Matthew the publican. Iames the son of Alphe and Lebbeus, otherwise called Thaddeus. Simon of Chane, and Iudas Iscariot, which also betrayed him.
These xij. sent Iesus, and commanded them saying: Go not into the ways that lead to the gentiles, and in to the cities of the samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israhel. Go and preach saying: how the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out the devils. Freely ye have received, freely give again. Possess not gold, nor silver, neither brass in your girdles, nor yet scrip towards your journey. Neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet a rod: for the workman is worthy to have his meat. Into whatsoever city, or town ye shall come, enquire who is worthy in it, and there abide till ye go thence.
And when ye come into an house greet the same. And if the house be worthy, your peace shall come upon the same. But if it be not worthy, your peace shall return to you again. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor will hear your preaching, when ye depart out of that house, or that city, shake off the dust of your feet. Truly I say unto you, it shall be easier for the land of Sodom, and Gomorra, in the day of judgement, than for that city.
Lo I send you forth, as sheep among wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they shall deliver you up to the councils, and shall scourge you in their synagogues. And ye shall be brought to the head rulers and kings for my sake, in witness to them and to the gentiles.
But when they put you up take no thought, how, or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you even in that same hour, what ye shall say. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. The brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son. And the children shall arise against their fathers, and mothers, and shall put them to death, and ye shall be hated of all men, for my name. But whosoever shall continue unto the end, shall be saved.
When they persecute you in one city, fly into another. I tell you for a truth, ye shall not finish all the cities of Israhel, till the son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master: Nor yet the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple to be as his master is, and that the servant be as his lord is. If they have called the lord of the house beelzebub: how much more shall they call them of his household so? Fear them not therefore.
There is nothing so close, that shall not be opened, and nothing so hid, that shall not be known.
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light. And what ye hear in the ear that preach ye on the house tops.