Matthew 5 Comparison: Douay-Rheims vs King James Version
Matthew 5
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him.
2And opening his mouth he taught them, saying:
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
5Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
6Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the clean of heart: they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:
12Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing anymore but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.
14You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.
16So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.
19He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment.
22But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee;
24Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.
25Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing.
27You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
28But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than thy whole body be cast into hell.
30And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body go into hell.
31And it hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.
32But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery.
33Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.
34But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven for it is the throne of God:
35Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor 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 speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.
38You have heard that it hath been said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
39But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other:
40And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him.
41And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two.
42Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away.
43You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy.
44But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
45That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.
46For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this?
47And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?
48Be you therefore perfect, as also 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 Douay-Rheims vs King James Version in Matthew 5
Douay-Rheims (DRC)
Traditional Catholic English translation from the Latin Vulgate. Includes deuterocanonical books used in Catholic tradition. Best for readers who want a classic, historically influential Catholic Bible.
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 Douay-Rheims 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 let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and 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."
