Matthew 5 Comparison: Catholic Public Domain vs King James Version
Matthew 5
1Then, seeing the crowds, he ascended the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples drew near to him,
2and opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
5Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who endure persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are you when they have slandered you, and persecuted you, and spoken all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake:
12be glad and exult, for your reward in heaven is plentiful. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, with what will it be salted? It is no longer useful at all, except to be cast out and trampled under by men.
14You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
15And they do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that it may shine to all who are in the house.
16So then, let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father, who is in heaven.
17Do not think that I have come to loosen the law or the prophets. I have not come to loosen, but to fulfill.
18Amen I say to you, certainly, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not one dot shall pass away from the law, until all is done.
19Therefore, whoever will have loosened one of the least of these commandments, and have taught men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever will have done and taught these, such a one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20For I say to you, that unless your justice has surpassed that of the scribes and the Pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not murder; whoever will have murdered shall be liable to judgment.’
22But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell.
23Therefore, if you offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,
24leave your gift there, before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then you may approach and offer your gift.
25Be reconciled with your adversary quickly, while you are still on the way with him, lest perhaps the adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown in prison.
26Amen I say to you, that you shall not go forth from there, until you have repaid the last quarter.
27You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28But I say to you, that anyone who will have looked at a woman, so as to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29And if your right eye causes you to sin, root it out and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body be cast into Hell.
30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body go into Hell.
31And it has been said: ‘Whoever would dismiss his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.’
32But I say to you, that anyone who will have dismissed his wife, except in the case of fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever will have married her who has been dismissed commits adultery.
33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not swear falsely. For you shall repay your oaths to the Lord.’
34But I say to you, do not swear an oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35nor by earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king.
36Neither shall you swear an oath by your own head, because you are not able to cause one hair to become white or black.
37But let your word ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ For anything beyond that is of evil.
38You have heard that it was said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
39But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone will have struck you on your right cheek, offer to him the other also.
40And anyone who wishes to contend with you in judgment, and to take away your tunic, release to him your cloak also.
41And whoever will have compelled you for one thousand steps, go with him even for two thousand steps.
42Whoever asks of you, give to him. And if anyone would borrow from you, do not turn away from him.
43You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.’
44But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you.
45In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust.
46For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way?
47And if you greet only your brothers, what more have you done? Do not even the pagans behave this way?
48Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Understanding Catholic Public Domain vs King James Version in Matthew 5
Catholic Public Domain (CPDV)
Modern Catholic translation in the public domain with deuterocanonical books. Clear, contemporary English while preserving a formal tone. A strong option for Catholic reading plans and study.
King James Version (KJV)
The classic 1611 English translation known for its majestic prose and literary influence. Ideal for traditional study and memorization thanks to its formal style. A foundational English Bible used for centuries.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Matthew 5 in the Catholic Public Domain and King James Version. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Matthew 5:16
"So then, let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father, who is in heaven."
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
